Orli Shaham Plays Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2

I couldn't attend the Utah Symphony concert on Friday night because of a family responsibility but I was able to exchange my ticket for the same program last night and I am so glad I did because it was amazing!  The orchestra began with the Prelude and "Liebestod" from the opera Tristan and Isolde by Richard Wagner.  I have never seen this opera before but I found the music to be incredibly dramatic, especially in the "Liebestod" when the intensity builds and builds until Tristan and Isolde are reunited in death.  I particularly loved the harp at the conclusion.  Next, the orchestra was joined by pianist Orli Shaham for Frederic Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 and I absolutely loved this piece!  I especially loved the second movement because it is unbelievably lyrical and romantic!  It is believed that Chopin was inspired by Konstancja Gladkowska, a fellow student at the conservatory he attended in Warsaw for whom he pined but could not work up the courage to speak to, for this movement.  Shaham gave a dazzling performance and I loved the rapport that she seemed to have with the orchestra.  She received a well-deserved standing ovation and then performed a lovely encore (I didn't recognize the piece she played but it was beautiful).  The concert concluded with Symphony No. 7 by Antonin Dvorak.  The Czech composer wanted to write a symphony that would rival those composed by Germans so that Austrian Germans would acknowledge Czechs as their equals (there were rising ethnic tensions in Austria-Hungary during the late 1800s) and this piece is very stirring.  I especially loved the third movement because it features a Czech folk dance that is repeated by several different instruments.  I enjoyed this concert immensely and it was much needed after a long week!

Note:  The last time I exchanged my ticket for another performance the cute ladies who sit by me wondered where I was and told me they missed me!  I hope they weren't worried!