New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Xian Zhang, conductor; Inon Barnatan, piano. April 1, 2022.

State Theater, New Brunswick, NJ.  Balcony (Seat L101, $31).

Program

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15

       Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73, "Emperor"

One reason we came back from our Nebraska trip yesterday was so we could catch these Beethoven piano concertos today and tomorrow.  The original program pianist was Louis Lortie, but a few weeks ago we were sent a notice that he withdrew because of an injury, and Barnatan would be the "substitute."  A search of my blog indicated that I had heard Lortie once, and Barnatan five times.

Beethoven concertos must be standard repertoire for concert pianists.  However, unless Barnatan just came off another series with another orchestra, that he could do them without music was most impressive.  (This assumes he will do 2 to 4 without music also.)  I think he can be excused with a wrong note here or there (and I am quite sure there were a few), and don't think he would consider a virtue of performing live.  I guess I am referring sarcastically to the Eighth Blackbird here.

One wonders how the concertos got grouped in this particular manner.  One could argue you always want No. 5 to be the last one played.  Or one could do that chronologically (in which No. 2 would come first).  Or it could be 1, 3, 4 followed by 2, 5; which would satisfy both concerns.  I do wonder if tomorrow's performance will be a let down.  We shall see.

Our flight yesterday from Kansas City was delayed by over three hours due to weather in the Newark area, and we didn't get home until 2:30 am.  I woke up with a headache, which subsided after much coffee.  I was nonetheless worried about having trouble staying awake during the concert.  Turns out it wasn't an issue at all; and Anne was wide awake also.

There was this little girl who had trouble sitting through the concert quietly.  The parents thought it would be okay to "hide" in the back of the balcony.  The result unfortunately was every sound got projected forward, rather clearly.

Attendance was okay.  And traffic was okay in both directions.

After Concerto No. 1.

After Concerto No. 5.  How do I tell them apart.  First, there is the time stamp.  Second, notice there is no second flute in Concerto No. 1.

The State Theater went through some renovations during the last two years.  This modern "all-gender" bathroom is a sign of the times.  Works, on multiple levels.