Baltimore Symphony Orchestra plays Carnegie Hall

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra hit the “Big Apple” Monday evening. At fabled Carnegie Hall, it performed a program titled, “Spring For Music,” under the baton of maestro Marin Alsop to the enthusiastic approval of a near-capacity audience. It featured stirring pieces by John Adams, Jennifer Higdon and Sergei Prokofiev.

 Just before the show began, there was a surprise! Maryland’s Governor Martin O’Malley, aka Marty O’Gov, walked onto the stage! He was introduced by a local radio personality. The governor took the opportunity to bestow some very-deserved praise on the members of the talented orchestra calling them “ambassadors of good will for the city and for the state.”

I overheard one audience member cracking: “Yea and he just raised taxes on gasoline!” Another later chirped to me: “I think O’Malley is sounding very presidential.”

Go figure!

The night before the Carnegie Hall gig, the BSO’s musical director, Marin Alsop, was busy on yet another front. She was down at the Parsons, The New School for Design, in Greenwich Village, near Union Square. A “collaborative effort” is underway between Parsons and the BSO to “redesign” orchestral garments. Speeches were given on the topic and a progress report was submitted. Then, some of students from Mannes College put on a delightful musical performance, which was followed by a very nice reception.

Earlier that day, a gorgeous Sunday, May 5th, I got a chance to go to the Barrymore Theatre to catch its 3 p.m. show. It was the one-man play – “Macbeth.”  That’s right – a one man play! It was the Scottish-born actor Alan Cumming performing all the parts in Shakespeare’s iconic “Macbeth.” There is only one word to describe Cumming’s acting in this one of the most demanding of roles – brilliant!

If you are headed to New York soon, check out “Macbeth.” It’s a must-see.

As for Cumming, some of the fans of the popular TV show “The Good Wife,” a legal drama, will recall him. He plays the role of Eli Gold, a sleazy campaign consultant. Cumming is just perfect in the part. Bottom line: He is a master of his craft.

As for Manhattan – it, too, was in top form. As always plenty to see and do in this city that rocks 24/7: museums, parks, local characters, great food, famous churches, Rockefeller Center, street artists, horse and carriage rides, Times Square and that old, reliable, legendary and incomparable – “Broadway!”

Check out more photos here.