Accelerated Adolescence

Blogs reactivated

For all of my loyal readers.
It seems that my blog is working again and, though you might not believe it,
the comments really are working. I invite you to come and comment (and read the
posts too). It's been a while but they're working again

Meanwhile, tonight I went to a performance of "Everything Hard
Beethoven" as my friend Anne-Marie puts it. Our internationally acclaimed
performer played Beethoven's Pathetique (Sonata 8), Sonata 18, and Beethoven's
"Hammerklavier". Uh... if you're name is Helen and you once played the
piano and currently reside on a small island not quite connected to a continent
to which the rest of the world lumps you, then you're probably my only reader
who already knows what that means.

It may have been the first time that I really and truly realized how
valuable snobbish expectations of behavior are. The guy next to me was gassy
and, during the first half, unwrapping crinkly losenges. If I had been pappa I
would have stuffed him into his shoes. However, I'm not that strong. So I just
nudged him sharply and made a comment about it during the intermission. There
were other incredibly interrupting events, such as five minutes of "hearing
aid," an aria of virtusic ringing composed by "that old deaf guy"
and "turn your cell phone off or I'll remove it to your right nostril"
a brilliant recitative worthy of "Messiah".

However, despite the distractions our performer was astounding. He was
probably the best classical performer since Itzhak Perlman and Rohan de Silva
performed early last fall. Strangely enough they had plenty of problems with
their performance as well (most of us were embarrassed for them... they handled
it well, though).

The Hammerklavier was an astoundingly spiritual piece and, mostly
meditative, Kristen commented that it was as if every note was perfect though
each note preceeding it indicated a different note to be expected when following
it. I just thought, "wow!" I thought that his "Pathetique"
was a little bit technical and lacked the emotion that I've heard other
performers imbue it with. I'm glad that Kristen convinced me to go.

Posted by Mendon at March 6, 2005 11:21 AM