First Visit To the Seattle Symphony

I love classical music, but in recent years, I haven’t had many chances to experience live performances. My husband finds it difficult to sit comfortably for long stretches—especially in the cramped seats of a concert hall. I’ve gone to a few performances with friends, but not as often as I’d like.

One perk of living in our retirement community is the bus service that takes residents to various spots around Seattle. I’ve written before about our Park Walks. Another destination is Benaroya Hall, home to the Seattle Symphony. Each season, residents vote on which performances to attend as a group, and the community bus delivers us right to the front door—no parking hassles, no stress—before picking us up afterward.

I wasn’t a resident in time to help choose which concerts to attend this season, but when I heard about the possibility of attending the Symphony without driving myself there, I immediately investigated. One of the chosen performances was on Thursday, March 13, and when I learned a Mozart Piano Concerto was on the program, I signed up for a seat on the bus and purchased my ticket.

Last week was my first visit to Benaroya Hall, and I was struck by its beauty. Though it opened in 1998, it holds its own against more modern venues like the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City (built in 2011). Both spaces have lobbies filled with natural light that offer stunning views of their surrounding city. More importantly, both have exquisite acoustics—an absolute must for a great concert experience.

The orchestra performed three pieces last Thursday. The first was Upon Daybreak (2022) by Brian Raphael Nabors. I’m often wary of contemporary orchestral music, but this piece surprised me. It was strikingly melodic, and I later learned that Nabors drew inspiration from Maya Angelou’s poem “A Brave Startling Truth.” His goal was to create a picturesque utopia “with sound that engulfs the listener with abundant joy.” Joy is exactly what I felt—and my fellow listeners did as well.

Next came Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major, and it was absolutely enchanting. Pianist Jan Lisiecki played with such fluidity and connection to the orchestra that the performance felt like a true conversation. The poignant Andante movement nearly moved me to tears, while the lively Allegro finale was pure delight. One can never go wrong with Mozart, but this performance was something special—an event I’ll carry with me for a long time.

Finally, came the top-billed piece, Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. It’s a challenging piece—bold, intense, and, to my ears, a bit harsh. I didn’t particularly care for it, but I could appreciate the orchestra’s dynamism and precision. I could picture the pagan ritual and sacrifice. After it concluded and our group returned to the bus, we all agreed the conductor, Peter Oundjian, earned his keep with his athletic performance. We were energized as we rode back to our community.

I have another Seattle Symphony ticket and bus reservation already booked for June, and I look forward to another evening of incredible music.

When have you attended a musical performance that impressed you?