Walt Disney Concert Hall - Day and Night

Every musical phrase has a purpose.

It's like talking.

If you talk with a particular purpose,

people listen to you,

but if you just recite,

it's not as meaningful.

~ Itzhak Perlman

Walt Disney Concert Hall

designed by Frank Gehry 

Opened October 23rd, 2003

We all have things on our bucket list. One thing on my list was to see Itzhak Perlman live! When I found out he was coming to Disney Hall, I immediately went online and called my friend Shea who also has a huge passion for music. 

His concert dates with the full orchestra were a bit out of our budget, but on a Tuesday night, he'd be playing with pianist Emmanuel Ax for considerably less and it wouldn't break the bank. I think it was in early fall that we got our seats for January and before we knew it, the time had arrived.

PROGRAM

Mozart: Sonata in C major, K. 296

Fauré: Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13

R. Stauss: Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18

Honestly, I didn't know what these pieces were ahead of time, but I didn't care. I just figured it would be great! I mean, Perlman, right?

Here's the Mozart Sonata with Perlman but this recording was with Daniel Barenboim not Ax. 

I can tell you that it was certainly worth the wait! I'm sure it was great to see him with the full orchestra but I was glad we saw just the two perform on stage together. There was something wonderfully intimate about it and they called out additional works from the stage. So many I lost track. They were beautiful, so I wish I could remember what they were!

With the two of them, you were also able see more of Mr. Perlman's personality, which was funny and passionate, and made me think of Yo-Yo Ma who I am also kind of obsessed with.

Perhaps our task in this shaky, 

fast changing, bewildering world

in which we live

is to make music,

at first with all that we have,

and then, 

when that is no longer possible,

to make music with what we have left.

~ Itzhak Perlman

No pics during the show, but here's Miss Shea and me, during the intermission.

Next door ... the new Broad Museum!

So, that was back in January. Then a couple of weeks ago Shea called.

There is a program for families and kids at the Disney Hall on certain Saturday mornings. It's called Toyota Symphonies for Youth where the orchestra plays, they teach about a particular instrument and have programs before the performance,  like an "instrument petting zoo." Very cute. Anyway, Shea's daughter had a soccer tournament and couldn't make it so she asked me if I wanted to go over there with her.

What a great way to start off a beautiful Saturday!

That particular Saturday was called "Spirit of the Cello." It was really fantastic! This cellist started speaking to the audience about a rehearsal many years ago, where the "spirit of his cello" started to speak to him.

This 'spirit' came out, in the form of an actor with a thick Italian accent ... who was hilarious! "I am the Spirit of the Celllllloooo!"

Anyway, great concept and there was playing of the cello and orchestra, intermittently, along with explanations about the importance of rehearsing and playing along with the orchestra, as well as talking about different composers who wrote for the cello.

Shhhhh .... I snuck a shot of the orchestra before it started ... great seats, huh?

They played Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn ...

Never miss an opportunity to teach;

when you teach others, 

you teach yourself.

~Itzhak Perlman

After the concert we grabbed salads at the cafeteria and walked around to the little public garden, at the Disney Hall to have lunch.

This is the "Rose for Lilly" fountain, designed by Frank Gehry for Lillian Disney. Her bequest is what began the Walt Disney Concert Hall project. Apparently, she loved Delftware so it's a mosaic of thousands of pieces of shattered Delft vases and tiles. It's beautiful and I think works so well with the architecture of the building.

The most important thing to do 

is really listen.

~Itzhak Perlman

Below, if you walk between the two structures there is a little amphitheater ...

One must always practice slowly.

If you learn something slowly,

you forget it slowly.

~Itzhak Perlman

I couldn't find a cello piece at the Disney Hall for you, but here's a Mischa Maisky cello Concerto by Haydn in some fabulous place. Probably Europe ... 

There are people who are uncanny,

who are finished products at a young age.

I wasn't, thank God.

~Itzhak Perlman

Hope y'all are doing great!

Many Blessings and much light!

And Happy Birthday Evelyn!!!

xo