BSO with Yo Yo Ma last night

[Anonymous]

What did you think of the music selections? The musicians were fantastic, but it turns out I don’t like Shostakovich, even if I thought I did. Especially, I felt it was a waste of Yo Yo Ma’s talent. I am not a regular attender, and was hoping to swoon.

[Anonymous]

Which Shostakovich?

[Anonymous]

The older I get, the less I appreciate Shostakovich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which Shostakovich?

I wasn't there but I'm assuming his Cello Concerto No. 1.

The Shostakovich is incredibly difficult, so I wouldn't say Yo-Yo Ma's talent was "wasted" on it (now, if it had been Lalo...) but if you were looking for a lyrical, virtuosic piece to swoon over, Shostakovich isn't everybody's jam. Probably Dvorak, Elgar, Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, or Haydn D Major would have suited better.

[Anonymous]

I saw YoYoMa a couple years ago and didn’t love the pieces played but liked seeing him and appreciated the talent.

[Anonymous]

I’ve tried to like Shostakovich, but he’s so miserable I can’t get there. You can feel the misery in many Russian composers’ music. I like a bit of Prokofiev here and there though, he’s not quite as bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which Shostakovich?

I wasn't there but I'm assuming his Cello Concerto No. 1.

The Shostakovich is incredibly difficult, so I wouldn't say Yo-Yo Ma's talent was "wasted" on it (now, if it had been Lalo...) but if you were looking for a lyrical, virtuosic piece to swoon over, Shostakovich isn't everybody's jam. Probably Dvorak, Elgar, Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, or Haydn D Major would have suited better.

Bingo, it was Cello Concerto No. 1.

Can I ask, are you a musician? Or how do you know so much about Shostakovich?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which Shostakovich?

I wasn't there but I'm assuming his Cello Concerto No. 1.

The Shostakovich is incredibly difficult, so I wouldn't say Yo-Yo Ma's talent was "wasted" on it (now, if it had been Lalo...) but if you were looking for a lyrical, virtuosic piece to swoon over, Shostakovich isn't everybody's jam. Probably Dvorak, Elgar, Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, or Haydn D Major would have suited better.

Bingo, it was Cello Concerto No. 1.

Can I ask, are you a musician? Or how do you know so much about Shostakovich?

Yes, violinist, though not professional. But reached a pretty high level and have childhood friends and friends of friends who are internationally known as violinists or cellists, so I follow the classical music world pretty closely. It's not some kind of huge failing to not have enjoyed the performance; everyone has their own tastes when it comes to classical. Shostakovich wrote those concertos specifically for Mstislav Rostropovich, one of the greatest cellists ever, so again I wouldn't call it a "waste of talent," but if you didn't care for it, then you didn't care for it. I can't stand the wonderful Jacqueline du Pre's interpretation of Haydn D Major because the tempo practically sits down--some people think that's blasphemous. Conversely, I like all those Corelli concerti grossi that many people find boring since they all sound similar. To each his own.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, that does help me feel better about the experience. Still one of the cooler things I’ve done this year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you, that does help me feel better about the experience. Still one of the cooler things I’ve done this year!

Clearly you have not done very many cool things this year. I saw Yo Yo Ma when he was at his peak.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which Shostakovich?

I wasn't there but I'm assuming his Cello Concerto No. 1.

The Shostakovich is incredibly difficult, so I wouldn't say Yo-Yo Ma's talent was "wasted" on it (now, if it had been Lalo...) but if you were looking for a lyrical, virtuosic piece to swoon over, Shostakovich isn't everybody's jam. Probably Dvorak, Elgar, Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, or Haydn D Major would have suited better.

Bingo, it was Cello Concerto No. 1.

Can I ask, are you a musician? Or how do you know so much about Shostakovich?

Yes, violinist, though not professional. But reached a pretty high level and have childhood friends and friends of friends who are internationally known as violinists or cellists, so I follow the classical music world pretty closely. It's not some kind of huge failing to not have enjoyed the performance; everyone has their own tastes when it comes to classical. Shostakovich wrote those concertos specifically for Mstislav Rostropovich, one of the greatest cellists ever, so again I wouldn't call it a "waste of talent," but if you didn't care for it, then you didn't care for it. I can't stand the wonderful Jacqueline du Pre's interpretation of Haydn D Major because the tempo practically sits down--some people think that's blasphemous. Conversely, I like all those Corelli concerti grossi that many people find boring since they all sound similar. To each his own.

NP. This was cool to read so thanks! I know less than nothing about classical music but my kid somehow is a serious musician so I end up at a lot of concerts. Trying to educate my ear so it’s fun to read the POV of someone in that world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you, that does help me feel better about the experience. Still one of the cooler things I’ve done this year!

Clearly you have not done very many cool things this year. I saw Yo Yo Ma when he was at his peak.

Np, imagine being so small you felt the need to insult a person who took joy in seeing YoYo Ma this year.

[Anonymous]

Since this is DC and not Boston, I doubt many of us were there.

[Anonymous]

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you, that does help me feel better about the experience. Still one of the cooler things I’ve done this year!

Clearly you have not done very many cool things this year. I saw Yo Yo Ma when he was at his peak.

Np, imagine being so small you felt the need to insult a person who took joy in seeing YoYo Ma this year.

Seriously.
What a dolt
NP