Opera takes a stunning leap ... REGION Edition

• Published in: Pittsburgh post-gazette (Pittsburgh, Pa. 1978)
• Main Author: KARLA BOOS SQUIRREL HILL JANE FLANDERS SQUIRREL HILL BECKY RICKARD MOUNT WASHINGTON CESAR SFREDDO MOUNT WASHINGTON
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pittsburgh, Pa Pittsburgh Post - Gazette 11.05.2001
• Subjects: Hahn, Christopher
• ISSN: 1068-624X

I must say that the U2 concert was the best one I have ever seen. I have been a fan of U2 for a long time, but had never seen them in concert. The band did not let me down! As someone who was fortunate to see concerts like Billy Joel (a personal favorite), Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in both New Jersey and Pittsburgh, and many other of the "great bands," U2 surpassed them all. Not only did they sound great, but the crowd participation in the Mellon Arena was incredible. Thank you, Andrew Druckenbrod, for your astute comments about last weekend's symphony concert, especially the premiered work by Augusta Read Thomas. In fact, our party of four Pitt faculty members who attended the Sunday concert were all in agreement: it was disappointing -- confused, cacophonous, muddy and academic. It seemed formless, pointless, just loud and dissonant. You hit the nail on the head: It was the kind of music that alienates audiences, although it may please other composers.