Finally Attended a BSO Performance
Going to see a performance of the Boston Symphony Orchestra has been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and while I regret that I didn’t have a chance to see Seiji Ozawa conduct, I did get a chance to see Sir Colin Davis guest conduct an excellent performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 36, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A and Schubert’s Symphony No. 2. Even better, I was able to see Mitsuko Uchida perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A. Not a bad way to get to know the BSO. Besides, I’d be crazy not to take in a performance at the legendary Symphony Hall, considering I’ve spent most of my life in and around the Boston area. It’s an amazing building with an incredible history, though I do have to say that the seats, original to the building, are rough on the ass after a couple of hours.
Now, I’m not going to claim to be some great aficionado of Classical music and capable of experiencing some appreciation of the music beyond what the average person experiences, but I enjoyed myself a great deal. It was a matinee performance on a Friday afternoon so, as I expected, the place was packed with senior citizens, non-working affluent people and some tourists. I dressed up a bit and got myself there too late to catch the pre-concert speech, but in plenty of time for the actual performance.
My only experience with a symphony performance had been watching them on TV, so this was very exciting for me. The musicians straggled onto the stage in ones and twos to warm up, eventually filling the stage. Then Principle Violinist and Associate Concertmaster, Tamara Smirnova, got things ready to go with a quick tuning. Sir Colin Davis walked on stage to hearty applause and the concert began. Not knowing what to expect, but expecting the best, I was not disappointed. There’s something magical about watching and listening to a large group of musicians creating something so precise and beautiful. The cohesiveness and professionalism on display was incredible to behold. This is the end result of tireless human effort focused on a specific goal, and what a result it was to experience.
The sound was so clean and perfect to my untrained ears that I had a hard time believing that I was watching these people perform live and not listening to some recording. I usually use that argument to deride most concert events because I expect rock shows to be rougher and more spontaneous with less concern for technical prowess, but for the performing of Classical, this is exactly what I had hoped for. This is not to say that the music was performed without passion. Watching the expressions on the musicians faces as they played that same pieces that they must have played hundreds of times already conveyed a sense of love and joy for what they were doing. Then, when Ms. Uchida played piano for the Mozart Pianao Concerto, one truly got a feel for the passion of a performer.
A conductor herself, she knew the music inside and out and each note she struck was accompanied by an expression of sheer pleasure. She would breathe in heavily as she prepared to play and then her face would transform; smiles and frowns, closed-eye expressions of pleasure. I think I caught one mis-hit note, but beyond that it was excellence personified. She received three standing ovations. Sir Colin Davis received three ovations as well, mixed standing and seated. I feel kind of bad that the symphony players themselves don’t get more recognition from the crowd.
I plan to see more performances as time and life allow, but at least I can now say that I saw the BSO. I recommend it to anyone with an inclination.
