Seeing Sarah Chang

Chrysler Hall was a lot of fun last night. Thanks to the Academy of Music, we got to see a working rehearsal of Sarah Chang and the Virginia Symphony, practicing for their performances of the Sibelius Violin Concerto this weekend. It was so cool! She was absolutely riveting, in every way, and it was so interesting to watch them work out the tempo and the cues and whatnot. I'd never really thought before about the give and take between a soloist and a conductor, especially on a really romantic piece like this where the soloist is stretching and squeezing it.

Her performance and the piece itself reminded me of my favorite recording -- Perlman doing the Brahms violin concerto -- there was even a part with staggered octaves ascending that REALLY reminded me.

Afterward there was a Q&A downstairs, and she answered questions for about half an hour before being whisked off. Benny asked two questions: "What is your highest note?" and "Which do you like better -- Beethoven or Mozart?" The first question she didn't really understand what he was asking. He was blown away by how far she went up the fingerboard and wanted to know what note it was. She was telling him how E is the highest string on the violin. Which he knows. The second she answered Beethoven. Then she signed things and Benny got his Suzuki book signed -- cool!

He was SPECTACUARLY well behaved throughout the whole thing. During the rehearsal he wrote a book about stringed "insterments" including the "chelo" and the "fiolas." It is pretty hilarious. But he was quiet and good throughout and when it was time to ask his question he did it very clearly. Yay for Benny! I was so proud of him!