Classical Culture on a Sunday

The Old Bedford School presents their Van Cliburn Concert Series, and it is a great way to appreciate classical music. I need to expand my knowledge, and this series has been a joy.

For my third foray into classical music, I heard Mariangela Vacatello this past Sunday, May 5th. She was a Van Cliburn finalist in 2009 and has enjoyed worldwide success. She performed:

Ravel - Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit  I found this to be light and airy. Keep in mind I do not have a professional music vocabulary, but it struck me as vivacious.

Beethoven - Piano Sonata op. 53 and Waldstein (the Dawn) -  with Beethoven I often feel like I know the music. It must show up in movie themes or something. Anyway, this was fairly bright and cheery music.

Chopin - Nocturnes in D flat and Major Borealis     She went from light to dark. This was brooding and the Nocturnes proved to be my favorite. Again it sounded familiar.

Rachmaninov - Piano Sonata n.2 in B flat minor     So dramatic. Russian piano creation at its best

Her fingers flew and she played with feeling and expression. Vacatello is a tiny thing with long dark hair. Her English with the Italian accent was charming and musical as she explained her choices.

This proved to be a delightful afternoon. I'm grateful for culture in my own backyard (truly - just fifteen minutes from my house - not a flight to La Scala).