Beethoven, Love, and the violinist, Augustin Haedelich

This week, a deeply fulfilling performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto was given, in the truest sense of the word, "gift," by the young German violinist, Augustin Haedelich. With the responsive collaboration of the members of the Jacksonville Symphony, the nuance, spiritual breadth, and transcendental translation of Beethoven's musical intentions was achieved. The orchestra was plainly inspired by Haedelich's musical persona, while the audience grew still with the kind of rapt communion found only when something very special is happening. They know it: the violinist knows it, the orchestra knows it, and the conductor is almost superfluous because of it.

To paraphrase the worlds of a old movie hero: "The Force was with them."

©Margaret Koscielny, February 16, 2013