Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra 2009 Asian Tour

A sign outside a local Kaohsiung park lists many “thou shalt nots”. It begs the question, what can one do here?!

There must be an explanation, but it eludes us…

A truck driver waves hello as PSO busses come into Kaohsiung from the train station.

The predominant mode of transportation in the cities of Taiwan is motor scooter. They are omnipresent! Parking is on both sides of the street, in neat ranks.

Everyone rides, and sometimes all at once. Here a family of three has all fit on one bike together.

Also omnipresent are chain restaurants from the US.

The orchestra group took the high-speed train from Taipei to Kaohsiung. Marks on the platform indicate both the car number, and the location of the doors.

The train came into the station, from far away looking squat and round like a VW beetle.

The train’s sleek lines became evident alongside, however. The windshield is positively futuristic!

The party boards quickly, as the train departs promptly, only pausing at the station for a handful of minutes.

Neck pillows make interesting hats, here modeled by tour guest Kim Toscano…

…and by PSO timpanist Tim Adams.

Train travel here is fast, comfortable, and relaxing. As the group watches the countryside go by at lightening speed there’s time for conversation. Bassist Micah Howard and violinist Laura Motchalov smile for the camera…

…bassoonist Nancy Goeres and bassist Betsy Heston study a map…

…clarinetists Ron Samuels and Michael Rusinek chat…

…cellist Gail Czaikowski and French hornist Ron Schneider enjoy a joke…

…trumpeter George Vosburgh and librarian Joann Vosburgh smile for the cameraman…

…as do percussionist Jeremy Branson and bassist Jeffrey Turner…

…conductor Larry Loh and cellist Charlotta Ross…

…guest Lisa Parker and bassoonist David Sogg…

…violists Penny Brill and Cynthia Busch, and bassist Don Evans…

…violinists Ellen-Maria Willis and Alison Fujito…

…cellists Lauren and Hampton Mallory…

…cellist Adam Liu and Operations Manager Sonja Winkler.

Once off the train the group boarded busses to the hotel. They were remarkable busses, festooned with purple curtains with tassels, here modeled by French hornist Bob Lauver…

…and violinist Kate Black.

Flutist Jennifer Conner models pearls she purchased in China. The freshwater pearl industry is booming here.

A fanciful and elaborate decoration graces the eaves of a downtown temple.

Tiny shops line the streets here, beauty salons and fishing tackle stores elbow to elbow with a myriad of specialty food kiosks. Here a man makes sticky rice dumplings wrapped in banana leaves. Fillings are put in the center of the rice, then the package is steamed.

This shop specializes in fresh noodles.

Onion pancakes and dumplings are being fried in this kitchen.

Kaohsiung is a tropical climate, and potted plants grow quickly to astonishing size.

Kaohsiung boasts a large and busy harbor. Here the Coast Guard practices exhibition maneuvers in a set of speed boats.

Contrabassoonist Jim Rodgers and his wife Susan head for the bus to the evening rehearsal, bottled water at the ready…

…as does bassoonist Nancy Goeres. Everyone was issued passes to wear while in the venue.

And quite a venue it is! The Kaohsiung Main Stadium has just been built for the 2009 World Games which will be held here in July. The structure is huge, and resembles the “Bird’s Nest” in Beijing. The exoskeleton of this arena is more regular, however, resembling a monstrous Slinky wrapped in a circle!

Musicians chat as an army of workers ready the arena for the evening’s rehearsal.

Violinist Hong-Guang Jia smiles for our cameraman on his way over to the other side of the stage.

Anne Williams and her cello are dwarfed as they stand on the field of the vast arena.

Cameraman Chuck Lirette chats with violinists Laura Motchalov and Yuko Uchiyama.

On the program in Kaohsiung is the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. It is a multinational endeavor, the choir hailing from Taiwan and from Vienna, as proclaimed by this welcoming sign in the hotel where everyone is staying.

Music stands for the event are on loan from the Kaohsiung City Chinese Orchestra!

Although often helped by local venue staff, the majority of the complicated logistics in moving, setting up and packing away the extensive PSO equipment and instrument trunks is handled by stage technicians Jim Petri…

…Rocky Esposito…

…and John Karapandi, who tonight looks a bit like a Ninja! The temperature at this arena was in the 80’s and 90’s during the load-in, with matching humidity.

PSO President and CEO Larry Tamburri smiles down from the stage.

Music Director Manfred Honeck consults with staff before the rehearsal. The concert here will also include Tchaikowski’s “1812 Overture”, so cannon shots and accompanying fireworks have to be considered among all the other logistics for this event!

A smile from trumpeter Neal Berntsen.

Players assemble on stage to check out seating arrangements and to practice a bit before the rehearsal begins. Laurien Hart plays…

…percussionist Jeremy Branson makes a notation in his music…

…violists Andrew Wickesberg and Meng Wang smile for the camera on their way to the stage…

…and oboist Scott Bell has a smile for us, too!

Checking out the preparations all around were violist Erin Laraby-Goldwasser…

…bassoonist David Sogg…

…and French hornists Zach Smith…

…and Bill Caballero.

Trombonist Pete Sullivan warms up, engulfed by the huge choir behind him.