The rising swell of the orchestra is an anticipation that never tires. The lights softly dim as the musicians come alive, humming with energy. Taking the February MainStage, Stefan Jackiw performs the much revered and demanding Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto alongside Music Director Earl Lee and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.
The evening opens with Jessie Montgomery’s Overture and concludes with Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, choices I found were extremely effective in their respective roles. Montgomery’s Overture, I thought, was a piece marked by anticipation. The whispery, shallow sounds felt like they were moving towards something, then faded off, generating an interesting tension. Shostakovich’s piece was distinctly marked by deep, dramatic tones and a frantic energy. But for sure, my highlight of the night was hearing Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto live. While not too familiar with classical music, this was a piece I’ve listened to time and time again. Tchaikovsky’s only violin concerto is a piece full of movement– shifting from periods of softness to an enthusiastic intensity. And it always lights up my heart to hear the moment the sounds explode, culminating in a beautifully rich melody. It somehow always feels new and captivating. I found that Jackiw’s thoughts on the piece were an interesting extension of my feelings: “It’s so fun to play; it’s so fun to listen to; it has blazing virtuosity and heart-on-your-sleeve lyricism; so I think it’s going to be a real treat to bring it to Ann Arbor.” The piece really is quite fun, and even more so when I get to watch the movements of the musicians. Jackiw played with fierce intensity, only to let it dissolve into moments of near silence, his bow grazing the violin’s strings so gently as the theater dissolved into utter silence. While incomparable to the experience of sitting in the Michigan Theater, I left the performance with a renewed desire to listen to the concerto on repeat.
While not my first time attending a symphonic performance, this was my first time seeing a performance by the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. Another notable aspect of my experience was the program pamphlets handed to every attendee. Especially as an attendee fairly unfamiliar with the classical music scene, the descriptions found in the program were especially welcome. Written by Jeremy Reynolds, there was remarkable attention given to each piece performed– from the specific instruments involved to the piece’s history to a beautiful description of the music to come. To go in with somewhat of an idea of what I’d be listening to and then to be blown away by the sound truly amplified my experience. My utmost respect is given to not only all of the performers on stage but also those off stage who make it possible for everyone to access the world of music in such an open manner.
