How many concerts do you attend a year

sugarbrie: indeed, she does. the orchestra has matured wonderfully under her direction. unfortunately, as is the case in a number of cities, the CSO is facing a deficit of >$.5 mil this year, which will be hard to erase in this economy. -cfb

I attend the Spokane Symphony concerts between 4 and 6 times a year, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra concerts about the same amount, and use to make it to our local jazz club about once or twice a month. The jazz club, Hobarts, closed earlier this year, which means more trips to the Jazz Alley over in Seattle.

Marin Alsop will be in Baltimore with the BSO and Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg on and around May 11. I met Marin in the early 90s before she was well know. She auditioned for the Rhode Island Philharmonic job. A good friend is on their Board and invited me to atttend all the concerts with her that year that were with candidates. We both liked Marin the best, but it went to a Chinese born conductor (who was a very close second choice) who was willing to spend a lot of time in Providence promoting the orchestra in the community.

sugarbrie: i've heard and seen marin alsop conduct the CSO with nadja solerno sonnenberg performing as the soloist. if they're on form in baltimore, expect magic. absolutely not to be missed. -cfb

Hi guys.
Ben Zander's BPO has me for the year (4x), as well the Boston Chamber Music Society (4x) and a variety of choral and orchestral groups perhaps another dozen times.
I'm a sucker for great live jazz, although Ellen doesn't tag along for these rarer nights out.
Best seats? Center-front balcony at Jordan Hall, Mid-center orchestra or center 2nd balcony at Symphonuy Hall. Center front orchestra at Sanders Theater (Harvard)or Tsai Performance Center (BU), and just about anywhere at Church of the Advent for choral regalia!
I'm constantly reminded that musical satisfaction is heightened by spectral balance, timing and coherence rather than visually-correlated soundstaging. (Indeed, the slap-echo off the left sidewall at Symphony is famous for "locating" the brass that are seated right-rear!)
I usually buy mid-priced seats and move around at intermission for better or different perspective.
I used to bitch a lot about leanness in ome recordings, etc., but was rather amazed at how bright and effervescent the Cleveland SO was at Symphony last year...nonetheless I strive for a smoother balance at home (like we all do, I suspect).

Kelly...did you ever find that potential virus-monger sending attachments through your moniker? Ern