Things Itzhak Perlman Can Do
Itzhak Perlman can play all of the major pieces in the violin repertoire from memory. That is why he was able to fit a performance of the Beethoven Concerto on Thursday in between two much less well-known works on Wednesday (at UC Davis) and Friday (in San Francisco).Itzhak Perlman can receive a thunderous standing ovation the moment he walks into a room.
Itzhak Perlman can keep you breathless while he slowly makes his way to center stage, supporting his not inconsiderable weight on two crutches, half dragging, half swinging his polio-ravaged legs along with him. He can labor over one small step up onto a platform before easing himself into a chair and setting his crutches aside. Then he can set bow to string and make you forget the entire struggle with a single note.
Itzhak Perlman can barely make contact with his violin and send music surging through a huge auditorium.
Itzhak Perlman can play three--and sometimes four--separate melodies at the same time.
Itzhak Perlman can make grown men cry. I refer here, of course, to the burly, bearded man sitting in the first chair of the violin section. Not me. I don't cry at concerts.
Itzhak Perlman can make you laugh too. The drama of the second movement over, he raced into the lighter third with such joy, and plucked the strings with such verve that many in the audience laughed. I commented to Mom later that the Violin Concerto must have been one of the few pieces Beethoven ever wrote when he was in a good mood. At least, part of the time.
Itzhak Perlman can make a crowd of thousands of people, most older than dirt, stand on their feet and applaud for a long, long time. He was called out 4 times, each time a struggle, and each time graciously yet defiantly refusing us all what we desperately wanted: more. Finally, from off stage (which we could see from our right-side seats) he took his white towel from where it was draped over his violin and tossed it as far on stage as he could. Following the laughter when people realized he had thrown in the towel, he popped back on, smiled, waved, and mouthed "bye bye."
Yeah, the concert was pretty good.
posted by Thurman8er @ 8:34 AM
7 Comments:
Glad you had a good time. Reminds me of the old joke:
What is Beethoven doing right now? Um, he's DEcomposing.
I got to see the musical Mary Poppins in Londons West End and it almost made me cry. That "who'll feed the birds" song always gets me. kbdhi
I'm able to appreciate classical music when I hear about the background of the composers. And by the way, nice joke Brady. Sounds like you and your Mom had a good time and that's always important. Cherish those times.
epspi
Cecil gets bonus points for anagramming one of my favorite things in the whole world as his confirmation code.
dqnyfkwo
What a great experience. I love the bit about throwing in the towel. Classic! My word verification today (if I get it on the first try) seems to be a piece of classical word verification . . .
jlzrftzf
This reminds me so much of the story of the auctioneer and the "Touch of the Master's Hand."
To play three or four tunes at the same time reminds me of the great Chet Atkins. A "classic" in his own right. What God-given talent!
"He's good but he aint no Chet Atkins"
Anybody know that story?
Is that Robert Duvall in "Tender Mercies?"
voxykf
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