Concert report and analysis

Concert Review

The type and program of events was Lang, the pianist, who was performing live at Carnegie Hall, Chicago on Sunday, April 04, 2004 at 3:00 PM. The only performer was that of Lang at his piano. Lang's program began with Schumann's "Abegg Variations." This resulted in the performance commencing with a rather somber note, in contrast to the following Baroque Haydn's more bracing "Sonata in C Major." The latter may have been a better beginning choice to arrest the slightly sleepy Sunday afternoon audience's attention, still groggy perhaps from brunch and the early spring sunlight.

These two pieces were followed by Schubert's "Wanderer Fantasy," a delightful and multifaceted composition with many switches and tone, and Lang's newfound hold on the audience continued with a piece a completely different place, time, and composer, namely that of Tan Dun's "Eight Memories in Watercolor." This was a more sparse piece to the ear with many variations like the marvelous Schubert, although more fluid in composition.

The ending of Lang's concert was fairly traditional in tone and spirit, with Scriabin's "Etude Op. 2 No. 1 in C-sharp minor" and Chopin's "Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise, Op.22." The latter was enough to the crowd from the hall, toes tapping -- but not its collective heart pounding too hard to race too many pacemakers.

As can be gleaned form the above description, the effect that the environment had on the event was palpable -- largely a respectful, older crowd, interested and effusive, but never to the point of being impolite. This was disappointing given that the artist is recorded in his promotional literature as being particularly interested in encouraging young people's interest in classical music. Some individuals seemed more interested in being there than others, but no one was openly rude, bored, or uninterested -- or overly interested.