Chicago's Glorious Mobsters!

Tonight David and I were thrilled to hear a concert by Chicago's MOB: aka Music of the Baroque. This wonderful ensemble is conducted by the divine Jane Glover. Ms. Glover conducts with intense musicianship, grace, finesse, and just about anything else you could ask for. She shuns a baton, using her expressive hands to paint pictures of the music she is capturing from her ensemble in a way that a stick of wood could never do. She is a damn fine conductor!

The program opened with Schubert's Symphony #5 in B flat Major, D. 485. The orchestra followed her musical ideas to the letter, presenting a fine performance.

This was followed by Mozart's Piano Concerto #17 in G Major, K. 453. The very expressive pianist was Artur Pizarro, who played with a brilliant delicacy and impressive technique.

  















The program ended with a sensational performance of Beethoven's Symphony #2 in D Major, op. 36, which brought down the house. Ms. Glover and the orchestra received a standing ovation. Well deserved.

We have three more concerts by this amazing group coming up in future months. I look forward to hearing them again and again.

Chicago is certainly blessed to have a conductor of Ms. Glover's stature and musical abilities in their midst. I don't know when I have seen such sensitive conducting. In the old days we talked about Stokowski's hands. Now I recommend Ms. Glover's!

Final good thing- in 15 minutes we were home in our condo in Kenwood. Try that in New York!