NY Philharmonic Open Rehearsal with Itzhak Perlman

Thursday marked the start of the NY Philharmonic season with its glamorous opening gala held in the evening.  I attended the opening rehearsal Thursday morning and enjoyed the same program for the evening's gala.  There are many benefits to going to the Philharmonic's open rehearsals, the price ($18) being one.  In addition, the rehearsals are informal, with the orchestra & conductor, Alan Gilbert, dressed casually along with the audience.  I enjoy observing the colloborative workings of an orchestra, behind the scenes. There are many stops & starts with the conductor giving instructions to members of the orchestra and notations being made on the musical scores. (I only wish the comments were audible to the audience, like a coach in a huddle with team.)  Seating is open with plenty of seats available on the orchestra floor, except for the front rows cordoned off.  The program included two works by Respighi:  Fountains of Rome and Pines of Rome.  The pieces were tonal impressions of nature.  I could hear the sounds of water flowing in Fountains.  Pines of Rome was a forte piece with prevalent percussion.  The highlight for me, was Itzhak Pearlman's performance of a variety of selections for violin & orchestra, including Tchaikovsky & Rimsky-Korsakov.  When Mr. Perlman came unobtrusively onstage, the first violinist reverently moved further back but was waved by Mr. Perlman to sit closer.  The gala was simulcast on PBS last night, but attending an open rehearsal is a wonderful and surprising delight.