Outstanding CSO Concert

We went to the CSO on Saturday night. John Eliot Gardiner conducted, and Robert Levin was the pianist.
The CSO presents a pre-concert lecture series starting an hour before each concert. Last night the talk was delivered by the conductor and soloist. This is unusual. Most of the time the talk is presented by a musicologist, and sometimes by an orchestra member. They are always informative and sometimes amusing. It is a rare treat to hear the principals of the performance describe the works. Their discussion really increased the impact of the performance on me.
The program was:

Shostakovich - Chamber Symphony for Strings in C Minor
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 4
Schumann - Symphony No. 3 (Rhenish)

We sat in the seats behind the orchestra, above the timpani. The performances of the Shostakovich and the Beethoven were powerful and moving. The Schuman paled by comparison.

Robert Levin improvised the cadenzas - he assured us they were different each tine he played. Amazing.

An orchestra member, Michael Hovnanian blogs regularly. His take on the concert is interesting.