Itzhak Perlman

Saturday’s concert of the Eastman Philharmonia, conducted by Neil Varon, was sold out, and the audience (young and old) was buzzing.  Although the orchestra consists of upper-level undergraduates and graduate students, if you closed your eyes and weren’t distracted by the incredible youth on stage, you would swear you were attending a performance by professionals.  They particularly shone, I thought, in the pianissimo passages.  Varon, who is also Professor of Conducting at Eastman, is a lively conductor, and the first piece, Dvorak’s Carnival Overture, Op. 92, was met with cheering applause. 

Yes fans (were there any others in the audience?) should have recognized the final piece, Brahms' Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98 from Rick Wakeman's Cans and Brahms, on the Fragile album.

The highlight of the evening, of course, was Itzhak Perlman, who played the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in G Minor, Op. 26, by Bruch.  Without a word, he sent ripples of laughter through the audience as he suspiciously accepted and inspected his violin and bow from Ji-Yeon Lee, Concertmaster, as if she had perhaps switched his for her own!  The students were obviously thrilled to be playing with him – it must have been quite an experience for them – one they’ll remember the rest of their lives.  The music that emanated from his instrument was sensational, and both he and the orchestra received thunderous applause and a standing ovation.  Following that, he was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Music degree, and we were able to hear his humorous side, as he accepted and quipped, “I can now see patients.”  He added that he was particularly keen to receive the doctoral hood as it would help keep him warm here in Rochester.  But he was also serious, as he graciously complimented the talented musicians of the orchestra.  He explained that for him, music is about teaching, and about the future – of the students and the audience.  From his vantage point, he saw the future of classical music as very bright.

Let’s hope so!