Have you ever wished that you could press pause and hang onto a snippet of time, or that you could re-play an event over and over? Last night I got to hear Joshua Bell and the Colorado Symphony play Brahms to a packed hall. 'Twas probably the best concert I have ever attended.
Bell did an incredible job with one of the most challenging violin concertos ever written. His tone and control were amazing. He had strength and depth when needed, but he never lost his clarity and focused, beautiful tone--and he was able to project over the orchestra even to us who sat behind him, a feat difficult for most artists to accomplish in this particular hall. Even his soft notes sang out clearly and his double stops and chords were as pure as his single-note melodies. His interpretation, though slightly different from what I have heard, seemed somehow to fit perfectly. It was as though we were hearing the concerto as it was originally meant to be played.
One of the highlights of the concerto for me was the cadenza of the first movement. Though I am not sure, I believe that Bell wrote the cadenza he played; it didn't sound familiar and I have heard this work enough to know if something is different. Usually I would frown on the practice of tampering with what the composer wrote, but this was beautiful and it fit. Bell developed melodies from the movement in the cadenza and held the entire hall spellbound.
I hope most earnestly that Bell records the Brahms concerto soon, because I don't want to listen to it any other way now...
Go here for my brother's account and a picture of the concertgoers.
7 comments:
They (Ima, Peep-bo, Felix, Tony and Janie) all decided to travel downtown by themselves and left us poor people behind...COL (or, BNG Busting no Guts]) To tell you the truth, I had no urging to go. But do you know the feeling when someone comes home and just gloats over their experience? Oh well! I'm glad they got to go!
Oh yes, don't forget about the curtain calls! :)
Truly the best concert ever? It even topped the Chicago Symphony playing Brahms? :) I'm glad we convinced you to come along. It was incredible! Different from Gil Shaham a couple years ago - probably deeper (although Shaham had a smile on during the last movement that you could see from the back of his head :). and the first mvt. was just gorgeous.
I went to his website a few minutes ago, and it said he would be signing cds after the concert. If that really happenend, we missed a big opportunity. :( I've got a question into him about recording the Brahms. He said he can't always respond to all his e-mail, but he reads it all. :)
Ima (enjoying the memories)
P.S. - Sorry, Peg, it's excusable to gloat over an evening like last night. I'll tell Edna she needs to be better at entertaining. :)
Neat! :)
One of my favorite songs he plays is "O Mio Babbino Caro"! :)
Last fall, Dad, Cheri, and I almost went to an Andre Rieu concert in Denver, but we ended up not going because of the price of tickets. :P Maybe someday though. ;)
--Leah
Well, put it this way: it was the best concerto performance I've heard. Barenboim and Chicago playing Brahms 1 came close, though.
Amen to the Ima post and it was sure fun.
Good grief, Ima! Edna was very amusing, and I was not saying I was jealous (right?!;). Your little brothers were quite amusing as well.
It was SOOO FUN! We played Apples to Apples, discussed cake stuff (boring, huh?:P) and played 500. Not to mention eating dessert. That was the best (the whole time, not just eating dessert...)! Everyone had smiles in the back of their heads (I didn't get that part)!! Anyway, sorry if I'm making you turn green.
With Sincerest Apologies,
Peg
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