We really don’t know what the coming months will bring. Many of us — perhaps all? — are rather certain there will be no concert halls full of listeners and a stage of musicians. Until there is a vaccine it is hard to imagine that we can possibly go back to “normal”. Some wonder if the old “normal” can ever return. It’s difficult to say. At the moment we are forbidden to be on stage, and that’s as it should be.
But no one can stop the music!
When live in-person concerts stopped musicians immediately started to post the “virtual” videos — performers each recording their part (or parts in some instances) and someone (or someones) would put it all together: it’s a very time consuming job, but the end results can be quite glorious, as you’ve seen here at oboeinsight.
And now there are occasionally the small groups. A reduced orchestra on stage, everyone six feet or more apart. Sometimes with a conductor, sometimes not. Still no audiences.
But THIS … a quartet. Still separated by space. With no audience. But oh the music making! If this is what we have to have for a while, I can live with it. SUCH beauty! (But if you’ve never heard the full orchestra version of the Adagietto you have missed something incredible, so do search it out.)
Mahler: Adagietto (from the Fifth Symphony)
The Alma Quartet
Followed by more Mahler, including Nino Gvetadze on piano … please do listen!
