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A Night of Musical Splendor: Bronfman plays Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra
It happens, if one is lucky, a few times in the hours we are gifted in this life: a moment or experience which approaches, and at times achieves, the sublime and the ethereal. We have all seen that one sunset in a million over the beach, that perfect mountain brook and the sound of crystal clear water gurgling over the rocks, or heard Pavarotti sing Nessun Dorma, just for a few examples. Such an experience is what I refer to, for want of a better phrase, as a “life experience” — one which will live in your memory for the rest of your days.
We had such an experience last night at a performance by the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra when we heard Yefim Bronfman, one of the world’s greatest concert pianists, play the Third Piano Concerto of Rachmaninoff, under the baton of Maestro Peter Rubardt.
I doubt that the greatest icons of literature could capture in words what this performance was like so I, in a true sense of genuine humility, will offer just a few words to describe my own impression of this performance. Mr. Bronfman was, quite simply, the greatest artistic talent I have ever had the opportunity to see perform.
His mastery of this piece, known as one of the most difficult of all concerti, was complete. His style was at times powerfully dynamic, then lovingly gentle, then lilting and wistful, then downright bombastic and explosive.
The audience — a full house — was transfixed, as was I. I hardly moved a muscle for the entire 45-minute performance.
The entire experience was, for me, nothing short of rapturous.
I will never forget last evening as long as I can draw a breath.
I will also never forget the grace of this gentleman who we had the honor of meeting after the performance. Mr. Bronfman, described in the program as standing “among a handful of artists regularly sought by festivals, orchestras, conductors and recital series”, was highly complimentary of our Symphony Orchestra, which he referred to as “a jewel.” He also had kind words for The Saenger: “a good hall,” he termed it.
We have so much to be proud of here in our area and the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra is, in our view, at the very pinnacle of that list.
Last night’s performance — Bronfman, Rachmaninoff, a “jewel” of a Symphony Orchestra at its peak performance level, a world-class Maestro, a full house — showed us once again how very fortunate we are.
Bravo!
Published in General
I know that live recordings often do not capture the true essence of a performance, but I wish there were a link to this one!
How lucky you were to experience that, wise enough to comprehend and appreciate it, and fortunate to live in a time when it is available.
Bravo, indeed.
A beautiful description, Jim!
Thank you! As noted in the post, it was one heck of a challenge trying to describe that performance in words of my own without going to the many online sources about the artist and the composer. I sincerely appreciate your kind words.
Thank you. I sure wish I could have sent a link to this performance! Your first point is very well taken as I saw from personal experience in finding the concerto online and listening to it in advance of the performance and it did not even compare to the actual performance! Thank you for your comment.
C’mon, somebody out there, one more Like. I’d “Like” to see this on the Main Feed as an example of how Ricochet isn’t just a one-dimensional site of political blogging.
What a nice gesture on your part– and special thanks to @markalexander for that final push to the Magic 13!