Of Symphonies and Signatures
The Bowl
A few friends and I went to the Hollywood Bowl yesterday. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this venue, the Hollywood Bowl is an outdoor amphitheater with a unique stage architecture. It happens to be the summer venue for the LA Phil. On the program for this Tuesday evening was the Torke Javelin, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, and the Brahms Symphony No. 2. We managed to get better seats than usual (read, K section rather than Z section) and made it with plenty of time for the concert (also a rarity). I should also mention that the weather was absolutely perfect, pairing a warm day with a cool but not too cold evening.
The Review
The Torke Javelin was actually an interesting song. I didn't know much about it except that it was commissioned by the Atlanta Olympics Committee in the mid-nineties and appears on the "Summon the Heroes" CD (Sony Classical). The piece itself was optimistic and inspiring, as would befit the XXVI Olympiad.
The Mendelssohn Violin Concerto was excellent. The soloist was Hilary Hahn. Her rendition of the Mendelssohn, although not particularly inventive, was as expressive as it was technically brilliant. Only 26 years old, she displayed a sensitivity beyond her years yet gave a spirited performance. For instance, during the cadenza in the first movement, she didn't push through it as some violinists do, but she took the time to savor the notes and work the dynamics. It was a pleasure to listen to. However, in the third movement when the famous melody begins, she wasn't afraid to move the tempo along and attack the notes. Man, she really flew through the third movement. It was this type of contrast in tempo, self-restraint versus speed, that really added an extra dimension to the piece.
After the concerto was finished, she came out and did an encore. I couldn't understand the title when she announced it but it was a very technically difficult piece without accompaniment. She pretty much placed double stops (and maybe triple stops) the whole time with some finger plucking, etc. The piece was not well-known (well, at least to me) so it provided an interesting contrast to the sometimes-overplayed Mendelssohn.
After the concerto, we were ready to go home. But the Brahms was next. I was not that familiar with the Brahms Second Symphony. It wouldn't make my personal list of favorite symphonies but there were several catchy melodies and a lot of nice oboe parts, which I always enjoy.
The Signing
We took a while to get out of the Bowl since thousands of people were streaming out of the amphitheater. But when we reached the main gate (where the Tower Records booth is), Hilary was signing autographs at a table nearby. So Al and Norman bought CDs of her playing the Mendelssohn (Sony Classical) and got in line for her signature.
By the way, I don't know if she does this all the time but Hilary wrote the liner notes for that particular CD. That was interesting. Also, she played the Mendelssohn very differently at the Hollywood Bowl than on the CD. Probably because she has matured in the last four years since she recorded it.
While we were in line, we overheard her talking to various people. She says that she tries to practice 2-4 hours a day while on the road, more when she is not traveling. However, she also recommended not practicing that much all at once. I think she suggested an hour at a time.
Well, so we finally got to meet her. Al and Norman presented their CDs and asked her to autograph them. Then it was my turn so I asked her to sign my ticket. Hey, it was all I had! Oh well, I did get a picture with her.
Here was Norman's conversation:
Click here for all the photos.
A few friends and I went to the Hollywood Bowl yesterday. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this venue, the Hollywood Bowl is an outdoor amphitheater with a unique stage architecture. It happens to be the summer venue for the LA Phil. On the program for this Tuesday evening was the Torke Javelin, Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, and the Brahms Symphony No. 2. We managed to get better seats than usual (read, K section rather than Z section) and made it with plenty of time for the concert (also a rarity). I should also mention that the weather was absolutely perfect, pairing a warm day with a cool but not too cold evening.The Review
The Torke Javelin was actually an interesting song. I didn't know much about it except that it was commissioned by the Atlanta Olympics Committee in the mid-nineties and appears on the "Summon the Heroes" CD (Sony Classical). The piece itself was optimistic and inspiring, as would befit the XXVI Olympiad.
The Mendelssohn Violin Concerto was excellent. The soloist was Hilary Hahn. Her rendition of the Mendelssohn, although not particularly inventive, was as expressive as it was technically brilliant. Only 26 years old, she displayed a sensitivity beyond her years yet gave a spirited performance. For instance, during the cadenza in the first movement, she didn't push through it as some violinists do, but she took the time to savor the notes and work the dynamics. It was a pleasure to listen to. However, in the third movement when the famous melody begins, she wasn't afraid to move the tempo along and attack the notes. Man, she really flew through the third movement. It was this type of contrast in tempo, self-restraint versus speed, that really added an extra dimension to the piece.
After the concerto was finished, she came out and did an encore. I couldn't understand the title when she announced it but it was a very technically difficult piece without accompaniment. She pretty much placed double stops (and maybe triple stops) the whole time with some finger plucking, etc. The piece was not well-known (well, at least to me) so it provided an interesting contrast to the sometimes-overplayed Mendelssohn.
After the concerto, we were ready to go home. But the Brahms was next. I was not that familiar with the Brahms Second Symphony. It wouldn't make my personal list of favorite symphonies but there were several catchy melodies and a lot of nice oboe parts, which I always enjoy.
The Signing
We took a while to get out of the Bowl since thousands of people were streaming out of the amphitheater. But when we reached the main gate (where the Tower Records booth is), Hilary was signing autographs at a table nearby. So Al and Norman bought CDs of her playing the Mendelssohn (Sony Classical) and got in line for her signature.
By the way, I don't know if she does this all the time but Hilary wrote the liner notes for that particular CD. That was interesting. Also, she played the Mendelssohn very differently at the Hollywood Bowl than on the CD. Probably because she has matured in the last four years since she recorded it.
While we were in line, we overheard her talking to various people. She says that she tries to practice 2-4 hours a day while on the road, more when she is not traveling. However, she also recommended not practicing that much all at once. I think she suggested an hour at a time.
Well, so we finally got to meet her. Al and Norman presented their CDs and asked her to autograph them. Then it was my turn so I asked her to sign my ticket. Hey, it was all I had! Oh well, I did get a picture with her.
Here was Norman's conversation:
Norman: Could you sign my CD?Other than that, the whole night was very refreshing and inspiring. It reminded me of my orchestra playing days and those Long Long Ago times (pun intended) when I used to play the violin. Perhaps someday I will pick it up again. In the meantime, I'll just have to drop by the Bowl once in a while.
(entirely appropriate pause)
Norman: Are you from England?
Hilary: You want me to sign this for whom?
(awkward pause)
Norman: No, I mean, are you from England?
Hilary: No, I'm American.
Click here for all the photos.
posted by Tim at 10:43 PM
6 Comments:
That's interesting, wish I could of been there to hear good music. I love classical.
I'll have to hear that CD sometime. So what do you plan to do with your autographed ticket?? BTW, I saw your sister at Wildwood. We had a nice (but short) conversation--she had to go someplace.
Bravo! How 'bout an encore (aka another post?)
Hi Tim! You still live. =) I used to tune into your blogs fairly frequently but you had ceased to update for such a long time that I almost ceased to visit. @.@ I just happened to stop by on a whim and was surprised to see not one entry but 3 for the month of August. =) Good to see you back. And great to see you've been enjoying wonderful music at the HOLLYWOOD BOWL. I enjoyed reading your description. Norman's conversation with the violinist was funny. =)
I'm definitely looking forward to GYC and will be registering very soon and I laughed when I found out there was a Mt. Chai. Now I can gleefully state that there is even a mountain named after me. =) How great is that? "Mt. Chai" hahaha. So are you personally doing well? =)
that was classic!
kpl
I love reading your blogs man. Always whitty, has become a good way to entertain myself in between projects. Miss having you at the Board meetings, but I bet it is nice having some room to breathe.
Blessings,
Jason
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