A Musical Feast

Last night after dinner at a new privately owned Italian restaurant in Sunnyvale (Giulianna's), my family went to the Meyerson Music Hall. We were out for an evening of music by distinguished pianist Peter Serkin with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. They were playing the colossal Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, which consisted of one solid hour of fantastic piano playing that ultimately brought the crowd to their feet. Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard was also making his Dallas debut, and we enjoyed him, as well. Both pianist and conductor were so expressive that we didn't mind that our otherwise great seats kept us from seeing the pianist's hands. Faces were just as good.

The second hour was sans-piano with Dausgaard conducting Nielsen's Symphony No. 4, The Inextinguishable, which features dualing sets of timpani. There is one moment in this symphony that left us all, including the two young violinists with us, amazed. The symphony's violinists played in complete unison at phenomenal speed.

It's not too late to get tickets for tonight, Saturday night, and Sunday matinee performances. If you love to leave a concert saying, "Wow," this one belongs on your must-do list.