Welcome back to "Where In the World Is JoAnn Falletta?," the show wherein we track and trail our globe-trotting maestra around the wide, wide world.
Last time we played this game we were a few miles off. It turned out our divinations were not completely accurate. Falletta was in London, not where we said she was. Well, we were close! Getting there was half the fun.
Today we are absolutely sure! So, without further ado ...
Where in the world is JoAnn Falletta?
She is in this city.
Here is a hint. The city's name means "Northern Capital."
Let us take another shot. It is of ancient fortifications!
Here is a clue that is closer to home.
Think food.
Got it yet? JoAnn Falletta is in ...
Beijing!
That is the Great Hall of the People above. And above that is Peking Duck. Before it was Beijing, Beijing was Peking.
The Tonawanda map will lead you to Beijing Garden.
The picture above that is of the Great Wall where JoAnn Falletta went wandering the other day according to an email she sent to Pop Stand. That's right, this is direct information!
"I am here in Beijing, conducting the Beijing Symphony - What a fascinating city- I went walking today on the Great Wall (actually quite challenging- it is VERY steep) and went to the Ming Tombs and the Olympic Stadium, she writes.
She adds: "The concert will actually take place in the Forbidden City!"
Pop Stand wrote back to Falletta telling her not to get persecuted, that from what we were reading, a lot of people in Beijing were getting persecuted.
She replied:
"So far it has been wonderful! The environment is very different, but somehow musicians must have the same chemical makeup. We really enjoyed our Tchaikovsky and Beethoven together today. No discussion of politics! Just music-making."
BPO Concertmaster Michael Ludwig is making his debut in Beijing. He is playing the Wieniawski D Minor Concerto which goes like this.
That is an earlier Michael on violin. It is Michael Rabin. What a romantic piece that is.
The Forbidden City is echoing with it even as we speak!
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