THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony No. 2

Wow! That says it all. Last Saturday The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, under the direction and baton of Marin Alsop, played Gustav Mahler’s (1860-1911) Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection” at the Strathmore Music Center in north Bethesda. The full orchestra and 120 member Baltimore Choral Arts Society performed this 90 minute work along with soloists soprano Layla Claire and mezzo Susan Platts who were clear as a bell without any amplification. Amazing! For information, call 1-877-BSO-1444 or 410-783-8000. Check the website at www.BSOmusic.org.

A Tasting at the Four Seasons Hotel, D.C.

Once a year, Second Chance Employment Services, holds a Gala fund raiser at the Four Seasons Hotel at 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW in the District. As a founding Board member of SCES I was asked to select a menu for the Gala dinner. What a lovely experience. I’ve been to many tastings, but this Four Seasons tasting was the most elegant. I also brought my wife as she has been to many tastings at hotels all around the country in her former job as a national convention director. We met with assistant director of catering, Tina Nader, in a beautifully appointed dining area, who introduced us to Executive Chef Doug Anderson and Executive Sous Chef Dustin Willett. They presented two salad appetizers, three entrées and two dessert courses paired with appropriate wines. Both the presentation and the taste of the food were equally important. We selected a spinach salad with roasted pear slices, dates, dried cranberries, pecans, raisins and a shallot vinaigrette dressing. For the entrée we chose a miso glazed sea bass filet over a mushroom scallion risotto. And, we selected a plate of three small desserts as the final course which consisted of a chocolate cherry mousse dome, raspberry sorbet and a tower of raspberries. The Four Seasons is well known for its charity fund raisers and of course, weddings. So, if you’re planning a special event, you might want to call Tina Nader at the Four Seasons Hotel at 202-944-2060 or e-mail her at tina.nader@fourseasons.com.