Controversy

Wow, that Roberto Sierra Mass really stirred thing up with our loyal readers! All I can say to all of your comments (see the previous post) is that as many opinions as our audience had, our musicians also had. You guys out there are just a good a sampling of musical opinions and tastes as any group of people would be, "classically trained" or not. Keep up the dialogue guys! (and for my part, I liked the La Bamba section, the Oye Como Va section, and a lot of the other sections but agree it was a bit long-winded!)

See below for highlights from our readers:

"It’s not often when, before the concert, the usher stands in front of your section and announces that going to the rest room during the intermission is probably going to be a good idea. At that point I knew this was not going to be a typical evening with the HSO."

"It was brilliant and the HSO’s performance was superb."

"I'm not a musician, so I can't really appreciate the 'technical' aspect of the piece. In all honesty, I haven't quite heard the entire piece ... I left during intermission!!. But what I have heard of it did not sound like anything I would pay to hear again--or even want to hear again. If I was new to the symphony that night (especially considering how Beethoven was first on the program), I probably wouldn't have gone back."

"The way I see it; it is the responsibility – even duty – of a major symphony orchestra to perform all major classical works of significance for the general public to hear. In the last few decades Roberto Sierra has immerged as one of the major classical composures of modern times. Even though entertainment is a very important part of any “for profit” musical organization; education also falls under the parameters of what a symphony orchestra is to provide."

"to put it in a form of musical theatre jargon; one might look at this concert as the Beethoven being the spoon full of sugar that helps the medicine - Missa Latina - go down. But let me tell you; Roberto Sierra’s Missa Latina is on fine piece of modern day classical composition. And… the HSO’s presentation of Beethoven’s Eight was truly a spoon full of sugar."