- Barber: We are so glad you're here
because you are the last piece of the puzzle.
We've been working together remotely and in the same room
for the last several days, but without you,
our job isn't done.
So, band, take a look out there.
What do you see?
Yeah, they look a little scary?
It's a little dark, all right.
Feel free to wave at your people.
If you see your people, yeah, feel free to wave back.
Got it? There you go.
Find them.
They go all the way up to the top,
which is absolutely amazing.
Yeah.
We're about to play a piece called "Perseids."
We had a chance to meet the composer and Zoom with her.
She's fantastic.
And one thing we'd like to share with you
is that if you feel like smiling, please do.
If you feel like laughing, please do.
If you feel like dancing, please do.
We're not kidding.
That really helps us.
I'm about to say something to the band.
It applies to you too, but you don't know what it means,
so you'll have to wait until dinnertime.
They can tell you what it means a little bit later.
Band, "Be the baby."
Yeah? Got that baby in your mind?
Yeah.
"Be the baby," see if you can get them bopping.
That's the whole idea.
Ladies and gentlemen, we're gonna start the show here
with "Perseids" by Alexandra Gardner.
[cheers and applause]
[light instrumental music]
*
[cheers and applause]
And now, we find out the truth.
So, band, were they the baby?
You were thinking, "We were busy.
We couldn't exactly tell."
Yeah.
A little bit of bopping in there, hopefully.
Some fun, Yeah.
One of the great things
in being able to come and work with groups like this
is to test their skills,
is to bend them around, and see how flexible they can be.
So, that wonderful first piece,
all about grooves and these lovely sparkling colors.
We're going in the opposite direction now.
The next piece by John Mackey, "This Cruel Moon."
You can read in your program
about the story of Calypso and Odysseus,
and a very strange relationship
and a great deal of sadness that's in the relationship.
The piece that Mackey has written is absolutely beautiful,
and it's a great opportunity for the ensemble
now to reach out with the sound to you in a particular way.
We've been talking about memory foam, right?
We've been talking about that idea
of expanding and filling that space.
Expand to fill the space now to include you.
I have the feeling that if you were to
breathe in deeply, [inhales] we would know about it.
If we're to breathe in deeply, you'll know about it,
and we'll be able to share,
you'll be able to feel that energy back and forth.
It's an absolutely gorgeous piece
and the ensemble
is doing a beautiful, beautiful job with it.
Hope you'll enjoy, in a sad way.
But a good, sad way.
John Mackey's "This Cruel Moon".
[somber band music]
*
[applause]
We got to do that in June.
We got to do that yesterday and today.
This is the best job in the world, let me tell you.
A wonderful, wonderful thing.
And we finally, finally got to share it with you
and we're so glad to have had that opportunity
and to continue that opportunity.
I think the moral of the story,
or a moral of the story is that live matters.
Having people in the room with us matters.
It's not the same, right?
It's not the same as listening to the stereo.
[applause] Yeah.
And in order to pull this off, as you all already know,
there's an enormous team that's working behind the scenes
and in front of the scenes
and everywhere to make it possible.
And I am so grateful for that work that they're doing,
I'm so grateful that you all have encouraged
and allowed your people to come and be a part of this,
such a special thing.
And I can tell you, I travel around the country,
I have opportunities to conduct groups
like this quite frequently,
and Wisconsin knows how to do it right.
It's very true. [applause]
Wisconsin is a nation leader in how to put together
an honors program and it's absolutely a delight.
Would like to take a formal opportunity now also
to thank them, because without them,
none of this happens and they have been incredible.
Even, believe it or not, when we were Zooming.
I know, hard to remember that, right?
And we actually did that,
but it was amazing to have that opportunity
and to have you here now and sharing with them.
And guess what?
Maslanka is coming.
You ready?
Is the baby fired up?
I think so.
It's gonna be kind of a special baby.
Maslanka is coming.
If you don't know this piece, [gasps],
I suspect you're gonna be driving home far too fast.
Just fair warning. [audience laughs]
Fair warning.
It's an amazing, amazing piece.
Comes at you in two movements, but they're linked
and I'll give you a little bit fair warning,
as well, there will be some times
when you think, are they done?
Nope, nope.
You'll know, believe me, you will know when we're done.
It's a wonderful piece.
It bends and stretches all around.
It's a huge journey with a triumphant, triumphant ending.
So it's a great way, I think,
to wrap up our portion of this.
Certainly better-- and we loved the orchestra.
They did a wonderful job,
but they marched you to the scaffold.
[audience laughs]
I'm just saying...
[laughter] Okay?
We're not.
[applause] [conductor laughs]
Thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen.
Please enjoy "Give Us This Day" by David Maslanka.
[light band music]
[dramatic music]
*
[dramatic music]
*
[dramatic music]
*
[cheers and applause]
[quiet background conversation]