Andrew Druckenbrod comments on Joshua Bell's performance Tuesday night. He makes the real point that Joshua Bell is a master of dramatics, useful for his pieces later in the program.
posted by Grace @ 3/04/2010 04:16:00 AM
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After a morning teaching with laryngitis, I've taken a grand nap. I spoke with Nancy and Maureen. Nancy and Tom cannot make the symphony tonight, so that I am going with Maureen to hear Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk, who keeps an ever-enchanting web blog.
Joshua Bell I've heard at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra several times before, with Nancy present each time. "Remember Anjali when you go [to the symphony tonight]," Nancy intoned. Anjali introduced us to the music of Joshua Bell.
Here's the line-up for tonight:
Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Sonata No. 4 in C minor
Edvard Grieg: Sonata No. 3 for Violin and Piano in C minor, Op. 45
Robert Schumann: Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in A minor, Op. 105
Maurice Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Piano (1927)
What a treat tonight will be!
~~~~~
23.30
The program recital of Joshua Bell and Jeremy Denk was fabulous; spanning time, musical periods, emotivity, and music theory.
The program is listed below:
J.S. Bach, Violin Sonata No. 4 in C minor
E. Grieg, Sonata No. 3 for Vl and Piano in C minor, Opus 45
R. Schumann, Sonata No. 1 For Vl and Piano in A minor, Opus 105
M. Ravel, Sonata for Vl and Piano (1927)
The difference in musical periods was evident, as was the emotion in the pieces (even from the first two pieces). The dissonance in the Schumann piece was evident, and the bluesy sound of the final piece was heard. They played to an audience that gave them standing ovations, and provided an encore with a Kreissler piece after Dvorak, "Slavonic Fantasy."
It was a treat to listen and hear them, as they played like jazz with and to each other: It was as if they were breathing the music together, playing off each other.
Maureen and I saw my neighbor Ann there, we also met a former VP from Maureen's former workplace, and we met Ernest, who is a pianist. In line to meet the artist we met 5-year-old violinist Caillie (sp?) and her mom, and a family who brought a picture of their son meeting Mr. Bell for an autograph. I told the mother that her son is very fortunate to have parents like [them]. She was appreciative.
Labels: Bell, music, PSO, school, sleep, teaching, voice, work
posted by Grace @ 3/02/2010 04:41:00 PM
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At the end of my workday I caught a bus and saw some familiar faces: First, a bespectacled bicyclist on the sidewalk of Bellefield Avenue; and next, Dan, the musicologist, at Fifth and Craig.
More celebration for Mom on her birthday...
Labels: Bell, Birthday, family, friends, music, transportation, work
posted by Grace @ 9/29/2008 05:36:00 PM
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After his office hours this afternoon, I met up with Tom to catch the bus downtown for dinner and an evening at the symphony. We had dinner at the Pan-Asian restaurant down the street from Heinz Hall. I enjoyed the fried noodles with pork, egg, and dried fish. Tom had the ribs in sauce. I had Thai iced tea and jackfruit flan for dessert, and Tom enjoyed coffee and cheesecake.
We saw Doug, and Nancy & Tom before the program started. The PSO opened the season with the Star-Spangled Banner, and we enjoyed
John Adams : Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky : Violin Concerto (Mr. Bell)
Gustav Mahler : Symphony No. 1 "Titan"
The Tchaikovsky piece was performed emotively, was simply wonderful. Josh and the orchestra moved some members of the audience to stand and applaud after only the first movement!
At intermission we were the third party to meet with Josh Bell. He signed my CD and remembered me from his visit to Pittsburgh last season. Nancy & Tom bid goodnight to Tom and I during intermission. After intermission, we listened to the Mahler piece (alternately dramatic and placid).
In catching the bus, we ran into Jan, Joe & Tina. We all caught the same bus home and enjoyed chatting with each other.
Labels: Bell, dining, friends, Mahler, PSO, Tchaikovsky, work
posted by Grace @ 9/26/2008 11:41:00 PM
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Yesterday evening, about 15-20 of us choristers gathered at Ornella's place to dine together, do Jello-shots, discuss other shots, play charades, and to generally wish Anjali a fond farewell. We gave Anjali a card, cake, and our warmest wishes. I also gave her a 8x10" photo of her fave violin poster boy---Joshua Bell---together with her at intermission at the PSO downtown, as well as smaller photos of her and I at Pymatuning, Pennsylvania.
I had a chance to teach Jennifer H. and Alroy a couple of ceili dance moves--the swing hold and swing, and 7's and 3's--all despite my hips.
We had a fun evening, and were pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Rocco, too. What a great surprise party!
Labels: BAD, Bell, Choir, dance, games, Ireland, photography, photos, surprise
posted by Grace @ 2/17/2008 10:03:00 AM
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I spent my jeudi (literally, "play day" from the French) going to medical examinations, taking a 4-hour-long nap, snacking, and having dinner with William, Marissa, and Beatrice. After dinner we read books, played "Where's...?", danced, played with her baby from Santa, and uploaded photos from Dad's camera to my USB key. I then came back and emailed Nancy and Anjali about the photos from the concert last weekend. William shared some of the family tree with me. Marissa's family even spoke with him by phone.
Labels: Beatrice, Bell, dance, dolls, family, friends, genealogy, niece and nephew, photography, photos
posted by Grace @ 1/17/2008 10:22:00 PM
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Tonight after the FAAP board meeting I took a nap. Nancy, Anjali, and I took Nancy's "limo" (replete with Handel's "Water Music") to Christos for dinner, where we had the lamb in phyllo with salad, rice pilaf, and grilled winter veggies. We all had the Jackie O dessert with tea and coffee for the postlude.
After dining, we went to Heinz Hall for the Josh Bell PSO concert. The whole evening consisted of highly dramatic pieces:
Samuel Barber's Second Essay for Orchestra, Op. 17
John Corigliano's "Red Violin" Concert (Concerto for Violin and Orchestra) w/ Josh Bell
An intermission, during which Mr. Bell and Mr. Corigliano autographed CDs and programs
Mussorgsky's (Orch. by Ravel, Ed. by Slatkin) Pictures at an Exhibition
The "Red Violin" Concert really needs to be heard to be fully appreciated. John Corigliano spoke about the history of the piece before its performance. The music is amazing, the performance of it tonight was nothing short of magnificent. Josh made one realize that the violin has a voice--it truly came to life during the performance of the music. During the first movement, Josh played so vigorously that, at breaks in the soloist parts, he was pulling frayed catgut from his bow and strings several times.
At intermission Nancy, Anjali, and I waited patiently in line to speak with and have Josh and John sign our CDs. I took photos of our short visits with them.
Pictures at an Exhibition as orchestrated by Ravel has been a favorite of mine since my senior year in high school. What a treat to return from intermission to hear the themes played by the PSO.
The conducting by Mr. Slatkin during the evening was tight, and showcased the three pieces marvelously.
We all had been thrilled by the prospect of this evening, and now our brains were humming along as we parted ways less than twelve hours from when we would see each other next.
Labels: Bell, Corigliano, Pilipino culture, PNR, PSO, Ravel, sleep
posted by Grace @ 1/12/2008 10:57:00 PM
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Days in the life of me.
