Shostakovich and Schubert at Severance Guest conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, less than a year after a summer appearance here , returned to Severance Hall this weekend to lead the...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2026/04/shos... #ClassicalMusic

Fauré, Poulenc, Casella, and Debussy at Severance Guest conductor Daniele Rustioni led this weekend’s Cleveland Orchestra concerts in a program of mostly French music. The concert began wi...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2026/04/faur... #ClassicalMusic

Stravinsky, Haydn, and Beethoven at Severance Guest conductor Elim Chan returned to Cleveland to lead a varied program that ranged from the classical age, to the cusp of the romantic era...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2026/03/stra... #ClassicalMusic

Music of Unsuk Chin and Richard Strauss at Severance As befits the shortest month of the year, this evening’s Cleveland Orchestra program at Severance Hall , which featured guest conductor   Al...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2026/02/musi...

Manacorda and Hadelich with the Cleveland Orchestra at Severance This weekend’s Cleveland Orchestra concerts featured guest conductor Antonello Manacorda along with the welcome return of one of the greates...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2026/02/mana... #ClassicalMusic

The constancy of change I made a stock pot of Split Pea Soup , enough to last a week, to counter the cold weather this weekend.   While the soup simmered I had so...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-... #SouthEuclid

Mozart and Shostakovich Symphonies at Severance Contrasting symphonies from the 18 th and 20 th centuries were on the program at this weekend’s Cleveland Orchestra concerts led by music ...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2026/01/moza...

My review of this weekend's Cleveland Orchestra concerts at Severance, and a reflection on Shostakovich's significance in 21st Century America.

2025 in Review 2025 was a year filled with challenges and frustrations, yet with progress on the personal front. January was a particularly difficult mon...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/12/2025...

Ravel and Ligeti at Severance Hall Tonight’s Cleveland Orchestra concert featured a pair of piano concertos performed by guest soloist Yuja Wang, with by guest conductor Petr ...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/11/rave...

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Concerts at CIM and Severance with a composition in common This week saw two different concerts which included one duplicate work, providing an opportunity for comparison and contrast. The first wa...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/11/conc... #ClassicalMusic

Probably a lot of sailors putting in for no-shave chits just so they can avoid this asshat.

Late masterworks by Sibelius and Beethoven at Severance Tonight’s Cleveland Orchestra concert had the highest attendance I’ve seen in many months, with an especially attentive audience on hand for...

My review of tonight's Cleveland Orchestra concert. hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/10/late...

Trump’s gauche vandalism of the Peoples’ House Donald Trump’s decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House, along with his, ahem, questionable decorating choices within the Oval ...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/10/trum... #WhiteHouse

Autumnal Prokofiev and Brahms at Severance The weather in northeast Ohio segued from Summer to Fall this week, and it’s appropriate that The Cleveland Orchestra presented a program wh...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/10/autu... #ClassicalMusic

Deutsch, Richard Strauss, and Ravel at Severance Hall Music director Franz Welser-Möst opened The Cleveland Orchestra’s 2025-2026 season with works from the 20 th and 21 st centuries. The co...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/09/deut...

Among the Trees YouTube video by HankDrake

My newest composition, inspired by a verse read to me by a close friend. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRFU...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/.../independ....
Thoughts on Independence Day and the prison of Provincialism - something to offend everyone!

Facebook idiocy

What the actual eff. I have always been my authentic self.

Spanish Fantasy YouTube video by HankDrake

My latest composition, inspired by a trip to Spain.

youtu.be/tesz5m2wfHE

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/05/jana...

My review of the Cleveland Orchestra's presentation of Jenůfa, with a digression to reconciliation and justice.

Mozart, Loggins-Hull, and Prokofiev at Severance The 2024-2025 Cleveland Orchestra season is nearing its end.  Music Director Franz Welser-Möst led the orchestra in a typical program which ...

hankdrake.blogspot.com/2025/05/moza... #ClevelandOrchestra

#PopeFrancis

#ConfederateSurrenderDay