Midori plays Bach

I had the privilege of getting a ticket to see and hear Midori play Bach.

I had an amazing time! It really was a once in a lifetime show.

Some rough notes just after the show.

  • She's a pure emotional player - not saying she's not thinking, but the experience of listening to her playing is like seeing and hearing waves of emotion crashing over me.
  • Midori plays the violin with her whole body
  • Even though she moves her body, none of the motions were excessive or without purpose; every part of her movement contributed to her playing
  • Incredible right arm bow work - it's smooth like silk and springy like a flowing stream; as strong as an erupting volcano and vary from the quietest of pindrops to the loudest of storms - at one point i had to turn down my hearing aids to avoid blowouts!
  • She's beyond technique, into the realm of pure interpretation
  • I liked the first modern piece she played. It fit the Bach very well and made me think that Bach is connected to our time: it's not so different from our modern voicing.
  • Midori interprets Bach in a very modern way; there's nothing old about this music. Her performance makes me want to try learning some Bach
  • It's all the notes, all the old music, made new again through the mind, body, and violin of Midori
  • Sometimes it sounded like Vivaldi

A great evening! Very intense playing and very enjoyable. The entire concert hall was so absorbed by her playing!