A Crisp November Evening

Last night was Nov. 3, 2007, and my wife and I spent part of it listening to Beethoven's Piano Concerto and his Symphony #7 in Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It seems as if this orchestra is getting better as the season, which began in August, moves along. In this case, it's been only two weeks since we heard them play Mozart's Symphony #41 and Brahms' Symphony #2. There seems to always be a shorter piece to open each concert, but so far I haven't recognized any of the composers.

In any case, they were wonderful two weeks ago, and they were exquisite last night. I said it before, but I'll say it again. The Minneapolis Orchestra is a world class group. They either recently finished recording (does one say CDed?) or are finishing recording the complete Beethoven symphonies. Years ago I owned the collection recorded by Arturo Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra, but I fully expect this newest set to be superior.

The pianist for the piano concerto was a young Russian whom I had never heard of, though I'm sure he's known in musical circles. He did a first-class job, and at intermission I heard patrons talking of how much they enjoyed his presentation. He looked so very young, and he was a wonderful combination of delicacy and strength.

Then my favorite Mozart symphony, the magnificent #41. To think that he composed this as he lived destitute says so many things about the man and music itself. If I were to guess, I believe Ludwig von Beethoven was a bit short lacking in the sense of humour department, but I believe that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart retained his as long as humanly possible. I used to be fashionably anti-technology, but that attitude has certainly changed. And not too many years ago, I would've probably been born into a social station that excluded me from the music I've grown to love. So, if I were a drinking man, I'd lift my glass to those who had anything to do with my being able to simply pop in a CD, lean back with my Diet Coke, and go on musical flights with Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Copland, Dvorak, Bartok, and so, so many others who have enriched my life beyond belief.