The Travelling Toe: Lang Lang in concert with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

FORTH WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNUAL GALA

Braving a cold, icy Saturday night the Travelling Toe and trusted copilot journeyed (very carefully) to Bass Hall in downtown Fort Worth for a musical concert.

Lang Lang with Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya
Fort Worth Symphony Symphony


Forth Worth Symphony Orchestra

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, with Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya, presented their annual gala concert Saturday night, February 28th, with special guest artist renowned pianist Lang Lang.

Lang Lang
guest performer 2015

All four pieces on the program were written by famous Russian composers. The first section from the orchestra was the overture to Mikhail Glinka's opera "Rusian and Ludmila". This opera is based on one of Pushkin's poems. It was a spirited and lively piece to start the evening's program.

Mikhail Glinka

Rusian and Ludmila
opera poster

Aleksandr Pushkin
Russian Poet

The second selection, one of The Travelling Toe's favorites, "Vocalise" was composed by beloved Sergie Rachmaninoff. The piece was played beautifully and the string section out did themselves on this piece.

Sergie Rachmaninoff

The third piece by played the orchestra was written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It was his Fantasy Overture to "Romeo and Juliet". Having just heard the orchestra play a selection from Prokofiev's ballet score of "Romeo and Juliet", it was interesting to hear the differences in how these two prominent composers interpreted the timeless story of these young lovers. The two pieces are different but they both convey the same feelings of love found, separation from each other and finally love lost.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Sergie Prokofiev

After a very short pause in order to have the Steinway piano rolled onto the stage, the "star" of the gala walked out on stage....Lang Lang. He was performing the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No 1 in B-flat Minor, Op.23. From the moment he walked onto the stage taking a bow, acknowledging the orchestra, and then the audience, all were drawn into his rather dramatic interpretation and presentation of this piece. This Concerto is a much beloved piece in the city of Fort Worth due to it's deep connection to hometown hero Van Cliburn, having played this same piece in Moscow to great acclaim.

Lang Lang was interesting to watch during his performance. He was very animated with the music, often turning to the orchestra while still playing and even watching them when he was not. He had many flourishes with his hands and was very expressive in his rendition of this piece.

Was this the best performance of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concert No 1?, The Travelling Toe can only say that this performance was very much entertaining and seemed to be enjoyed by all the audience members. Needless to say a standing ovation was given for Lang Lang's performance and he provided a short and sweet encore to end a lovely evening's musical entertainment.

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Annual Gala has been able to attract "top tier" musicians to this lovely event. Last year, Yo You Ma was in Fort Worth, this year Lang Lang and next year we will be honored to hear Joshua Bell. So dear readers, we do not have to go "north or east" to see famous classical musicians.....Fort Worth has it all....the city of cowboy and culture.

YE-HAW!