A Night at the SF Symphony: When Tchaikovsky Met Drake….
Little did I know that attending the Tchaikovsky/Drake concert at Davies Symphony Hall will be one of the most exhilarating and amazing experiences in my cultural outings to San Francisco.
Gifted by a ticket by my Rotarian friend Duanni who unexpectedly had to fly to NJ, I did not realize this unique performance will present a fabulous combination of Drake’s compositions integrating into one of Tchaikovsky’s most popular Symphony #5 in E minor, Opus 64 (1888).
Who knew?? Really? Seriously? I, the classically trained pianist in my youth at Vilnius Music School in Lithuania, snobbishly questioned the selection of this program?? But the sold out to the capacity by mostly younger attendees (I think I was the most senior concert goer this time.. as the rest of my compatriots headed south to Santa Clara to hear Taylor Swift).
Sitting very high, close to God, at Davies Symphony Hall’s 2nd tier where the acoustics are fantastic, and my neighboring youngsters in the audience were very familiar with Drake’s compositions, encouraged me to give it a try.. And try I did… as it turned out to be a memorable and unique experience I will never forget.
Although Drake himself was not on stage, (Was he hiding backstage?) His various works (composed between 2010 – 20) were performed to the perfection in addition to the talented musicians of the SF Symphony, by rapper Jecorey Arthur, vocalists Malia Civetz, India Carney and Mario Jose, bass Nicholas Clark and drummer TaRon Lockett. And they were absolutely phenomenal.
Thanks Essa-Pekka Salonen, the SF Symphony’s Music Director, for sharing your masterful baton with the brilliant and multi talented conductor and creator of this FUSE Production Steve Hackman who added Tchaikovsky and Drake’s music into the SF Symphony’s summer repertoire. A graduate of Julliard School of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, Hackman has teamed up with some of the biggest pop superstars of today in order to add a signature virtuosic and classical dimension to their work, including Drake, Doja Cat and Andrew Bird.
I think Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky would approve!
But here are my two cents as the future practical suggestions to Maestro Hackman as well as to the stage manager:
- Please, please add Drake himself to the line-up of the next performers in San Francisco
- And install an electronic subtitles board above the stage so I can read and understand the rapper’s words. After all, I am a senior.
By Lina Broydo
