On the evening of April 6, 2024, the concert “Bacchus” was staged at the Wuxi Grand Theater. This performance was conducted by Robert Moody, music director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in the United States, and performed by pianist Anna Malikova and the Wuxi Symphony Orchestra, creating a musical feast that spans borders.
The concert kicked off with the energetic overture to Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro”. As one of the most common Mozart works peeformed, the ups and downs of the opening rhythm immediately captured the audience’s heartstrings. The lively and cheerful tunes and exquisite and beautiful melodies vividly displayed the warm, romantic and festive atmosphere of the wedding.
As the elegant and romantic melody of Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor” sounded, Anna’s piano performance seemed like a beam of flowing light in a quiet time, echoing with the orchestra, tender, warm and healing, and the audience in the audience I was mesmerized by what I heard.
The second half was the finale of the concert – Beethoven’s “Seventh Symphony.” It has the most famous slow movement and one of the most famous allegro movements ever written by Beethoven. It is an important part of his nine symphonies that cannot be underrated.
Maestro Moody, who was conducting on stage for the first time in China, thoughtfully gave a pre-performance talk to the audience, introducing Beethoven’s creative background and performance insights.
Robert Moody’s conducting was full of passion, giving the performance extremely powerful energy and charm; the musicians performed skillfully and freely, vividly demonstrating the immortal power contained in the work that can make people transcend the sufferings of this world.
In the fourth movement, majestic, passionate and unrestrained tunes filled the entire theater, making the audience feel as if they were included in a massive carnival and celebration.
Finally, the performers encored a performance Dvořák’s “Slavonic Dance Op. 46, No. 8.”
The passionate melody and strong contrast of dynamics brought beautiful audio-visual enjoyment to the audience, and once again won great and passionate applause.
