An Evening at the Symphony (Movement I)

The first half of the evening was led by the young violin virtouoso Augustin Hadelich as the symphony played Beethoven's Violin Concerto. Throughout the piece one could find that most romantic feeling of epervesence. There was a sprawling landscape of themes where one could find inspiration and adventure. This performance does wonders for a dreary soul in search of love and levity.

This piece did not understand the word descent. Floating melodies and harmonized lines were intent on ascending to a particular place in the heights of the imagination where one finds serenity and delight.

Hadelich exhibited a fine attention to warm tone whether he be playing blazing lines soaring to the heavens, or rummaging at the bottom of his fiddle for the next set of notes to cast upward. The entire piece seemed to be barrelling with exponential energy towards the edge of a cliff and as Hadelich played his last searing note he cast himself off, only to be greated by that great wave of applause, which cast him back on land demanding an encore.
Movement I (I)
Movement I (II)

Movement I (III)
Movement II
Movement III

This was good, but Shostakovich was where my heart laid this evening. So make it a quick intermission and get to Part II . . .