We go to the Symphony

Music Director/Conductor Andris Nelsons welcomed all to the Symphony Hall on Huntington and Mass. Ave. in Boston. And it was touching because this was the first Saturday the Hall had been filled for so long. It has been lonely for so long. The building was waiting for the music to return. Waiting out the COVID-19 Pandemic. At Nelsons' words of welcome, the musicians eked out smiles. And, behind masks, the Audience did too. The concert started with Beethoven’s Consecration of the House, the first piece ever played in the building back in 1881. Tonight, Beethoven rapidly filled the bases. Setting up John Williams grand slam. For what was really astounding was John Williams and Anne-Sophie Mutter doing Violin Concerto No2…practically a world premier. 

Must begin like so: Mutter was resplendent – a word I don’t get to use too much – musically and personally. Tan, blond, in form fit yellow polka dot strapless dress. Like a swim champion  of Ester Williams’ time. But most important - What a Fiddler! Our John Williams – Boston son, adopted - he led the Pops for so many years – old grey guy in black who didn’t hop on or off the podium by any means, but who stood necessary and strong all along. Hate to note a bummer but wearing a mask through a long evening of music is cozy not. 

The music of Violin Concerto No2 was a nice but still challenging mix of difficult and comfortable. At times like a slow motion [3] star matter sprawling [2] trip through a voyaging cosmos doomed to implode, other times like wicked John Cale on a bender on the IRT. Mix of far out and familiar which worked nicely like a 1/f set that meanders between white noise and random walks Brownian [1]. Mutter’s direct virtuoso fiddle was matched at times by a Jessica Zhou on a beautifully bejeweled lolling harp and at times by different sections (say, droning cellos and French Horn or cascading tympanies ) or the whole of the whole of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Williams/Mutter encore was warm Marion’s Theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark. [For C and me, this evening was made possible by my wonderful brother and like colleague at his civic minded French banking house. The folks in the audience were a show unto themselves - it was our Met gala!]

[1] on 1/f noise - http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/1/f_noise

[2] on cosmic debris - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cacv5jlqIA

[3] on slow motion (by Johnnie Willisams) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdG9IYJeUl0