Time Travelers at Mohonk, June 2025

Mohonk Mountain House in early summer

Frederic Chiu's Classical Smackdown "Time Travelers" at The Mohonk Mountain House. I'm grateful to all who spent a precious hour with me and this great music. The results were close, and mixed! Glass won by 1 vote in the Overall column (51/49%), but Bach won a decided majority of the individual rounds (47/53%)! Women were more open to Glass, listeners under age 60 and over age 60 generally went in different directions. Check out the entire results, with breakouts by age, piano-playing, gender and round, at www.classicalsmackdown.com!

Favorite comments:

- Thank you for doing this. I didn't think I liked Glass's music. Maybe I grew into it?

- Glass=Torture. Bach=Angels Singing

Amazing concert. Thank you. Hard to choose, Both transporting

Bach is emotional for me

Bach is perfect for this beautiful place. Glass, for ICE raids and Washington DC Turmoil. It's of the time, not the place. The contrast improved the experience of listening to both composers' amazing work

Beautiful playing. Great idea for engagement - Thank you!

Glass puts me asleep, Bach wakes me up!

Loved them both - why did you make me choose?!? Thank you!

Thanks for the performance. I was only aware of Glass' silent piece, and I love how mysterious his works are. I always assumed his work would be too "out there" for me to get, but I was wrong. Thanks for the intro

Wonderful way to present both. Thank you!

Wonderful! Thank you

Bach inventions were my bane as a child! I love the expression you find in his pieces - the amazing mechanics are brought to life in your hands. <3

Frederic Chiu - how incredibly talented - what a treasure having the privilege to hear you play, your talent is amazing - thank you for sharing with the world peace <3

Loved Mad Rush. You are amazing

#1 Bach separated two hands, #2 Glass more of a straight line to the fast slow, #3 pulled the emotion out of me - sad to overwhelming

#1 Glass - haunting and passionate. It pulls you in. Increasingly complex. #2 Bach can't be beat in this one! Oh dear, More Glass - now I think it could be close: excitement! But at the end - Bach!

#2 spoke to me with Glass emphasizing hectic and challenging pace of current life

Beautiful! Thank you! Such an interesting juxtaposition!

Closer than I thought it would be, but Bach holds the lead. That said, I think I'll be working to learn those intriguing Metamorphoses - I love where Glass moves his lines! Thanks Frederic!

I didn't dislike the Glass, but overall, I found the Bach more melodious and soothing, whereas the Glass was sometimes repetitive and frantic

nothing and no one can hold a candle to Bach. Bach is fire!

Round 1 - I prefer minor keys, Round 2 - Glass a little too minimalist, Round 3 - St Matthew Passion, B Minor Mass, Handel's Messiah, and Mozart Requiem are the greatest pieces ever composed

Round 3 Glass loved. Passages were unsettling

There's so much more music to Bach. Thanks for the interesting program!

Wonderful performance - thank you! I love Bach!