Carl Maria von Weber: Ruler of the Spirits, J.109, op. 26, E-flat major
Schubert: Symphony No. 9 D.944 in C major, The Great C major
Beethoven: Violin Concerto, op.61, D major
I deplore much of the current "superstar" movement, be it in music, academia, sports, business, or elsewhere: the astronomical pay scale and near-idolatrous attention given to the very few, to the detriment of the field as a whole. That did not, however, stop me from enjoying Itzhak Perlman's performance of the Beethoven. The OPO's own Aaron Goldman* can put on a show at least as exciting and excellent as James Galway's, but much as I respect most of our string players, the difference in Perlman's playing was striking. And there's no doubt he draws a crowd: the concert was sold out.
