Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto

Went to the Pacific Symphony's Saturday night concert.

This concert will broadcast on KUSC on Sunday, March 8 at 7 PM (PST).

Listen to Alan Chapman's preview on SoundCloud.

Tori Takemitsu (武満徹) is a Japanese contemporary classical composer.

I've heard that he became well-known internationally before he did so in Japan.

I sang one of a his choral works in college, and I found it very soothing.

This night's "Requiem" had more dissonance, and Conductor Leo Hussain said today's piece is "like watching a beautifully made foreign move, in a foreign language, with no subtitles".

I just love the Tchaikovsky.

If this is what vodka smells like to the ear, I'll intake it anytime.  :)

And this is like a hangover.  ;)

Disclaimer:  I'm playing on the very first violin (1/4) I've used, I've never gotten past the 16th notes, and I haven't practiced for over a quarter century.

The good thing about these classic-romantic composers is that they've been dead for over a century, so their works are very accessible.  :)

I don't see how anyone can guess that this is a violin score.

(I guess the pizz and arco gives it away...)

Anyways, the concert's soloist, Augustin Hadelich, also played the Tchaikovsky with the Pacific Symphony in the summer of 2008.

I remember that concert, the audience gave a standing ovation after the first movement!

Carl had to grab the microphone and tell them that they are getting two more movements, before people sat down.

History repeats, and he got a standing ovation after the first movement again.

Then (left) and now (right).

I guess he didn't get the note that artists can keep using their young photos in the program notes forever.  :)

For an encore, he played Paganini's Caprice #5.  (I recall he played #24 in 2008.)

Here are some additional fun facts I got from the pre-concert lecture with Alan Chapman.

Leo started music by chance, because his home was the only one big enough in the family to inherit his great-aunt's piano.

Augustin, unlike conventional music learners, "hopped" master classes, so he had tons of different teachers.

Alan said Saturday's cold rainy weather was Leo's fault, because he mentioned that the Sibelius piece is a very cold piece and southern California being very warm, causing disparity.

Leo concurred, and thanked us for making him feel at home by emulating London weather.  :)