Your self-directed movie

review by Chloe Hoang

3/17/17

Boston Symphony Orchestra

            Would you want to sit in a grand hall watching a movie that is produced and directed by you? If so, the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Symphony hall is the perfect place for that. The grand, classical designs with golden lights and a golden frame that hugs the stage definitely compliments the music sections.  Anyone who has not been to a symphony would wonder how so, since there is not much to watch on stage. All that there is, is people playing their own instruments under the instruction of an instructor. It is the marvelous music that this talented group of people create that will make you fall into a state of day dream.

            The first section is a group of pieces in the Symphony No. 60 IN C, “IL DISTRTTO” written by Franz Joseph Haydn, and conducted by Bernard Haitink. There is a reason why Joseph Haydn was the composer for party music. All six pieces in his symphony together draw a picture of royalties dancing at a ball. It is the picture of the era where people enjoy dressing up: big hair, silky dresses, champagne, and chandeliers, you name it. The section is very upbeat with a steady rhythm. It is very hard not to move or wiggle in your seat while listening through this section. Whether you are feeling blue or worried, it is guaranteed that you be put in a party mood when sitting through Haydn’s Symphony No.60.

            The second section is a three pieces section by Claude Debussy called Nocturnes. In the last piece, the Women of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and their guest conductor Lidiya Yankovska. This section is much less upbeat than the first section. The music not only slows down, it also gets quieter. The musicians’ skills are incredible to play their instruments so quietly, and still with unison. Somehow they were able to fill the big symphony hall with such low music, but not so low to the point where there is absolutely no more sound. Debussy’s section is like on of those quiet Saturday night that you chose to spend alone because you need some space from the world to just refresh. It is that pause you need from the way too busy workdays and stressful conflicts with people around you. Debussy’s music is very unique, but it is just what most people in that hall would need.

            However, in order to get a perfect experience requires not only the brilliancy of the orchestra, but also the respect and tolerance of audience members with one another. There is no doubt that you need to be quiet and turn off your phones, because that two hours in the hall should be completely dedicated to the music. But you should be allowed to keep up with your body functions. One cough or sneeze will not take away other’s amazing experience with the music.

Legendary music is for all. It does not matter how old you are or what background you come from, because everyone should be able to listen and appreciate music. There is no one right way to interpret music, but it is each individual’s experience. The Boston Symphony Orchestra plays beautiful music, and you should definitely go to one symphony if you have a chance to. Sit in, close your eyes, and fall into that movie that you draw out for yourself from the music. It is an experience like no other.