From the Cleveland Orchestra gala on Saturday night, here's the menu, prepared by executive chef Zack Bruell: A sushi selection, followed by New York strip steak with truffled cauliflower puree, roasted Spanish onion salad, pickled shiitake mushrooms, corn pudding and South American pepper sauce. For dessert, each person's plate including a dried cherry cannoli, a brownie with creme anglaise, and a grilled peach half and pound cake with Greek yogurt and honey.
Each was paired with a wine: With the sushi, a Lucien Albrecht Pinot Gris "Cuvee Romanus," Alsace, 2010; with the steak, Steltnzer Vineyards claret, Napa Valley, 2008, and with dessert, "Montaribaldi, "Righeij," Moscato D'Asti, 2010.
The elegant table settings were luminous, with four glasses at each table setting, and in the center of each table, tall "trees" topped with orchid sprays and surrounded by votive candles.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sartorial Cleveland on Opening Night
What a collection of well-dressed Clevelanders showed up for last night's opening gala of the Cleveland Orchestra's new season. Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the downstairs Smith Lobby were followed by a 90-minute concert, concluding with Ravel's "Bolero."
Before the concert, Mayor Frank Jackson made admiring remarks about the reputation of the Cleveland Orchestra and its importance to the city. As the gala was also to celebrate Franz Welser-Most's 10th anniversary with the orchestra, Mr. Jackson also presented Mr. Franz Welser-Most with a key to the city.
After the concert, the crowd moved to tables set up outside the Dress Circle and in the main lobby for a meal prepared by Chef Zack Bruell. Sushi was the first course, followed by a delicate presentation of New York strip steak, thinly sliced, sauced, and fanned out, served with carmelized onions. The tripartite dessert included a rich chocolate brownie with nuts and raspberry sauce, a baked peach, and a tiny cannoli. A different wine accompanied each course. Tiny plates of chocolate truffles concluded the meal.
If you ever get a chance to attend a performance of "Bolero," watch how each instrument is folded into the composition. It's a "Where's Waldo?" of music, as your eyes dart around to find the player. The violins and violas strum their instruments much of the time, like one would play a guitar.
I decided to go with a 1920's theme...columnar tea-length dress, silk velvet jacket, long jet beads tied in a knot, and feathers in the hair. Fortunately, the evening ended before I started molting.
Before the concert, Mayor Frank Jackson made admiring remarks about the reputation of the Cleveland Orchestra and its importance to the city. As the gala was also to celebrate Franz Welser-Most's 10th anniversary with the orchestra, Mr. Jackson also presented Mr. Franz Welser-Most with a key to the city.
After the concert, the crowd moved to tables set up outside the Dress Circle and in the main lobby for a meal prepared by Chef Zack Bruell. Sushi was the first course, followed by a delicate presentation of New York strip steak, thinly sliced, sauced, and fanned out, served with carmelized onions. The tripartite dessert included a rich chocolate brownie with nuts and raspberry sauce, a baked peach, and a tiny cannoli. A different wine accompanied each course. Tiny plates of chocolate truffles concluded the meal.
If you ever get a chance to attend a performance of "Bolero," watch how each instrument is folded into the composition. It's a "Where's Waldo?" of music, as your eyes dart around to find the player. The violins and violas strum their instruments much of the time, like one would play a guitar.
I decided to go with a 1920's theme...columnar tea-length dress, silk velvet jacket, long jet beads tied in a knot, and feathers in the hair. Fortunately, the evening ended before I started molting.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
So, You Think You Want to be in Radio?
Who doesn't? You're riding the air. Spinnin' stacks of wax. Mastering modern technology in service to timeless music.
While we're telling you what you just heard on WCLV 104.9 FM or wclv.com, each of you is in your own world, whether that's at work, home, school, or your car. Inside the control room, however, is OUR world -- planet radio.
You may laugh, but lots of people in radio ARE from a different planet and others should be sent there without delay.
At a different radio station long ago, I worked with a program host whose fetid aroma was so ripe that if your shift followed his, you'd take a deep breath in the hallway, rush through your first break, then while your first piece of music was playing, prop open the door and air out the control room.
In contrast, my WCLV colleagues are clean and well-groomed. We have one staff member who is SO clean that he washes his spare tire. Not his tummy -- the spare tire in the car trunk. We've suggested he get professional help.
While we're telling you what you just heard on WCLV 104.9 FM or wclv.com, each of you is in your own world, whether that's at work, home, school, or your car. Inside the control room, however, is OUR world -- planet radio.
You may laugh, but lots of people in radio ARE from a different planet and others should be sent there without delay.
At a different radio station long ago, I worked with a program host whose fetid aroma was so ripe that if your shift followed his, you'd take a deep breath in the hallway, rush through your first break, then while your first piece of music was playing, prop open the door and air out the control room.
In contrast, my WCLV colleagues are clean and well-groomed. We have one staff member who is SO clean that he washes his spare tire. Not his tummy -- the spare tire in the car trunk. We've suggested he get professional help.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Shaken, Not Stirred
WCLV's offices at the Idea Center at Playhouse Square started shaking around 2 p.m. Eastern time. I was at my music library work station when the chair shook. I felt momentarily dizzy, then realized when it happened again it wasn't me.
Stepping out into the hall I noticed the suspended light fixtures and "exit" signs were swaying. The shaking diminished to something analagous to a simmer, then stopped about 5 minutes later.
By this time, most of the staff came out of their studios and offices and asked if anyone else felt it. I stayed in a doorway, watching the light fixtures for clues. Once they stopped moving, it was safe to go back to work.
We checked our news sources, which stated that the quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, was centered about 87 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and felt in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York as well as Cleveland.
One member of management walked into the office shortly after the shaking stopped and, listening to the employee chatter, asked, "Was there an earthquake?" When we said yes, he said, "Get OUT!! I was at Otto Moser's (a nearby restaurant) and didn't feel a thing."
Stepping out into the hall I noticed the suspended light fixtures and "exit" signs were swaying. The shaking diminished to something analagous to a simmer, then stopped about 5 minutes later.
By this time, most of the staff came out of their studios and offices and asked if anyone else felt it. I stayed in a doorway, watching the light fixtures for clues. Once they stopped moving, it was safe to go back to work.
We checked our news sources, which stated that the quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, was centered about 87 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and felt in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York as well as Cleveland.
One member of management walked into the office shortly after the shaking stopped and, listening to the employee chatter, asked, "Was there an earthquake?" When we said yes, he said, "Get OUT!! I was at Otto Moser's (a nearby restaurant) and didn't feel a thing."
Monday, August 15, 2011
Euclid Avenue Flora
Cleveland's Euclid Avenue between E. 6th and E. 12th is closed through August 24th for filming of the comic-book picture "The Avengers." WCLV's Radioquarium is situated east of there, so my coming and going won't disturb the "quiet on the set." These nifty blossom-spilling planters filled with petunias, cannas, and other summer bloomers improve the normal Euclid soundstage.
One of our colleagues at WCLV is an extra in "The Avengers." Everyone wants his autograph.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
For Once, I Got it Right
The 2011 Cleveland International Piano Competition, which WCLV broadcast wall-to-wall from July 27th to last Sunday, challenges not only the participants, but the radio and concert hall audiences. Pick the winner? You'd have more luck freeze-drying a snowflake.
But this year, the Gods of Music Competition smiled upon your announcer, as Alexander Schimpf of Germany, shown here in the WCLV Radioquarium Monday talking to WCLV's John Simna, placed first. As he completed the Beethoven 4th concerto Saturday night with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Severance Hall crowd roared its approval. I hoped he would win.
The man producing the photographic flash reflected in the studio glass is WCLV's President and co-founder, Robert Conrad, the voice of Cleveland Orchestra broadcasts, which are syndicated by WCLV.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Piano Competition Backstory
Since last Wednesday's start of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, which WCLV broadcasts "wall to wall," the on-air staff has been seeing itself coming and going.
WCLV's Bill O'Connell has been hosting the afternoon sessions, with Mark Satola hosting evenings. Back at the "Radioquarium," Nancy Sinning, whom you hear Sundays, has been your host for the first two hours of WCLV Midday from 10 to noon. Mark hosts from noon to 4, including board-opping the afternoon sessions. Rob Grier board ops the evening sessions. Your morning announcer hosted morning and afternoon drive through yesterday.
Now that the first cut has been made, from 26 pianists to 8 semi-finalists, things will settle down. In the semi-finals, only two pianists perform each session. Bill will have time to drive from the Cleveland Play House to the Radioquarium in time to begin Drive Time at 4. Mark will again host tonight beginning at 7.
The semi-finals take place today and tomorrow. The performers have Thursday off. The finals, with the Cleveland Orchestra, are Friday and Saturday nights, with the winners' recital Sunday. Hear it all on WCLV 104.9 & wclv.com.
WCLV's Bill O'Connell has been hosting the afternoon sessions, with Mark Satola hosting evenings. Back at the "Radioquarium," Nancy Sinning, whom you hear Sundays, has been your host for the first two hours of WCLV Midday from 10 to noon. Mark hosts from noon to 4, including board-opping the afternoon sessions. Rob Grier board ops the evening sessions. Your morning announcer hosted morning and afternoon drive through yesterday.
Now that the first cut has been made, from 26 pianists to 8 semi-finalists, things will settle down. In the semi-finals, only two pianists perform each session. Bill will have time to drive from the Cleveland Play House to the Radioquarium in time to begin Drive Time at 4. Mark will again host tonight beginning at 7.
The semi-finals take place today and tomorrow. The performers have Thursday off. The finals, with the Cleveland Orchestra, are Friday and Saturday nights, with the winners' recital Sunday. Hear it all on WCLV 104.9 & wclv.com.
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