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| Last Thursday's Concert | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 28 2016, 06:51 AM (127 Views) | |
| George K | Oct 28 2016, 06:51 AM Post #1 |
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Finally
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At the CSO last week, I had an...interesting evening. First, the music. David Afkham led the Chicago Symphony in a program that consisted of two works. First up was the Beethoven Piano Concerto #1 with Emmanuel Ax as soloist. I've always been a fan of Ax, and his recording of the Beethoven Third Piano Concerto is one of my favorites. I'm torn as to the 1st piano concerto. At times, I hear it performed in an almost Mozart-like interpretation - light, airy and full of virtuosic runs. I first saw it performed live about 10 years ago, with Claude Frank performing. I remember how this wizened, frail-looking old man sat at the piano and all thoughts of Mozart went away. Fire came from his fingers, and this was a lean and sinewy performance. Well, there was no Mozart in Ax's performance either. He threw away the lightness as well as the sinew. This was the young (age 28 or so), muscular Beethoven, once again, saying "Here I am!" The orchestra played in a strong, powerful way as well. Ax and Arkham played off each other perfectly, understanding what each wanted from the other. Ax has a relaxed style that, if you didn't hear what came out of his hands, would look peaceful. This wasn't however, peaceful or light. I'm not sure if I prefer this interpretation, but that doesn't diminish its validity. After three curtain calls, as an encore, Ax played "Des Abends" by Schumann. I am ashamed to say that I'm not as familiar with the Shostakovich 10th symphony as I should be. Yes, I'm aware that it was written shortly after Stalin's death, and the second movement is all about Stalin, and the ever-pervasive DSCH theme in the third movement is semi-autobiographical. However, that didn't diminish my enjoyment of it. I knew where the music was going at any moment, so, though not thoroughly intimate with the music, I never felt lost. The interpretation that Arkham gave was remarkable. It was full of bitterness, anger, and (yeah, everyone uses this word to describe Shostakovich's music) irony. It was like riding a roller coaster of elation and sadness - at times, anguish (particularly with the 2nd theme of the 3rd movement). But, back to the 2nd (Stalin) movement - it was as martial as could be. The CSO's percussion section shone, particularly at the moments where the staccato drumbeats actually sounded like gunshots (never heard an interpretation like that before). The moment I'm talking about can be heard here at about 24:30. The percussion was sharp and incisive. Gunshot, indeed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_HzLh6-hb8&ab_channel=ClassicMusicbyDavidKim As I said, it was full of agony, particularly the third movement, "Allegretto". One could feel the yearning and sorrow - as well as, perhaps, the hope (at the end) that with Stalin's death, things would get better for poor Dimitri. A wonderful concert, and one that I'll remember for a long time. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| George K | Oct 28 2016, 07:01 AM Post #2 |
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Finally
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Now, on to the non-musical part. At my last concert, I found that I had two new seat-mates for my subscription. To my right was a little lady, about 5 foot tall, who was just a bit..disheveled. Perhaps frumpy is a better adjective. If she were about 50 years younger, I'd describe her as hipster wannabe. Though short, she was not petite, a bit on the pudgy side. She spilled over on to my seat, just a bit. Enough to make me sit just a bit uncomfortably. But, just a bit. To my left, however, was a LARGE woman. She stood about 5 foot 8, and I'm sure topped the scales north of 280. She spilled over into my seat A LOT. So, as we listened to the Beethoven 7th, I was quite uncomfortable. So, it was with some trepidation I went last week. Short and frumpy was to my right again. However, during intermission, we struck up a conversation, after we realized that we were seat-mates for the season. She is from Israel, and she's been going to the CSO forever. She was quite delightful, and intermission seemed shorter than it usually is. I was relieved to see that to my left, was someone new. A woman, I'd guess in her late 30s was with her husband. She was quite attractive, and very, very pregnant - probably a good 7 months. My relief was short-lived however. I was more than a bit annoyed when she kept leafing through the program during the music. I get it, if you want to read about the music, do so, but for goodness' sake, don't keep flipping back and forth through the program. But then, the unspeakable happened. During the Beethoven, she decided to keep her cellphone in her lap, face down. She kept checking it for texts (which did come through), and on at least 3 occasions she responded. An unbelievable distraction. The same thing happened during the Shostakovich. I should have said something, but I didn't. If she ends up sitting next to me the week after next, you can believe I will say something, and it won't be too polite. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Catlady | Oct 28 2016, 07:40 AM Post #3 |
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Junior Carp
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Sounds like it was a great *musical* performance, but not so great seat mate situation. Manny is was of my favorite performers and people. Many years ago, we became friends during a European tour with the NSO. He was was very friendly and polite to my mother, who tagged along on the tour. She was like a fish out of water at times and he went out of his way to make her feel welcome and even sought her out at breakfasts to share her table. A great guy. Your cel phone gal needs to be taught a lesson. Edited by Catlady, Oct 28 2016, 07:42 AM.
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| Tav D | Oct 28 2016, 08:00 AM Post #4 |
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Junior Carp
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I remember attending a concert of the CSO (a different one - Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) a few years ago. The 1st half was a terrific performance of the Rach 3 given by Nigolai Lugansky. The 2nd was the Shostakovich 10th conducted by Paavo Jarvi. I was quite familiar with this symphony except for the realization that the piccolo plays a very prominent role in this work. That's why I always enjoy going to live concerts to hear familiar works because I learn new details as opposed to listening to CDs. |
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| Aqua Letifer | Oct 28 2016, 08:04 AM Post #5 |
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ZOOOOOM!
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You have my complete support in this. |
| I cite irreconcilable differences. | |
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