Badsleeper Life

I went to the BPO’s ‘Folklore and Fantasy’ concert tonight. It was a program of Rossini, Bartok, and Chopin. The conclusive Chopin Concerto No. 1 in E minor was performed by pianist Maxim Lando. It was some mind-bending, awe-inspiring shit.

I could go on and on about the unfathomable level of virtuosity and artistry on display from the young soloist. It’s a level of musicianship that I will never get to, nor will I ever fully comprehend. But no need to fret. It’s great to just be present and to appreciate human talents. To witness the result of a small child walking a gauntlet of devotion, past adolescence, into adulthood. Day after day. Year after year. Years becoming decades. Living a life of musical obsession and musical immersion. Culminating in a single moment.

I imagine the many challenges and frustrations he must have encountered. The physical pain and psychological pressure. Steadily overcoming all obstacles so he could deliver that performance tonight. His personality shining through the whole time. Emitting resolve, determination, fire, sensitivity, eccentricity. I thought about the prophesizing on how Artificial Intelligence is going to eventually deliver a deathblow to art once and for all. I felt relieved…I thought…the AI pianist will never spring off the piano bench after the striking the final note, glistening with sweat, looking out at the audience with beaming smile and beaming eyes. Adrenaline coursing through veins. Taking a bow. The soul triumphant. The hearts speaks: “I did it.” And the audience understands.