March 25, 2012

  • Classical Music in Buffalo NY

    In January, I found out that Joshua Bell would be performing with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra on March 24.  I cannot express how excited I was to hear the news that he would be playing the Beethoven Violin Concerto so close to Toronto.  My friend an I quickly bought tickets and planned our Buffalo day trip.

    Now I have attended many classical music concerts in my time.  I've gone to many cities around the world and enjoyed the glorious offerings that they have had to share by ways of classical music.  But never have I attended a concert and left feeling so elated and sad at the same time.

     

    The Music

    Let me talk about the music.  

    The concert opened with Wagner's Overture to Rienzi.  I was concerned about this since I'm not a huge Wagner fan (re: I strongly dislike most of his work).  I can't express just how happily surprised I was to find it extremely enjoyable.  There were parts of it that I didn't like, but for the most part, it was so reminiscent of a cheery, happy, Strauss that I found myself enjoying it immensely!

    Maximiano Valdes, former conductor for the BPO, was the guest conductor at this performance.  And whatever magic he was working at the podium was the good sort of magic.  The orchestra shone.  Schumann's Symphony No. 4 was filled with emotion.  It's the kind of lyrical piece that makes you feel as though a single voice is singing.  I usually prefer the more structured symphonies of the Classical period, but this Romantic period piece is making think I should perhaps not be so quick in the future to strike them off my list of concerts to attend.

    So what happens when you take a great orchestra, an incredible conductor, an indescribably, amazing virtuoso violinist and ask them to perform their interpretation of the greatest violin concerto ever written?  Well, if you wanted to know then you should have come to yesterday's concert.    I have always loved Beethoven's one and only violin concerto.  I was always partial to the third movement.  It's the sound of the Beethoven that I love.  But, after yesterday, I think Joshua Bell has converted me to a lover of the first movement.  Or, maybe it was just the cadenza he wrote for it.  More on that later.

    This piece, I love it because it is so wholly the embodiment of Beethoven.  It's strong music.  It's rich and deep -- even more than the most luscious piece of chocolate cake you've ever had.  Bell performed cadenzas that he composed himself.  And they were GORGEOUS!! What I loved about them is that they didn't feel like they were written by someone else.  Not only did they fit into the concerto, they somehow made the concerto bigger, brighter, and more beautiful.  I know, it's hard to believe that it's possible to make Beethoven better, but that's what Joshua did.  What I loved about it was that the in the cadenzas I could see everything that I love about Beethoven, but I could also hear the voice of Joshua and his Gibson ex-Huberman - the voice I hear in every piece he plays.  There wasn't a point where you could separate Beethoven and Bell in this piece.  But this is just my random rambling.  All you really need to take away from this is that it was a gloriously beautiful concert and I just don't have enough positive words to express the pleasure I received from this performance.

    If you want to read a review by an official music reviewer, this was posted earlier today:  A superb Bell caps an unforgettable evening.

     

    The Venue

    Kleinhans has excellent acoustics.  And it's got a lot of character.  But that's where the positives stop.  Sadly, the place is very dingy.  It pains me to speak ill of a classical music concert hall, but it's true.  When I walked into the lobby, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sadness - the sadness one feels when they enter a place that greatest has deserted.  And this feeling only grew as the evening wore on.  The greater my esteem in the orchestra's performance grew, the sadder I felt.  How could an orchestra that sounds this good be left to play in a venue that has become so unloved?  Kleinhans has great bones.  As I said, the acoustics are beautiful.  But that's it.  The carpet in the main aisle of the hall was cream coloured but is so stained and dirty.  The upholstered seats are a teal, burlap-esque material that also have stains and rips in them.

    I am used to enjoying classical music in fancy clothes, and opulent venues.  This orchestra is more than worthy of such a venue.  Kleinhans sounds like such a venue.  Unfortunately, due to lack of funds, Kleinhans has been left unloved for so long that it no longer *looks* like such a venue.  A fresh coat of paint, new light fixtures, new upholstery and a new carpet would go a long way...although it really does deserve a revamp to update it.

    This is grand music by a truly gifted orchestra.  The players deserve a grand venue.  Kleinhans needs to look as well as (if not better than) it photographs.


    Source: http://www.buffalonews.com/incoming/article258286.ece/BINARY/w620/KLEINHAN'S+MUSIC+HALL.jpg

    I am a strong supporter of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, but I am also a strong supporter of the arts - specifically music - everywhere in the world.  I think those administering the $1 B New York Works Infrastructure Fund would do well to carve out a small portion of money to update Kleinhans.  Their players deserve it.  The arts are an important part of society.  And every great city has a great orchestra.  If Governor Andrew Cuomo is serious about revitalizing Buffalo, then he should make sure the great orchestra that is the Buffalo Philharmonic has a great venue that matches the calibre of their performance.

cokeaddict