Yo-Yo Ma (and friends) at Wharton Center

L. and I went to see cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Leonidas Kavakos, and pianist Emanuel Ax at Wharton Center last night. They performed three Beethoven pieces and, in an unexpected encore, a Schubert piece.

I am not particularly knowledgeable about classical music, but have slowly (like at a snail's pace) grown to appreciate it more over the last 25 years or so, but certainly even more so after our kids played in orchestra in middle school and high school. 

Regardless of genre, I will not pass up a chance to see live music, and particularly not when one of the performers is perhaps the most celebrated cellists...ever? Kavakos and Ax, as I have since learned, are also highly regarded musicians. (And I know any classical music experts reading this are shaking their fists in anger at my ignorance).

The musicians took the stage at 7:45, fifteen minutes after the scheduled 7:30. They were all wearing Michigan State baseball caps, and Yo-Yo Ma said, "Go Green!" to the audience, who responded with, "Go White!"  The trio then launched into their program. It was fascinating to see and hear how those three instruments interacted with each other and weaved in and out, the musicians communicating with each other through their playing. It struck me that what they were doing wasn't far removed from a jazz trio, the only differences being stylistic and jazz being principally improvisational. But the sonic result is similar: different instruments with different textures interacting, darting in and out, and weaving to create a whole. Ma's cello and Kavakos's violin conversed with each other throughout the evening. There was a musical dialogue going on. These are musicians who work well together and seemed to have a genuinely great time.

I was won over by Ma and Kavakos' showmanship. These are not stuffy, crusty classical musicians. They ended each movement with drama and flare, inviting the audience to enthusiastically applaud. Kavakos was also wearing a somewhat sparkly jacket and shiny gray pants with stylish black slip-on shoes. With his longish hair, he struck almost an Oscar Wilde-like visual presentation. (Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax, on the other hand, seemed a bit more professorial, especially Mr. Ax).

Ax, Kavakos, and Ma concluded the evening by donning the Spartan caps again and another "Go Green! Go White!" with Ax explaining that they'd initially messed it up and had meant to save it until the end. I don't think anyone in the audience cared.