Why our audience is everything!
Dear friends of PPI
All philosophy aside (“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”), and duly acknowledging that playing music by and for oneself has its own special charm, we boldly propose that being a professional pianist relies on having a good audience. Ask any musician about their experiences in Covid times, playing to eerily empty halls and through disjointed screens, and the responses often range from “inadequate” and “unsettling” to “meaningless”.
Thus, it is deeply pleasing to remind you, PPI’s faithful audience, that it is you who give that indescribable special energy to our recitalists. In fact, pretty much every recitalist who plays for us remarks that Portland is the Best Audience Ever! Thanks for always sending good energy from your side of the footlights.
We are frequently encouraged by many of our funding sources to do even more outreach to people for whom live classical piano music is a rare thing. We’ve always been very committed to doing that, but, as you know, we had a chance in the past month to go way beyond the call of duty with the long residency of our most recent recitalist, Filippo Gorini. Oh, the places we went!
Accompanying Filippo all around Oregon for the past three weeks, hearing him play to the most diverse audiences imaginable, has been such an electrifying, life-affirming thrill. Sure, a lone pianist in an empty room can conjure beautiful sounds – but the magic of the shared energy among souls? That requires attentive, open-hearted listeners, and how many of those we encountered! We imagine that we changed some lives. We know in our bones that Filippo and his crowds changed us. Seriously, we thought of you every moment we were out there in special circumstances.
Supported by special grants from several generous donors and foundations, we took Filippo to two prisons, a school for the blind, a community for developmentally challenged adults, and on and on. They all got the same program that you heard, we hope, last Sunday in Lincoln Hall. Their wide-ranging reactions to the music made us hear Beethoven, et al., with clearer ears.
Your passion for this music, your listening, your applause, not to mention your generosity and camaraderie, make PPI happen. We on staff are honored to steward your largesse and encouragement. In Italian, we would say, “Bravo tutti!”
Although time is running out, you still have a few chances to catch Filippo in Portland! Hear him play chamber music with the musicians of ChatterPDX on Sunday at 10:30, and/or join us on Pioneer Square for a joyful celebration of Piano Day with SoundsTruck NW!
Speaking of Piano Day – we are oozing joy and admiration for you wonderful folks who voted Brahms’s Intermezzo, op. 118 no. 2 as your favorite piece of classical piano repertory! Come hear Filippo play it during his Piano Day slot (12–1 pm). Thank you to everyone who voted in our fun Piano Madness game … what a blast!
Want to show your love for PPI while also listening to toe-tapping music from beaches around the world, feasting on a scrumptious brunch and sipping beachy cocktails? Come back to the Keys by joining us on Piano Beach!
