Confession time: for a professional classical musician, I don't have a very impressive CD collection. When fellow music nerds start discussing such questions as who did the best recording of such-and-such a piece, my first impulse is to change the subject as quickly as possible: "My, a lot of weather we're having, isn't it?"
So what's my excuse? Well, none really... But when pressed, I'll say that I prefer hearing classical music live. It's true -- nothing compares to a live performance. But the real reason? Very little room in the budget. You see, chances are that when I have money to spend I'll spend it on clothes. Yeah, that's right, I'm a girl! So sue me!
That being the case, when I found out about an upcoming event at the Boston Symphony that combined classical music and fashion design, I knew I had to be there. So I'm really excited to report that I'll be attending in my capacity as your friendly neighborhood music nerd!
You've heard of Project Runway -- maybe you've even watched it! (Well, on second thought, maybe you haven't. Since you're reading Daily Kos, there's a good chance you're the kind of DFH who doesn't own a television, or who uses it only to watch the good stuff ;) ).
Project Tchaikovsky borrows its title from the reality show's concept. It's only one evening, not a series, though, so there won't be a process of elimination spurring a lot of tearful set departures. But there will be a runway show, followed by the selection of a winner by a panel of judges, including an orchestra member and the director of the Chanel boutique in Boston. Oh, and before that, a concert of classical music performed by the Boston Symphony, by the way! The concert will, of course, feature Tchaikovsky's music: his Symphony No. 2, Little Russian. I'm excited about the other pieces on the program, too: Ligeti's Concert Românesc and the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Shostakovich.
The contestants are design students from Boston area schools, and the winner will get a write-up in Boston Magazine -- pretty cool!
You can see sketches of the competing designs here. (I'm not sure why you learn how to draw models as if they're in the skinny part of a fun-house mirror when you go to design school. Maybe I'll ask when I interview the designers on Thursday.)
But I'll primarily be excited to learn how the music relates to the designs. The advance word is demure about revealing that, though I did find a mention of Tchaikovsky's music being played at high volume during classes. As one who wants to see classical music get a wider audience, I applaud! :)
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From Purple Priestess:
In my Mad Logophile diary, ulookarmless offered a limerick, and ontheleftcoast related a Bloom County bit.
From NCrissieB:
In today’s Morning Feature, Gooserock offered this gem about paying local taxes.
From mdmslle:
CWalter on what we're all waiting for.
From highacidity:
I nominate polecat for this great, funny and timely comment!
From StepLeftStepForward:
In blackwaterdog's diary, Diogenes2008 spills the beans about her/his employers, an alien takeover, and other weird stuff that will make you LOL.
From Crashing Vor:
ontheleftcoast's reaction to Hank Williams' Pulitzer is worth the price of admission.
From sardonyx:
In Free Chicken and Beer's diary A Progressive Mississippian's Plea to DKos Regarding Gov. Barbour and the Confederacy, Front Toward Enemy writes about The Southern Thing.
jotter thought that this comment by jhecht about the most underrated social skill was a top comment, and I agree with him.
From yours truly, virgomusic:
aravir has great suggestions for LarsThorwald, and anyone else who needs a break.
In the same diary, deminva starts off a whole thread-full of great suggestions, now with 100% more snark!
sardonyx brings us very fashionable Top Mojo!
Top Mojo (cskendrick/sardonyx-style) excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, Cheers and Jeers, and various pooties:
1) I'm so glad you're back! Thank you for returning by litoralis — 214
2) Lars, if you read this, I have a better idea by aravir — 163
3) ((((((Melody)))))) by Lefty Coaster — 132
4) Wrong. BWD IS coming back. Diary update by catilinus — 132
5) Naah. Stay. by Adam B — 127
6) arbiter, we have it on good authority (MB) that by Little Lulu — 127
7) oh, fuck that by Uberbah — 126
8) gee, you couldn't possibly be insinuating that by RLMiller — 114
9) if straw were a growth stock by Turkana — 109
10) Thanks for not leaving by Timroff — 108
11) Seconded! by psilocynic — 103
12) Why is this not a felony? The census is by Mogolori — 102
13) Here's the fucked up definition of "pragmatic" by tiggers thotful spot — 100
14) WHOOOO HOOOO Yes ! You're back and excellent by WeBetterWinThisTime — 98
15) Medvedev Misspoke... by StuHunter — 97
16) I'd prefer a little less shouting by FishOutofWater — 95
17) Ukraine agreed to give us their enriched uranium. by Beelzebud — 89
18) Oy! Just not needed. Really. nt by BrowniesAreGood — 89
19) Since when is... by Trix — 88
20) Melody, my heart goes out to you by wide eyed lib — 84
21) I never understood the "outrage" by Jeff Y — 83
22) blackwaterdog has informed me ... by Meteor Blades — 83
23) another in a series of pro-Justice diaries by primarydoc — 81
24) and Conservatives like John Dean and Bruce Fein by primarydoc — 79
25) The Census and Guns by JekyllnHyde — 78
26) End this here, please! by Timroff — 78
27) duck and cover, my friend. by CWalter — 76
28) Exhibition of a deadly weapon? by Trix — 76
29) If they don't want to be counted... by Enthalpy — 74
30) to be honest, Shiz, by SuperBowlXX — 74
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) Tip Jar by Melody Townsel — 693
2) Tip Jar by blackwaterdog — 661
3) The truth will come out by 8ackgr0und N015e — 483
4) Tip Jar by womankind — 421
5) Tip Jar by LarsThorwald — 401
6) Tip Jar by Deoliver47 — 382
7) Tips for CNN = Crackpot News Network by MinistryOfTruth — 345
8) busy day by Turkana — 322
9) Tip Jar by Troutfishing — 304
10) Tip Jar by Journalist Julia — 293
11) Tip Jar by Meteor Blades — 239
12) I'm so glad you're back! Thank you for returning by litoralis — 214
13) Tip Jar by greendem — 188
14) Lars, if you read this, I have a better idea by aravir — 163
15) YELL LOUDER...no matter what THEY say. by buhdydharma — 148
16) very happily tipped and rec'd! by Cedwyn — 141
17) ((((((Melody)))))) by Lefty Coaster — 132
18) Wrong. BWD IS coming back. Diary update by catilinus — 132
19) Naah. Stay. by Adam B — 127
20) arbiter, we have it on good authority (MB) that by Little Lulu — 127
21) oh, fuck that by Uberbah — 126
22) gee, you couldn't possibly be insinuating that by RLMiller — 114
23) if straw were a growth stock by Turkana — 109
24) Thanks for not leaving by Timroff — 108
25) Seconded! by psilocynic — 103
26) Why is this not a felony? The census is by Mogolori — 102
27) Here's the fucked up definition of "pragmatic" by tiggers thotful spot — 100
28) WHOOOO HOOOO Yes ! You're back and excellent by WeBetterWinThisTime — 98
29) Tip Jar by jpmassar — 97
30) Scritchie Jar... by triciawyse — 97
31) Medvedev Misspoke... by StuHunter — 97