I play concerts for a living, so you wouldn’t think I’d need reminding of the dramatic difference between listening to a recording and hearing a live performance. But it was as an audience member, recently, not as a performer, that I had my reminder – and it was a pretty spectacular one, because I was lucky enough to attend a concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The orchestra played music by Schubert and Carl Maria von Weber, and they premiered a wonderful new piece by my good friend Max Raimi, who is one of the most gifted contemporary American composers, and who also happens to play viola in the Chicago Symphony. Now it’s true that not every orchestra is the Chicago Symphony, but it’s also true that the level of playing in professional orchestras all around the country is remarkably high, and I’ll bet that within 25 miles of wherever you live there’s a symphony orchestra that plays beautifully. My advice? Buy a ticket and go hear them. And I promise it’ll be a thrill.
A Minute with Miles is a production of South Carolina Public Radio, made possible by the J.M. Smith Corporation.
