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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: Boston and Bruckner
Post Subject: A little storyPosted by Romy the Cat on: 10/16/2021
Like in anything else with B8 in your life there is a little
story with last night concert. Here is a letter Amy sent to Zander 2 days
before the performance.
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Dear Ben,
I realize this is a rather outrageous request, but is there
any way I might still play the Bruckner? Not having BPO has been one of the
harder things about COVID (and having spent a lot of time on the COVID wards, I
saw a lot of hard things). Seeing that we were starting with B8 felt a divine
signal that it was really going to get better. I have a particular love of B8
amongst symphonies - I met my husband over a mutual love of Bruckner and we
eloped and got married to the B8 Adagio.
Even longer than my love of B8 for being instrumental in
bringing about my marriage, I have loved it for being instrumental in my
general joy through playing in BPO. You probably don't remember, but the reason
I'm playing in BPO now is that when I was an intern you were playing B8, and I
was so desperate to play I asked you if I could join just that concert - you
said no, but that I could play in BPO in general. B8 brought me together with
BPO as well as my husband.
The next time we played it was during my oncology
fellowship. One of the most potent memories I have in music and medicine
is driving to Sanders for the Sunday concert and getting the call that a
particularly dear young patient of mine had finally died of his leukemia
after deciding to return Guatemala to see his children one more time rather
than getting more treatment when he relapsed. He had said he was going to cross
the border and see us again for more treatment, but we all knew it was goodbye
- and a painful microcosm of the unfairness even of tragedy in this world.
I was so very sad remembering him as we played, but then as I listened to the
brass playing particularly beautifully, and particularly hauntingly, at the end
of the Adagio, the music was suddenly not just B8, but a prayer for Rafael
rising from our little stage in Cambridge to Guatemala to the heavens. One of
the most miraculous moments of my life, and one that has sustained my soul
through much.
One of these hard times is now - I had to drop out of
rehearsals - and also take an urgent leave from work - because my 5 y/o son is
in emotional crisis and I have had to drop everything to be with him. Because
it was B8, my husband really wanted me to play. I went to the Sunday rehearsal,
and during that time he ran away from my parents and they had to call the
police to help find him. Child in need beats even Bruckner. But, in an almost
equally divine-seeming sign, we found an amazing nanny named Charlie for my
Charlie, and he is doing so well with him that I could actually go to a
rehearsal today and play tomorrow.
Again, I completely realize how unusual it is to ask to play with so little
rehearsing, but I know this piece with my heart, and oh would being able to
play it - and with BPO in Symphony Hall - be a ray of hope and healing to grab
and climb right now.
So many words, and not so well formed, but oh to play B8, if
in any way possible!!
With deep gratitude for all you and BPO have given me,
Amy
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