Concert conducted by Christian Zacharias

Artists: Christian Zacharias, conductor/piano Disney Music Hall, Los Angeles March 25th: (A Personal Observation not a Music Review)

Program:
Haydn: Symphony No. 31, “Hornsignal”
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 6, K. 238
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19 in F, K. 459
Vanhal: Symphony in G minor

My partner Mina and I just came from a wonderful concert conducted by Christian Zacharias. We had never heard him conduct or play before. He is marvelous in every respect both as conductor and pianist. It is like getting two for one. Zacharias doesn't use a baton instead uses his hands like a signer for the deaf, wearing a black flowing top the white of his hands stands out and magnetizes the viewer/listener. We happened to be facing the conductor as we had unusual seats facing toward the conductor and looking out and up to the rest of the audience.
I highly recommend sitting in them at Disney Hall. The seats are low priced, are really long benches with back and are very comfortable and roomier than seats with armrests.

All four composition presented were played marvelously by the LA Philharmonic Orchestra. Haydyn No. 31 was lovely and each first player in each section of orchestra was given a chance to show her or his stuff including the first string bass (being my own instrucment when I was young) I thought it was special to hear.
I was surprised when the conductor came out for the second composition and sat down on a stool acting both as piano soloist as well as conductor. Zacharias seamlessly was able to move from playing to conducting and in a sense do both at the same time when necessary. It was pure genius. He is very into his music. It was fun to watch him the entire time.

After the intermission, Zacharias returned and played the second Mozart composition this time with the same intensity and sophistication. The second composition involved more challenges with conducting and playing at the same time and Zacharias pulled it all off with zest and great dexterity and love. I haven't had so much involvement with a conductor since I was a young person watching George Szell conduct the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra in the fifties. The Vanhal piece was beautifully played by the orchestra. I was not familiar with the composition but it kept my interest and was conducted and played by the orchestra with the same seemingly effortless and lovely sense of elegance as the first three more famous compositions. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and I highly recommend seeing
Christian Zacharias conduct and play again the next time he conducts. The whole experience is a delight.