1) Tennstedt at Tanglewood in the mid 1970's. Beethoven's 3rd. I had
bought lawn tickets expecting a ho-hum concert by some probably hack who
nobody had heard from before. Had to rush up to the shed and just gawk,
it was that exciting.
2) Van Cliburn at Providence RI, same era. Was late on stage, fiddled
with the bench, went back, technicial came out and fiddled with bench,
He came out and fiddled some more, finally sat down and played Chopin's
funeral march sonata. I had brought my parents and that became my Dad's
favorite classical music piece.
3) Horowitz, same era, Symphony Hall, Boston. Saw him quite a few times
into the 80's as well. Always had that same tension in the hall.
4) Rubenstein, early 1970's, Symphony Hall. All Chopin concert. Played
it exactly to the nuance that he played it on his recordings. Couldn't
detect a whiff of difference.
5) Bavouzet, 2000's. New Bedford, MA. Lightning rendition of the Prok
3rd concerto. Spectacular.
-Owen