Millennium Park Saturday

The Grant Park Symphony at Millennium Park Saturday night. Hugh Wolf was back. He has a wonderful tunure leading this group from 1994 - 1997. (It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since it ended.) Naturally, the orchestra sounded excellent under his baton for Beethoven's 4th symphony.

The 5th symphony of Antheil (a man who lived a quite ecclectic life) followed. It is entitled "Joyful" but sure seemed tinged with angst and melancholy to me.

Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F was the concluding work. I was less than impressed for the first part. But, then, when the winds made their presence prominent in the latter part of the 2nd movement, my attention was piqued. The energy here gained generally was maintained through the rest of the work.

Aside from the concert, itself, there was some guy flossing in the public restroom (were we all to be so diligent). The bugs were a bit outrageous, also.

Millennium Park has proved to be a major attraction for city folk and tourists, alike. It is consistently drawing huge crowds which fill the seating area, lawn, and wings. It almost seems as if it was not built big enough - so significant has it's success achieved. I only wish that they could have found a way to incorporate the trains which run below into the scheme. It's a real shame that the city always disparages an "old railrod yard" which the park was built over. One which many found charming. A simple small opening over two or three tracks with a short bridge overhand crossing where people could stand and watch the electric cars pass might have added so much more and honroed the history of this place.

Upon leaving, I walked by a statuary exhibit of Mark di Suvero. I hope it is only temporary.

(Sorry, no pictures today. My memory disk is messed up. Anybody want to tell me how to fix it?)