By Adam24′
Attending my first classical music concert is something I won’t forget. It has been a little less than two months since that night, but I still remember the feeling. The
atmosphere as I walked to the venue felt nothing short of magical— New York City lights glimmered against the black sky, but the chilly weather brought me a sense of unease. A line of what looked like nearly 200 people confused me and left me unsure if I was in the right place. “Is this the line for the concert?”, I thought. Thankfully, it wasn’t. Stepping into the theater was like being wrapped in a warm and cozy hug, the closest thing I could describe it to was the feeling of walking into a home during a cold winter. The theater’s calming ambiance and plush seating set the stage for a good performance.
The program was filled with beautiful classical music by composers including J.S. Bach, Rebecca Clarke, Florence Price, Clara and Robert Schumann, and Alexander Glazunov. I’m fond of poetry so one of my favorite moments was Florence Price’s Sympathy because it was based on a poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Makayla McDonald’s performance as soprano was incredible and her voice brought so much emotion to the songs. To say I was impressed is an understatement, I did not know humans could sound like that, so powerful and so moving.
The piece that stood out to me the most was Clara Schumann’s Piano Trio in G Minor, Opus 17. Researching about her right after the concert is what really pulled me. Her life story is very inspiring because not only was she a great composer but also a mother to eight children and her husband’s biggest supporter during his battle against serious mental health struggles. Even though her work was heavily overshadowed at the time, it makes me glad that people today are finally recognizing her talent. The performers brought her trio to life in such a remarkable way. They worked so well together and did the piece justice by successfully showing the emotions Clara put into her music. The Allegro Moderato was full of energy and feeling, just stunning. I was amazed at how Clara created something so timeless that even first-time classical music listeners
today like me can enjoy it.
Another one of my favorite pieces was her husband, Robert Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, Opus 73, no. 1. Yi-Chan Chen performed it so beautifully on the clarinet. It was dreamy and peaceful and gave a nice contrast to Clara’s intense trio. Alexander Glazunov’s Elegy, Op. 44 also stood out because of the cello’s deep and emotional tone.
The theater alone added to the experience, it wasn’t too big or overwhelmingly packed, which made the concert feel a lot more intimate and inviting to me. Some people even recorded the performances which is something I wish I did, looking back at it now. The performers were dressed up formally and nicely, and they gave introductions to the pieces, which I deeply appreciate as someone who hasn’t really explored this genre of music.
In conclusion, this concert ended up being more than just a performance for me because I found myself slowly delving into artists in similar genres to classical music like Yehezkel Raz and Ben Crosland. It was a new experience that opened my eyes to the beauty of this genre and made me further wonder what I’ve been missing out on, even outside of music. The talent by both the composers and performers came together and made a special experience. I would absolutely recommend this to someone looking to attend a concert that will leave them inspired and possibly even surprised like I was listening to music live for the first time. It’s an experience I’ll always remember.
Works Cited
Reich, Nancy B. and Berthold Litzmann. Clara Schumann: The Artist and the Woman. Cornell University Press, 2001.
Borough of Manhattan Community College Department of Music and Art Faculty Recital at Tribeca Performing Arts Center, Wednesday, October 16, 2024
