A few memories from the past season

Clint Maedgen and Bingo!

The Celebrity Series 2006-2007 season is behind us. But before the 2007-2008 season gets going, I want share a few of my favorite memories from the season's performances while I still remember them:

Clint Maedgen and Bingo alarming Symphony Hall staff by scampering around with their guerilla vaudeville side-show in and on a suitcase . . . Vladimir Ashkenazy coming offstage at the NHK Symphony concert and saying to no one in particular, "La Mer, it's a MIRACLE!" . . . New York Times columnist Frank Rich chatting backstage with his one-time undergraduate English professor, Richard Dyer (also known in these parts as the former classical music critic of The Boston Globe). We tapped Mr. Dyer to introduce Rich (God, we're good!) . . . and Rich later signing copies of  The Greatest Story Ever Sold at John Hancock Hall while his son, Simon (the one with the two-book deal while still an undergrad), waited quietly nearby looking no older than twelve . . . violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter scrunching up her face with disdain when a patron at her CD signing asked her to autograph a violin she had brought, "No, I can't do THAT" . . . Angelika Kirchschlager giggling right before going onstage at Jordan Hall after confessing that she just wanted "some chocolate right now" . . . vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater ooh-ing and aah-ing (before signing) my well worn copy of Suite for Pops by the Thad Jones Mel Lewis Big Band which she recorded with the band at age 19 . . . Complexions Contemporary Ballet utterly FILLING UP the stage at the Tsai Center for the Performing Arts . . . the amazing Garrison Keillor coming to Symphony Hall coatless in 20 degree weather, doing 90 solo minutes with no intermission and no notes, standing in the hallway outside the stage door until the last well-wisher left, then heading to his hotel to write his newspaper column . . . though she eventually canceled in Boston, Dawn Upshaw's game attempt to keep as many dates as possible on her tour after battling cancer . . . conductor Riccardo Chailly, clearly thrilled to have his job, giving a lengthy lecture on the history of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra to Arthur Nikisch's grand nephew, who lives here in Boston . . . Barbara Cook's gorgeous singing and utterly natural onstage banter . . . Wynton Marsalis' always amazing Symphony Hall encore. This year's edition: a blues with a piano and bass...an exhausted Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) remarking to his bandmates as they headed out on the town, "Wow, you guys are party animals" . . . larger than life personality, Karita Mattila, telling well-wishers about the clothes and costume jewelry her mother wore on the farm - she managed to be hilarious, respectful and completely complimentary at the same time . . . Bobby McFerrin's doubletake and laughter as he came offstage and glanced at Symphony Hall's backstage clock (yes, Bobby, you were singing that long, not that we're complaining) . . .

I invite any of you to submit your own memories from the Celebrity Series of 06-07 . . .