Sold-out shows, scalpers end CSO tour

The CSO's 12-city tour of Europe is now a blur. Like most of the other concerts on this tour, the final three in Spain were sold-out triumphs. Barcelona, where the orchestra played in 2004, has an extraordinary hall, Palau de la Musica Catalana, a riot of decoration, peacock-colored stained glass, frescos -- all capped by a ceiling that looks like a Tiffany lamp.

What I enjoyed about this hall last Thursday was the casual crowd, which had drinks on a patio outside, as well as inside at a wonderful bar. And nearly every hall had audience seated behind the orchestra, where people leaned over to watch the musicians play, or watched to see how Jarvi communicated with them.

On Friday, the CSO played its final concert in Madrid's Auditorio Nacional -- at the impossible hour of 10:30 p.m. The concert ended around 1 a.m.

But this was Spain, so people were just starting their evening. Amazingly, a full orchestra concert preceded the CSO's in the same hall -- Madrid's orchestra, conducted by Leonard Slatkin and starring the Chinese pianist Lang Lang in Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2.

Slatkin came backstage -- where Paavo Jarvi's name was already taped onto his dressing room door -- and greeted some old friends in the orchestra, including his former youth orchestra student, Catherine Lange-Jensen.

What amazed me -- both concerts were sold out, with scalpers outside selling tickets.

Other images of Spain - a sudden thunder-and-hail storm in Barcelona... and the fantastic market right off the Rambla; audience members outside the Palau de la Musica before the concert.

Would you like to have seating behind the orchestra at Music Hall? A patio and bar for drinks and appetizers?