The wife and I had a treat Wednesday evening. At the last minute, one of our daughters obtained tickets for chamber music at the Columbia Museum of Art.
And one of the featured performers was our own Phillip Bush!
It was the first time I’ve actually heard Phillip in concert, and it was awesome. (I’m not counting this impromptu performance in Kathryn’s salon.) Although he would have been even more entertaining had he given us some of the extremely intense facial expressions offered by the lovely visiting violinist. That was worth paying extra for.
But seriously, folks, Phillip is an amazing talent.
My favorite part of the program was the Haydn piece. The Brahms was wonderful as well, but I’m more of a classical-period guy, I guess.
I apologize for the low quality of the photo below. I shot it as the musicians were taking their positions as the intermission ended. I wanted a shot of Phillip and also of the violinist, so we could tell the Twins that if they really practice hard on their cellos, they, too, will be able to wear such a shiny dress.
That’s Phillip behind the grand. The guy whose head you can see, not the guy in the khaki pants — that’s his page turner. Talk about having a great seat! I was pretty envious of that guy…
Related Posts
Did he ever stand up and bang the keys with his foot like Jerry Lee Lewis? That would be awesome.
I would not put it past Edward Arons–show-off!
Phillip is a far more elegant performer!
Hey thanks, Brad, for your kind words, and thanks for coming! It was a nice treat to walk in the Museum’s front door for the show and see you there.
I can’t tell you what a thrill it is to make music together with world-class players like the ones that Ed Arron (the artistic director of the series) assembles. It’s a real honor to be asked to join in (my second time now). It’s a little intimidating, cause you have to bring your A game for sure. I’m so glad you liked the Haydn—in many ways I am kind of more a Classical period guy too, and even though fewer notes and perhaps less obviously technically challenging than the Brahms, it’s more exposed, less to hide behind. And that Brahms is a LONG tune (jeez, they had a lot more time on their hands in the 19th century). But I do still love it.
Incidentally, the page-turner is a very fine pianist himself, a doctoral student of Marina Lomazov’s at USC.
And, Doug, believe it or not, there is a piece by a modern American composer named Aaron Jay Kernis that’s called “Superstar Etude No.1” and is an homage to Jerry Lee Lewis, and does call for using your foot on the keys at the end, along with JLL-like vocalizations. I played it a few times about 18-20 years ago, but since I don’t do yoga, I don’t think I have the needed hip flexibility anymore! You can see a young American pianist’s performance of it here with the foot antics around 1:52.
Turning pages in a concert is nerve-wracking. I believe you had the better deal!
I could never do it, with my attention-deficit problems….
I’d be all like…
OK, I’ve got to stay focused… stay focused… just about 30 seconds more… wouldn’t want to screw up… spoil everyone’s experience… like that lady in the front row… she got so dressed up for this; I’ll bet she was really looking forward to it… hate to spoil it for her… a lot of people are duded up here tonight… is it for the music, or did some come that way from work?… or do people just dress that way when they come to the museum… I wouldn’t know; haven’t been in awhile… I’d really like to see the Rockwell exhibit… wonder if I could sneak over during intermission… nah; the lights are out in there; it seems to be locked up… I really like Rockwell… don’t like it that people turn up their noses at him… I wonder if any of these folks here tonight are the kinds of art snobs who…
Oh, DANG! I was supposed to turn the page!!!…
I have decent focus, but I get lost enjoying the music, and fear missing a page turn. PB would manage, though. I think the sheet music is just there in his case to make the others feel better.