--- layout: post title: "Classical: The Next Generation" category: [Classical Ramblings] date: 2021-10-18 23:20:00 +0200 --- Classical season has started earlier this month, and I've been having a blast - attending two concerts, as well as a rehearsal - which have all been outstanding. As awesome as those have been, tonight has been particularly spectacular - I had the great priviledge of inviting my parents to listen as well. I've known for some time experiencing classical live is a big part of it, but it's amazing just how much of an impact it's had on my journey in such a short time - even recordings I already know and love sound totally different! # Classical's Not Dead - It's Edgier Than Ever! The programme this year is about *bringing unique, less-often performed pieces to the public* - and while I don't know how objectively true that is, it's certainly been quite spicy. The opening was a performance of Tchaikovsky's brilliant Violin Concerto (played by Joshua Bell), and no other than the (allegedly) riot-inducing *Rite Of Spring* by Stravinsky. Now, the violin concerto is a piece I really like (and as I've learned, many people of the public and music students strongly dislike), and it was a heartfelt, lively performance followed by a tasty encore of the first of Chopin's nocturnes (on violin! I didn't know that was a thing!). While savouring the joy of hearing this familiar piece, I inevitably fell to smugness ( *this can't get better* ) and was completely blindsided by *The Rite of Spring*. > It began while I sat in the hall during the break - I love watching the players warm up and trill - when they rolled in ***the gong***. That's right - ***The Gong***. It. Was. Unbelievable. From the strange, entrancing call of the basoon, the sudden harsh *growling* of the strings laced with tense pizicatto, to one of my new favourite bits of music - the gong. The gong-man just *smacks it* and the concert hall bows to submit, heraled by the LOUD cry of strings and wind - absolutely mesmerizing! The room quivered with power and emotion like I've never felt by any work of art. On my way out, I heard a mother asking her teenage son what he thought of the Rite of Spring. 'The opening was good', he condescendingly ruled. You don't know where it's at, kid! # Tchaikovski and Chill The next endeavour was a public rehearsel of Tchakovski's magnificent Fourth Symphony, which has always been one of my very favourites. All the players, as well as the conductor, just waltzed in with their jeans and flip-flops and played the hell out of that symphony. Hearing a piece I am deeply familiar with was really exciting, and digging into it with the conductor's corrections was even better. I learned a lot by how he corrects the orchestra - you're not *rising* smoothly here, going *too fast* there, and suddenly seeing it improve was eye opening. It was also amusing listening to the complaints of my neighbours (It's too long! why are they rehearsing for so long!, Oh, look, it's going to get loud, he's bringing in the cymbals!). To top it off, since the concert hall is near my work place, I got some time to go photograph pigeons in that nice fountain and drink green tea. Really helped process things. # Classical: Next Generation Finally, tonight me and my folks went to hear another concert. The day had all the makings of disaster spelled all over it: both my folks were busy beforehand (lil' bro won an award! yay!), I dragged them out too early (no regrets), and the pieces to be played were particularly spicy which my father tends to dislike (describing them as *white-hot combs searing into the flesh*). We hear Ligetti's Atmospheres, Bartok's Viola Concerto and of course, Tchaikovski's magnifienct fourth. I didn't spoil anything! Things went... far better than expected. The conductor (charismatic Lahav Shani) promptly explained the concept behind Ligetti's piece - playing all of the sounds at once and using them to manipulate mood - which helped it 'click' both for me and my folks. It was a slower piece, and I expected them to be disappointed - only to be suprised to find them pleased. > It wasn't *comby* at all! it makes sense! it's really cool! - Dad Bartok's Viola concerto was a stellar performance by Pinchas Zuckerman, and it was amazing to see both my folks suddenly intrigued at the edge of their seats > *It's so beautiful!* - Mum, silently to herself. But much like Stravinsky did to Tchakovski, Tchaikovski did tonight to Bartok - The fourth symphony ticked all my boxes. It was rich, passionate, exciting - it was the sypmhony at it's best. I listened to it with my eyes watering, and my parents were sucked right in. Their eyes lit up like I haven't seen in a good while. They each told me they've never been to a concert before, and if it weren't for me they likely would not have gone. Tonight, I was able to give them something back, and share a great passion of mine with them - and see it really connect. I'll never forget this feeling. Both have eagerly expressed will to go again, but even if this was a one time thing - I'm overjoyed I was able to give a little something back.