View from the Podium, Conductor Eímear Noone: August 2013

One of the great things about being a conductor - you get the best seats in the house.

This past April I had the pleasure of opening for, and then accompanying "The Empress of Soul" herself, Ms. Gladys Knight, for three shows with The Pacific Symphony. I was so captured by Ms. Knight's performance, it was hard to remember I had a job to do as well! She is truly amazing!

I opened the shows with my "Orchestral Mix Tape," an eclectic collection of some of my favorites including Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," Bernstein's "Overture to Candide," Debusy's "Clair De Lune," and even my husband Craig's orchestral tone poem based on AC/DC's "Back in Black" (I told you it was eclectic!).

And what a pleasure it was to work with Gladys's band under the direction of the amazing De'Miyon Hall.

Gladys, Eímear and my Madi

Bubba Knight!

De'Miyon Hall, Eímear, Yuko Tamura

It is completely true: The Philadelphia Orchestra sounds like none other.

Philadelphia is famous for many things: The birthplace of America, the Liberty Bell, Philly cheese steaks, but as I shared with the audience at The Mann Center on July 25th last, to me as a kid, Philadelphia was famous for one reason only: it's where the Philadelphia Orchestra lives!

Photo by Derek Brad

As excited as I was by the prospect of another performance at Philadelphia's incomparable Mann Center, and as exhilarating as I found last year's performances with The Pittsburgh Symphony (one of my favorite American orchestras at the moment), the chance to conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra and experience that legendary sound from the inside - one I had been listening to from childhood - was something I had been looking forward to for months.

Conducting with the Wind Waker, and a little Hyrulian
Photo by Derek Brad

The riches of musical life are such that two great orchestras can sound so different and bring equal measures of pleasure: the finest of restaurants with different flavors.

Every moment on stage was exhilarating, every turn an adventure. It was difficult not to get distracted when that Philadelphia string sound, coupled with Koji Kondo's famous melodies, came toward me like a wave. The violin solos were exquisite under the fingers of our concertmaster for the night, Juliette Kang, a true audience favorite.

Photo by Derek Brad

The atmosphere at The Mann was electric with cheers of pride from the home audience when I explained how "epic" the contribution of their very own Philadelphia Orchestra was to music history.

Before the concert I took part in a video installation project featuring some of The Mann's performers, created by photographic/video artist Derek Brad, official photographer for The Mann. The concept of the project was intriguing to me but I daren't spoil the surprise before Derek's launch.

Thanks to Juliette Kang and the musicians of The Philadelphia Orchestra (especially those who came to my dressing room afterwards and gave me a thumbs-up, it meant the world to me!); Travis Wells and the orchestra's administrative staff; Derek Brad and a big hug to my friends at the Mann: Catherine Cahill, Nancy Newman, Ed Kasses, Debbie Lobel and Tony, the worlds best driver/tour-guide/all-around-great-Philly-guy.

Here's a quote from a review of the performance by Vir Animus of The Knights of Hyrule (probably the most poetic review I've ever had...):

"Eimear Noone’s own performance was mesmerizing. Despite her delicate physical condition, Mrs. Noone commanded the prodigious orchestra with a dance of great technical skill. She ambulated every jointed point of her body, leaning forward and back to urge the musicians on and carry their instrumental voices into the heavens. At several points, she was moving with such ferocity and passion that she almost appeared to be battling the enemies on screen at her pedestal. Her love of the material was maternal and evident by the smile on her face that grew as she first stepped out on stage and did not dissipate until long after she stepped out of the spotlight."