In case you needed more proof that Atlanta is on the cutting edge of the “classical music” scene, ATLarts is reporting that ASO music director Robert Spano and Wynton Marsalis are in the midst of a collaboration on a symphonic piece that has been tentatively scheduled to premiere in Atlanta in July.

Oh man, I can feel the synergy!   (Says the ASOC member in full disclosure)

The AJC has a review of the ASO Christmas concert by someone other than Pierre Ruhe.

While he generally praises the three performing choruses (Gwinnett Young Singers, Morehouse Glee Club and ASOC) he makes a questionable assertion at the start.

“Standing still can be dangerous for an orchestra, and the rows of empty seats on Thursday were a poignant reminder of the price to be paid. But those who showed up had a swell time, thanks partly to Norman Mackenzie’s meticulous conducting.”

While I recognize that there are many standards in the ASO Christmas concert repertoire that remain the same from year to year, I wouldn’t call that a “timewarp” and I certainly don’t blame that for some empty seats on Thursday night.

Christmas events worldwide are all about tradition and this Christmas show, created by local icon Robert Shaw, is one of the city’s great traditions. Once a year, this organization celebrates both its past and the holiday season using Shaw’s massive Christmas catalog of music, which anyone that’s sung in a high school chorus has sang in their youth.

Now, if the ASO were stuck in a Robert Shaw rut, only performing Shaw’s well-known favorites, I might call the Christmas concert part of that a “time warp”. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. With Robert Spano at the helm, this orchestra has become one of the most progressive in the country. The recent $1 million Mellon Grant won by the ASO or Robert Spano’s recent Conductor of the Year award for forward-thinking stand in stark contrast to a “time warp” assertion.

So, if all this is true, why the lighter attendance on a Thursday?

Because its a Thursday night! Crowds are always a little lighter on Thursday, especially when its a 4 performance concert.

In fact, Friday and both Saturday concerts are completely sold out! These classic concerts, like so many others (Carmina, Beethoven’s 9th, etc…) always draw the biggest crowds.

These concerts are both big money makers and a great way to continue an Atlanta tradition, not a stale, pointless continuation that only delivers empty seats.

Obviously, this is just this one volunteer’s opinion.

Are the plethora of holiday happenings around Atlanta a bit too overwhelming? Here a few of my and other bloggers’ picks…

The Decatur Arts Alliance blog notes the Decatur Civic Chorus‘ Christmas Concert at the First Baptist Church this coming Sunday…

The ladies over at Pecanne Log highly recommend the ASO Gospel Christmas Concert next Friday Dec 14th at 8p, while I suggest (with rather strong bias) Christmas with the ASO, which is going on this weekend (though I’ve heard Saturday performances are already sold out).

Also don’t forget that the Decatur Tour of Homes ($20) starts this evening at 5:30p and runs tomorrow night too. (See this previous post for more details) If you’re too busy singing Christmas concerts and can’t do the Decatur Tour of Homes (like me) consider checking of Avondale’s Christmas Tour of Homes and Market ($12) on Sunday from 3p-8p.