Yefim Bronfman at Lincoln Center

 A view from my fenetre at intermission.

My good friend Ellie and I went to hear our fave pianist Yefim Bronfman at Philharmonic tonight.  (There is no apparent need to say New York Philharmonic when you live here I am learning, but for purposes of my vast worldwide audience, it is the New York Philharmonic.)  Like filing into a Yankee's game or the New World's Vatican of Tennis,  the US Open,  or wandering around the Met (Museum or Opera), the experience starts the moment you alight from the taxi or emerge from the subway.  You will not only have a wonderful experience attending the thing you are paying for, but you will also be part of a collective New York experience.   You will be one of the gleeful huddled masses.  There is a lot of "huddlage" in New York.  It is indeed a rat race, but I find, it is one where everybody wins.

I am off topic again.

What IS the topic?

I have two:

1.  People watching.  The Phil offers amazing people watching.  It is for music, but also for looking at interesting faces, imaging the state of those two over there's marriage, queens in fur coats, ladies in fur coats and comfortable shoes, men who look like they would rather be elsewhere, wondering if a new generation will come, picking out people from Westchester.  It is not for star sighting though last time I was there I body checked Caroline Kennedy on my way back from the men's room.  I am endlessly fascinated by all of us.  And I am not alone.  We love it. And it a funny thing in New York, the giant metropolis, I ALWAYS expect to know someone, or recognize someone, everywhere I go!  And quite often I do though not tonight.

2. Yefim Bronfman.  I wish I could call him Yeffy, but we are not on that level yet.  I first heard him at here last January playing Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op 16 and was so blown away.  He is a genius.  And I use that heavily.  The Yefster rocks my world with his playing. Tonight was no exception though you never forget your first time.  If you ever get a chance to hear this man where you are do go.  (See his link above for international schedule of future Yef sightings.)

The New York Phil

There are times and performances that you will never forget your whole entire difficult life. Like seeing The Clash open for the Who in LA or catching Loudon Wainwright III at the Great American Music Hall in SF or seeing the Houdon exhibit at The Getty or Martha Graham at City Center.  Or St. Lawrence O'Toole Pipe Band's concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Tonight was another. I went with Ellie to see Alan Gilbert conduct the New York Philharmonic in works by Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff.  I don't profess to know anything about this stuff, but my body did and the tingling in my left hip was not a body part fallen asleep, but one come alive!  It was electric this evening.  The piano soloist Yefim Bronfman who played the difficult Prokofiev piece got the reception reserved for a returning war hero. And rightfully so. He was amazing and mesmerizing.

And Alan Gilbert.  I love that New Yorkers love him. Like he is an MVP for the Yankees. He is the first native New York conductor and his mom plays in the orchestra!  Anytime New York can have a homespun moment fitting for Boise, I love it even more. Mr. Gilbert is young, enthusiastic and in control.  You can feel that the orchestra loves him as well.

Whatta night.  It goes on my list.