The Miraculous Mandarin #1 (for Bela Bartok)

T. Renner, "The Miraculous Mandarin #1 (for Bela Bartok)," 2009, acrylic on paper, 5" x 7".

This past Friday night, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend Blogger's Night at Powell Hall, where the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performed a program entitled "Powerful Percussion." The program included works by Igor Stravinsky, Tan Dun, Bright Sheng, and Bela Bartok, and this program will be performed at Carnegie Hall on November 4.

Over the next few days, I'll be posting a series of paintings inspired by the music that was performed.

This first work, I think, captures some of the intensity of the climax of Bela Bartok's "The Miraculous Mandarin Suite", which practically tore the roof off on Powell Hall. Watch out Carnegie Hall, David Robertson and the SLSO are on their way!