THE PLANETS Saturday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. • The Palace Theatre, Greensburg Before we travel the solar system with Holst’s The Planets you’ll experience Radu Ratoi’s one-of-a-kind performance of J.S. Bach’s Concerto in D Minor on the accordion. New! Daniel Meyer and Radu Ratoi Interview With over 2,400 parts, the accordion is a powerful instrument, perfect for bringing Bach’s Concerto in D Mino r to life. WSO Artistic Director Daniel Meyer recently met up with with accordion virtuoso Radu Ratoi to discuss the music, the instrument, and this unique performance. Click to watch the 6-minute interview GET TICKETS 🎹 What happens when Bach meets the accordion? Hear Radu perform Get to Know Radu Ratoi 🪗 Radu Ratoi started playing accordion at the age of 6. 📍 He is from Chisinau, in the Republic of Moldova 🎵Radu is playing a Pigini Nova-RR–specially built and modified for him 🏆He has won more than 60 national and intern...
A few minutes into Water for Elephants, and I began wondering how the production company ever auditioned for the show. I mean I’ve heard of actors who tripled down as theater characters, dancers and singers, but never one in which they also might have to have acrobatic, juggling and gymnastic skills as well. It made me recall the first time I watched Sondheim’s Company on Youtube.com, the one staring Raul Esparza as Bobby. Then, I was aghast to see the actors playing musical instruments in between their cameo roles. Then it dawned on me that some of the acrobats were merely that and may not have been required to dance, sing or act. At any rate, the show is especially acrobatic with some death-defying moments. Like the time a gaggle of gents toss a female actor from place to place through the air like she was some rag doll. Or the way one intrepid fellow shot down a rope head first, stopping just short of the stage by inches. Or the suspended performer who spins on a rope ...