Heading up the slope to Bailey Hall, the only thought in my mind was “Is this really worth the climb?” Perhaps that makes me a bit of a philistine. After all, it was a free ticket to see Emmanuel Ax– a well-known classical pianist. I’ve just never had any pull towards the sound of Mozart, Beethoven, and others. To be frank, Mozart and Beethoven are the only two composers I can name off the top of my head. My musical education may have been pretty pathetic, but I hadn’t found a reason to regret it until that Friday. Sitting in the hushed audience, I began to fidget as Emmanuel Ax laid his fingers on the keys. I could see the emotion on his face, could hear the rise and fall of the music, could appreciate the technical skill in his hand movements. However, for all the dramatic lifting of his hands before he crashed them down on the keys, for all the deep concentration in his furrowed brow, I never found myself absorbed in the actual piece. It was certainly not a reflection on his own skill–from the audience’s overly enthusiastic response, clearly the man was amazing– but it was a clear, painful image of my ignorance of all things musical. As the performance drew to a close and the audience poured out of the hall and into the darkness, I found myself strangely dazed. I had been unable to understand his art. Even when surrounded by the roar of a clapping audience, my mind was numbed and silent as it had been when Emmanuel Ax had bled music into the air.

Emmanuel Ax is a world renowned pianist. I had the opportunity to attend his concert, something I never would have thought of doing. I know nothing about piano, or about music, for that matter. When he would finish a piece, I never knew when to clap; I simply followed everyone else.

Despite my lack of musical knowledge, throughout the concert, there was a certain universal feeling that could penetrate even the hearts of the musically illiterate. I remember feeling an array of emotions, and as each key was struck, it transported me to another state. I closed my eyes, and envisioned beautiful images. It was truly beautiful how the music and my mind were synced, bringing to my mind beautiful, deep thoughts and images.

The time passed so quickly, I did not even think about time. All that I know was that classical piano music is truly a form of art, a form of art that anybody has the capability of enjoying, not just those with an ear for music. The end was simply beautiful, as I could see the joy in the artist’s face as he bowed, and the crowd cheered on, in a standing ovation.

This was a very nice event, truly joyous and relaxing, and it has ignited my interest for classical music. I will most definitely be on the lookout for future concerts like this one.

Friday night I had the opportunity to attend the Emanuel Ax concert at Bailey hall. I just want to say that this performance was stunning. Everyone in the audience seemed captivated by each note Emanuel played. And I can definitely understand why! When he plays you can see just how much he truly enjoys playing piano. He is incredibly focused on the music and if you watch his facial expressions you can see when he starts playing one of his favorite parts… everything just seems to flow, and the audience senses this! It was incredibly quiet during the performance, and still! I think everyone was afraid to move or they’d cause too much noise and wouldn’t hear the piece the way it was meant to be heard.

This was my first time attending a live piano concert and I had no idea how riveting a piano performance could be. Many of the pieces he played I have heard before, but it was an entirely different experience to hear them in person. I now know why concerts like this one draw so many people. Speaking of which, the audience was definitely skewed in the direction of the elderly. I think more people from our generation need to experience performances like this one rather than always popping in headphones. It is definitely worth the few hours and price.

Additionally, this performance was very calming, each one of the pieces took me farther away from schoolwork and all the stresses of the world. I would definitely recommend attending similar performances as a form of stress relief. Regardless though, I feel a performance such as this one by the renowned Emanuel Ax, is an invaluable experience and everyone should make an effort to attend one at some point in their lives!

We arrive in Bailey Hall mere minutes before the performance. The median age is roughly 65 (we receive a couple surprised looks as we enter) and the room is awash with the comfortable din of conversation and laughter. We take our seats quickly, and the light dims almost immediately.

As the first c minor chord sounds, true and clear, I am filled with a sort of comfortable familiarity that comes with returning home for the holidays after a long time away. His hands fly across the ivory keys, striking each with the precision and control that distinguish a concert pianist from an amateur.

For me, this first sonata is especially special because I’ve played it myself (although obviously not nearly as well as Emanuel Ax). However, the sense of kinship the piece evoked within me created a unique and enjoyable listening experience unlike any other classical concert I’ve attended. He then moved into several other classic compositions by Beethoven and Chopin, demonstrating his grasp of the old masters for a public audience, though his biography notes that he is also accomplished in more niche pieces.

It was so, so nice to have the opportunity to hear a professional, world-renowned concert pianist in concert. As a classically-trained pianist myself, being able to hear him play inspired me to learn new pieces, such as some of the Chopin pieces that he performed. Though many people love classical piano, few appreciate how much time and effort it takes to reach the level of finesse and control that professional concert pianists display. People say it takes 10,000 hours to become a master, but most professional concert pianists have far exceeded that amount by the time they are performing in concert. To be able to see that the fruits of that labor live was quite a fantastic treat.

As the second act progressed, he kept the audience enthralled by a series of increasingly complex scherzos. Each cadence and nuance was skillfully executed with technical perfection, but he also plucked each emotion from the music as clearly as if he was painting on a canvas.

I am so glad I had the chance to see Emanuel Ax in concert, and can’t wait to see what other concerts happen this semester.

The Rose Scholars had a privilege of listening to a world-famous pianist, Emanuel Ax, at Bailey Hall this weekend. I was excited to find out about this concert in the Rose events because I would not have known about this opportunity otherwise. Although I have been to many orchestral and symphonic band concerts, this was my first time attending a concert featuring a piano soloist. I was glad that I have a background in music theory and playing instruments so it allowed me to fully appreciate the music.

We had a great view of the pianist and I was able to see Mr. Ax’s finger movements when he was performing. I was in awe of how fast he can play all the notes and runs while varying the intensities and tempo as well. I especially loved the fact that Mr. Ax played a large range of dynamics and utilized the full range of the available keys on the piano. Mr. Ax played pieces by Beethoven and Chopin, two of the most famous pianists in history. Listening to Mr. Ax playing music by the two composers allowed me to notice the differences in the styles. Beethoven’s music express bold rhythms and chords while Chopin’s music included many chromaticism in various minors.

My favorite piece of the night was the Adagio cantabile movement in Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, also known as “Pathétique” by Beethoven. Since it’s the second movement of the sonata, which usually is written in slower tempo, it contained many graceful rhythms and it was very beautifully put into life by Mr. Ax.

Overall, this was a fantastic concert and it was very calming for the mind in the midst of prelims and midterm essays. I could close my eyes and feel the emotions conveyed within each piece. Although it would have been nice if more Rose scholars on the waiting list could have gone with us, I appreciate that the program offers opportunities for students to enjoy Cornell concerts.