San Francisco Symphony presents Emanuel Ax
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA
7:30 PM, Thursday, October 12, 2023

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[7:34 PM] {lights down; pre-recorded welcome announcements}
[7:35 PM] {concert tuning; EPS out}

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn, Op. 56a (1873)

1. [7:36 PM] Theme. Andante (29 bars)
2. [7:38 PM] Variation 1. Poco più animato (29 bars)
3. [7:39 PM] Variation 2. Più vivace (29 bars)
4. [7:40 PM] Variation 3. Con moto (58 bars)
5. [7:42 PM] Variation 4. Andante con moto (60 bars)
6. [7:45 PM] Variation 5. Vivace (58 bars)
7. [7:46 PM] Variation 6. Vivace (29 bars)
8. [7:47 PM] Variation 7. Grazioso (29 bars)
9. [7:50 PM] Variation 8. Presto non troppo (39 bars)
10. [7:51 PM] Finale. Andante (111 bars)
    [7:55 PM] {set ends; EPS walks offstage and back a few times}
    [7:56 PM] {dead air while the stage hands bring on the piano and rearrange chairs for the players}

[8:04 PM] {concert tuning} [8:05 PM] {applause for entrance of EA & EPS}

Anders Hillborg (b. 1954): Piano Concerto No. 2, The MAX Concerto (San Francisco Symphony Commission and World Premiere, 2023)

1. [8:06 PM] Grand Piano »
2. [8:n PM] Mist »
3. [8:n PM] Toy Piano »
4. [8:n PM] Mists »
5. [8:n PM] Chorales and Echo Chamber »
6. [8:n PM] Toy Piano (reprise) »
7. [8:n PM] Hard Piano »
8. [8:n PM] Soft Piano »
9. [8:n PM] Chorales and Echo Chamber (reprise) »
10. [8:n PM] Ascending Piano
    [8:26 PM] {applause; bows all around; AH up onstage to bask in the ovation}
    [8:29 PM] {all done – set break!}

[8:48 PM] {pre-performance noodling from the symphony}
[8:50 PM] {concert tuning; enter EPS}

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): Symphony No. 2 in D, Op.36 (1802)

1. [8:51 PM] Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
2. [9:03 PM] Larghetto
3. [9:14 PM] Scherzo. Allegro - Trio
4. [9:17 PM] Allegro molto
   [9:23 PM] {show ends; rounds of applause for SFS and EPS}
   [9:25 PM] {done!}

• Emanuel Ax: piano;

San Francisco Symphony

• Esa-Pekka Salonen: conductor, music director;
• symphony members vary by program; see the current list.

Today was leave-your-phone-in-the-car-like-an-idiot day in Oakland, if not the greater bay area. Being a first class fool, I obliged, and hence have none of the usual timing data to support my commentary.

Tis a pity, but I can still speculate on times for the distinct movements by comparing my rough hand-written notes with live videos posted on Youtube and elsewhere. Gotta go with what you can, Stan!

So normally I'm not much of a Brahms fan, but tonight's opener worked pretty well for me. Maybe the theme-and-variations format got Brahms out of his default composition mode. Or maybe my unfamiliarity with the work and it's homage to Haydn combined to fire up my enthusiasm. Whatever! It was a great opener tonight!

The MAX Concerto was arguably tonight's big draw, and my guess is that as much as 20-30% of the audience ducked out at set break (because who needs to hear another even-numbered symphony from old Ludwig van again?). I enjoyed the premiere, but from my vantage (way up close, with a perfect view of Ax at the keyboard), I could see that it was a struggle: Ax was concentrating mightily throughout, and at times, appeared to be listening intently to make sure his entrances fit with the symphony. For me, part of the trouble was that during some of the syncopated sections, it was darn near impossible to tell whether those entrances were accurate or off-kilter. It's tough to find a new pattern embedded in the swirl of dissonance and chaos! Fortunately, it wasn't all difficult listening, and overall, I enjoyed the work. It will be interesting to compare whatever commercial recording comes out with my recollection of tonight!

And the Beethoven that ended the night? First rate! Mi gusta!

Program Notes or program notes

Faber Music posted an interesting promo article about the Hillborg piece.

David Bratman posted a mixed review with SFCV.

Paul Hertelendy share his thoughts about the show in an article posted at ARTSSF.

Joshua Kosman posted a laudatory review with the SF Chronicle.

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2023 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2023 event list! ☸ On to the next event!