There’s nothing like a visit to the Disney Concert Hall to lift one’s spirits. Marsha and I saw a program of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (“Emperor”) and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pathétique”), conducted by Philippe Jordan with Yefim Bronfman, pianist for the Beethoven.
They were both fantastic performances but I was particularly moved by the Tchaikovsky. I hadn’t looked at the liner notes first, and this is AI’s quick read of the piece: “Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, also known as Pathétique, is a deeply personal work that expresses a range of emotions, including anguish, longing, despair, and isolation. The symphony is about the struggle between life and oblivion, and its final image is of emotional and physical collapse.”
Yes, you know, I’ve been feeling pretty punk myself!
So why did this strong expression of anguish and despair lift my spirits? Because they did it so well, so much better than I, and because I got to share those emotions with the audience, everyone feeling the weight of loss, and with the extraordinary artistry of LA Phil.