ALLEGRETTO

This could very well be the only chance in life of me seeing Maestro Barenboim and Boulez conducting all of Mahler's work in a single occasion. Where am I now and what meaningful things am I doing?

MAHLER: THE SYMPHONIES IN SEQUENCE BEGINS TONIGHT!  

Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, USA. MAY 6–17, 2009

Staatskapelle Berlin DANIEL BARENBOIM, Music Director and Conductor 

PIERRE BOULEZ, Conductor 

Carnegie Hall’s complete cycle of Gustav Mahler’s symphonies begins tonight! Don’t miss the opportunity to hear these symphonies performed in order of their composition over 12 days and to gain an unparalleled view of Mahler’s lifelong creative path, from the exuberant Romanticism of his First Symphony to the haunted music of his last. Explore the life and work of Gustav Mahler in an all-day event of panel discussions, talks, and performances. Participants will include Sedgwick Clark, Henry-Louis de La Grange, and Gilbert Kaplan. 

Once thought of as musical curiosities, the symphonies of Gustav Mahler have become staples of the orchestral repertoire, and this season the Staatskapelle Berlin gives Carnegie Hall concertgoers a chance to experience the entire cycle. Hearing the works over 12 days in the order of their composition provides an unparalleled view of Mahler’s lifelong creative path, from the exuberant Romanticism of his First Symphony to the haunted music of his last. Two legendary maestros, Daniel Barenboim and Pierre Boulez, lead the Staatskapelle Berlin in a fascinating traversal through the work of this extraordinary composer, about whom Leonard Bernstein rightly said in 1967: “His time has come.” 

 “It is always the same with me; only when I experience something do I compose, and only when composing do I experience! After all, a musician's nature can hardly be expressed in words.”—Gustav Mahler 

Here's the list of my New Year resolutions for the Year of Ox:

1. People who I love and care be healthy and prosper;
2. Lower my handicap to below 20;
3. Improve my driving accuracy and hit at least 50 percent of the fairways;
4. Hit at least one fourth of the 18 greens in regulation;
5. Allow no more than three 3 putts per round;

6. Be able to save 1 shot from sand traps;

7. Improve my power to stablize my driving distance at 270 yards;
8. Cure my hook problem with hybrids;
9. Improve my long iron skills so that I can save pars on  long par 4s and long par 3s;
10. Always pick up divots on the correct side of the ball when hitting short irons and wedges;
11. No more under-the-ball slide-throughs with my 52 and 58 when hitting from rough;
12. Be able to hit fairway woods again;

13. Improve body rotation and club head speed;
14. No head moves and reverse pivot;
15. Be ready to play one shot at a time;
16. Get a swinging coach in spring;
17. Always play with patience and good temper, no more club throwing and f-words after bad shots;
18. Get more friends involve in the game and develop some real golf buddies...

The list will go on forever. But you get what I mean. 新年快乐!