Tuesday, April 17, 2007

ITZHAK PEARLMAN at Wolf Trap, Va. 1987


To say that I was thrilled to hear Itzhak Pearlman in person is a vast understatement. His performance was the culmination of a wonderful two days spent at Wolf Trap, the National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia.

The year was 1987 and the month was July. I had planned the weekend for almost a year, ever since I heard that the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Pearlman, would be performing there. My husband and I were living in North Carolina and we made plans to meet friends from Connecticut at the concert.

The weather was perfect and we were thankful because the first night was spent on blankets outside of the Filene Center. Music is piped out from the building and the acoustics are amazingly fine. We were among hundreds of other music lovers enjoying the warm summer evening and listening to the orchestra pay tribute to George Gershwin. "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American In Paris" have never sounded as sweet as they did that evening.

The following night, Saturday, was the big thrill, however. We were inside for this performance. We had 8th row, center seats in the orchestra. The excitement was palpable when the lights dimmed and Itzhak Pearlman made his entrance. Although Polio has greatly diminished his ability to walk and he gets by with the aid of crutches attached to his arms, he exudes such charm and joy that the audience is hardly aware of his infirmities.

Once he was seated and the performance began I realized that I was truly in the presence of a superstar. His irrepressible joy of making music was transferred to the audience and, although his technique was flawless, he made it seem almost easy.

I will always remember that evening with Itzhak Pearlman, a man with incredible talent and a love of humanity.

8 Comments:

Blogger kenju said...

Ginny, mr. kenju and I were privileged to see and hear him here in Raleigh, at NCSU's Friends of the College Concert Series. It was such an honor!

8:40 PM  
Blogger Anvilcloud said...

Sounds like a perfect evening.

5:46 AM  
Blogger Pam said...

There is nothing like getting to see and hear great artists in person, it carries you to another dimension.

8:08 AM  
Blogger dmmgmfm said...

What a wonderful memory, and so well written. Thank you.

9:03 AM  
Blogger KGMom said...

While I have been to Wolf Trap several times for concerts, I never saw anything of the caliber of Itzhak Pearlman. What a treat.
I do love Wolf Trap, and hearing Pearlman must have been divine.

4:32 PM  
Blogger Cazzie!!! said...

IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF EWVERYONE COULD CVONVEY WHAT THIS MAN HAS TO YOU, OUTSTANDING!!

5:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have had the priviledge of hear Perlman in concert and loved him.

12:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pearlman is indeed a legend. I've only seen him on tv, so I can only imagine how thrilling it was to actually witness his performance in person.

6:15 AM  

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