The world-renowned orchestra performance started with surprise — Emil Kang UNC director for the arts announced that maestro Valery Gergiev decided to rearrange the entire program for the evening.
The Kirov Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre performed its first of two concerts Tuesday night in Memorial Hall presented by Carolina Performing Arts.
In his introduction Kang compared picking a favorite performance of the season to picking a favorite child — almost impossible. He then admitted he has been looking forward to this performance more than all others in the Carolina Performing Arts' 2008 season.
The Kirov Orchestra passionately and flawlessly played every piece.
Even with nearly a third of the house empty the orchestra delivered a magical performance — Gergiev lived up to his famous name.
Gergiev's conducting transformed with each piece from his hands swaying gently to his staccato arm movements exciting the audience.
Some in the audience swayed along with the powerful music bobbing their head in a mesmerized stare.
While the music filled the room with melodic harmonies and frenzied excitement watching the orchestra itself was a intriguing performance.
Although the concert ended an hour late because of several standing ovations few seemed to mind.
Carolina Performing Arts recently decided to dramatically lower ticket prices for the shows because the orchestra had not sold as many tickets as Carolina Performing Arts expected.
Today's concert seems more promising for attendance with nearly 1000 tickets sold and about 450 left.
Kristina Koford a graduate student at UNC" said she was not surprised by the emotional performance.
""I originally wasn't planning on attending" but read a review in The New York Times and decided to come" she said.
She said she paid the $10 for her ticket, the new lower price, and would not have attended at full price of $35.
Senior William Yopp said he regularly listens to classical music. Unlike Koford, he paid the original $35, but was not too upset about the price change.
Yopp also said he took a Russian history class that sparked his interest in the Mariinsky Theatre.
He said he thought the show would sell quickly and had not expected the price to be decreased.
I was really excited about it. I thought it was a good choice and knew it was a good orchestra"" Yopp said.
ATTEND THE SECOND CONCERT
Time: 7:30 p.m. today
Location: Memorial Hall
Info: www.carolinaperformingarts.org
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
