Another musical antidote for the recession, plus swine flu, infrastructure collapse, whatever
Another week is drawing to a close, having produced many a worry. The Great Recession continued to gnaw away (including very close to home, journalistically speaking). The Great Infrastructure Danger hit Baltimore hard in the form of massive water main breaks. And then there's the Swine flu panic. What's next? Locusts?
As always, music can provide some relief for whatever ails us. I sought this week's antidote in the works of one of my all-time faves, Francis Poulenc. The middle movement of his captivating Concerto for Two Pianos seems to strike just the right chords, combining nostalgia and bittersweetness with a taste of exquisite beauty to keep the spirits going. It doesn't last long, so feel free to hit the re-play button as often as needed. This particular performance features the composer as one of the pianists; the other is Jacques Février. George Pretre conducts.
