# San Francisco Symphony with Emanuel Ax at Davies Symphony Hall, October 12, 2023

[San Francisco Symphony](https://www.sfsymphony.org/Buy-Tickets/2023-24/SALONEN-AX) presents [Emanuel Ax](http://emanuelax.com/)  
[Davies Symphony Hall](http://www.sfsymphony.org)  
[201 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94102 USA](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=201+Van+Ness,+San+Francisco,+CA+94102+USA&hl=en)  
7:30 PM, Thursday, October 12, 2023

[[2023-10-11|Back to the previous event!]] ☸ [[:#section2023|Up to the 2023 yearbox!]] ☸ [[:2023#October_events|Up to the 2023 event list!]] ☸ [[2023-10-13|On to the next event!]]

## Set One

[7:34 PM] {lights down; pre-recorded welcome announcements}  
[7:35 PM] {concert tuning; EPS out}

### Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897): Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn, Op. 56a (1873)

01. [7:36 PM] Theme. Andante (29 bars)
02. [7:38 PM] Variation 1. Poco più animato (29 bars)
03. [7:39 PM] Variation 2. Più vivace (29 bars)
04. [7:40 PM] Variation 3. Con moto (58 bars)
05. [7:42 PM] Variation 4. Andante con moto (60 bars)
06. [7:45 PM] Variation 5. Vivace (58 bars)
07. [7:46 PM] Variation 6. Vivace (29 bars)
08. [7:47 PM] Variation 7. Grazioso (29 bars)
09. [7:50 PM] Variation 8. Presto non troppo (39 bars)
10. [7:51 PM] Finale. Andante (111 bars)  
[7:55 PM] {set ends; EPS walks offstage and back a few times}  
[7:56 PM] {dead air while the stage hands bring on the piano and rearrange chairs for the players}

### Hillborg: Piano Concerto No. 2

[8:04 PM] {concert tuning}
[8:05 PM] {applause for entrance of EA & EPS}

[Anders Hillborg](https://www.hillborg.com/) \(b. 1954): Piano Concerto No. 2, _The MAX Concerto_ (San Francisco Symphony Commission and World Premiere, 2023)

01. [8:06 PM] _Grand Piano_ »
02. [8:n PM] _Mist_ »
03. [8:n PM] _Toy Piano_ »
04. [8:n PM] _Mists_ »
05. [8:n PM] _Chorales and Echo Chamber_ »
06. [8:n PM] _Toy Piano_ (reprise) »
07. [8:n PM] _Hard Piano_ »
08. [8:n PM] _Soft Piano_ »
09. [8:n PM] _Chorales and Echo Chamber_ (reprise) »
10. [8:n PM] _Ascending Piano_  
[8:26 PM] {applause; bows all around; AH up onstage to bask in the ovation}  
[8:29 PM] {all done -- set break!}

## Set Two: Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 

[8:48 PM] {pre-performance noodling from the symphony}  
[8:50 PM] {concert tuning; enter EPS}

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): Symphony No. 2 in D, Op.36 (1802)

01. [8:51 PM] Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
02. [9:03 PM] Larghetto
03. [9:14 PM] Scherzo. Allegro - Trio
04. [9:17 PM] Allegro molto  
[9:23 PM] {show ends; rounds of applause for SFS and EPS}    
[9:25 PM] {done!}

## Performers

* [Emanuel Ax](http://emanuelax.com/): piano;

### San Francisco Symphony

[San Francisco Symphony](http://www.sfsymphony.org)

* [Esa-Pekka Salonen](http://www.esapekkasalonen.com/): conductor, music director;
* symphony members vary by program;
 see [the current list](https://sfsymphony.encoreplus.app/posts/111500/the-orchestra4).

## Notes

Today was leave-your-phone-in-the-car-like-an-idiot day in Oakland, if not the greater bay area. Being a first class fool, I obliged, and hence have none of the usual timing data to support my commentary.

Tis a pity, but I can still speculate on times for the distinct movements by comparing my rough hand-written notes with live videos posted on Youtube and elsewhere. Gotta go with what you can, Stan!

So normally I'm not much of a Brahms fan, but tonight's opener worked pretty well for me. Maybe the theme-and-variations format got Brahms out of his default composition mode. Or maybe my unfamiliarity with the work and it's homage to Haydn combined to fire up my enthusiasm. Whatever! It was a great opener tonight!

_The MAX Concerto_ was arguably tonight's big draw, and my guess is that as much as 20-30% of the audience ducked out at set break (because who needs to hear another even-numbered symphony from old Ludwig van again?). I enjoyed the premiere, but from my vantage (way up close, with a perfect view of Ax at the keyboard), I could see that it was a struggle: Ax was concentrating mightily throughout, and at times, appeared to be listening intently to make sure his entrances fit with the symphony. For me, part of the trouble was that during some of the syncopated sections, it was darn near impossible to tell whether those entrances were accurate or off-kilter. It's tough to find a new pattern embedded in the swirl of dissonance and chaos! Fortunately, it wasn't all difficult listening, and overall, I enjoyed the work. It will be interesting to compare whatever commercial recording comes out with my recollection of tonight!

And the Beethoven that ended the night? First rate! Mi gusta!

[Program Notes](https://sfsymphony.encoreplus.app/c/10-1214-salonen-ax) or {{:2023:2023-10:20231012pn.pdf|program notes}}

Faber Music posted an interesting [promo article](https://www.fabermusic.com/news/emanuel-ax-and-esa-pekka-salonen-premiere-hillborgs-piano-concerto-no2-with-the-san-francisco-symphony27092023) about the Hillborg piece.

David Bratman posted a mixed [review](https://www.sfcv.org/articles/review/sf-symphony-anders-hillborgs-max-concerto-fascinating-ball-fun) with SFCV.

Paul Hertelendy share his thoughts about the show in an [article](http://www.artssf.com/the-new-concerto-a-mini-or-a-maxi/) posted at ARTSSF.

Joshua Kosman posted a [laudatory review](https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/classical/sf-symphony-review-hillborg-ax-18405143) with the SF Chronicle.

{{tag>music San_Francisco_Symphony Emanuel_Ax Davies_Symphony_Hall Esa-Pekka_Salonen }}

[[2023-10-11|Back to the previous event!]] ☸ [[:#section2023|Up to the 2023 yearbox!]] ☸ [[:2023#October_events|Up to the 2023 event list!]] ☸ [[2023-10-13|On to the next event!]]