crossover geniuses

(Click for bigger pic.)

I forgot to blog about this when it happened, but a couple of weeks ago, the Eugene Symphony announced the lineup for next season.

Giancarlo Guerrero, still artistic director until he skips out for Nashville at the end of the 2008-2009 season, made the announcement at a special pre-show event. But you know what? The pre-show event started at 6:30 pm on Valentine's Day.

I was a bad journalist (but a good partner!) and skipped it for a Valentine's Day dinner at home. But I did go to the concert that night, where James Carter kicked some ass on his sax and where the orchestra lost its way after intermission during Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet (a losing I blame half on Guerrero, half on some of the less skilled members of the group) ... and where Guerrero announced the next season before he began the concert.

And when Guerrero said the magic words "Yo-Yo Ma," the place went insane. Seriously. From the gasps in a Silva Hall drenched in red clothing (jackets, skirts, blouses, sweaters, skirts, dresses and coats on a lot of women; sweaters or ties on a very few men), it seemed the audience thought that Mr. Cello Crossover Man (whom I do like, don't get me wrong) was the Messiah or something.

Which, hey, he might be for classical music. So that means the Messiah is coming to the Hult Center Sept. 30. Get your tickets now.

Other highlights of next season:
Mozart's Jupiter Symphony
Mahler's Fifth
And score! Jennifer Higdon as composer in residence!