This week, I took the time to read over the UNC Bucket List. “Feeding a squirrel” ranks in at #79.
Going to Memorial Hall does not rank at all.
While there is nothing wrong with encouraging our state mammal with fresh provisions, for the cost of a couple bread loaves you can find something equally enjoyable.
At ten dollars per student ticket, UNC students get an obvious advantage over people paying for premium seats (tickets that can cost as much as $150, depending on the performer).
The lowest price does not come with a second-rate experience – if you order your ticket in advance you can still get a great view (for concerts featuring pianists, remember to sit stage left to see the hands, something I confused during the Mitsuko Uchida concert with stage right). No matter your seats, the amazing acoustics guarantee a peerless audio experience.
I know, it’s almost spring break and making plans to hear classical music (especially at the last minute) doesn’t seem to be a high priority for many college students.
But for those who love music, Memorial Hall offers the opportunity to affordably explore this genre. As enjoying a favorite artist in concert is an experience that transcends any MP3 reproduction, listening to a classical performer’s interpretation of a beloved piece heightens the emotional force of this music.
Tonight, Leon Fleisher performs at Memorial Hall. The concert is perfect for anyone less familiar with the genre. The repertoire is an inclusive mix of musical eras, from Bach and Brahms to Schubert and Dvorak. Although the Baroque and Romantic Era pieces are some of my favorites, I’m looking most forward to the four-hand transcriptions, or arrangements for different instruments, that Fleisher will play with his wife.
The penultimate piece, a mournful Slavonic dance by Antonin Dvorak, should invoke different emotions through the different medium (the dances are originally written for symphony orchestra). The finale should be especially exciting.
The eighth Slavonic dance is a robust number, with gentle flute interludes floating between powerfully orchestrated sections. I cannot wait to see how the Fleishers create the same impact. If you’re curious too, be there 7:30.
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