Why You Shouldn't Go To a Piano Concert

Why should you go to a piano concert? 

Aren’t those for old people? Wouldn't it be boring, to just sit there and stare? Those are all common misconceptions that I never once questioned, until I experienced Yullianna Aveeda’s captivating performance at Benaroya Hall. 

I’ve never been to a piano concert – or any sort of classical music show – nor did I ever plan to. That is the truth for most youth I’ve met. We are so quick to write off classical music, so we don't see how clever it can be. Behind every note, every phrase, there is a story.

And so, despite all my worries, my doubts, and the fear I'd fall asleep midway, I attended my first piano concert. 

Benaroya Hall is dramatic, yet humble. With its deep mahogany surfaces and organized appearance, the hall feels regal and yet modern.

Yullianna Avdeeva takes the stage, dressed from head to toe in white; she stands out amid darkness. 

Avdeeva doesn't just play piano, she tells a story. Every note she plays is thoughtful, well-planned and executed, and yet it isn't so technical to strip away its emotional value. She never overdoes it – her performance isn't aggressive, but rather contemplative, as she embodies the music.

Listening to her play feels as if I’m reliving past memories – of warm summer nights and laughter –  but I’ve grown older, more mature, and wise. This is not to be listened to when falling asleep – but rather, attempting to feel alive. 

My favorite piece was ‘Andante Spianato Et Grand Polonaise Brillante,’composed by Frederick Chopin, which is just as long as its name entails. Never once did the audience drift asleep, instead we leaned forward in curiosity. From start to finish, Avdeeva’s fingers dance along with the music, never resting once. Throughout the piece, she snaps her hands away from the piano, as if she’s arguing with it – but somehow stays elegant. 

The piece starts off pensive; with every key there is tension brewing in the air. Aveeva’s performance kept me on the edge of my seat, and my heart was racing along with the music. She continues on, soft and cheerful, like laughter before a storm – then a little somber, as if one is reflecting on past memories. The piece constantly fluctuates between soft and daunting and dark – it felt as interloping melodies were fighting against each other, darkness chasing light – light evading darkness. 

Her other pieces, by Frederick Chopin and Franz Liszt,  are just as wonderful – a cohesive story from start to finish. I especially appreciate Avdeeva’s pace. It’s different from the face-paced hurry of life. It's a different kind of tempo. Still swift, but thoughtful.

This variation in tempo is what makes Yullianna Avdeeva such a powerful storyteller. Her notes, which lean towards right handed melodies, are stark, and she emphasizes contrast between every musical phrase (sentences in the story). From every crescendo and diminuendo, her pacing was perfectly planned and executed. Pacing is defined by the speed of which a piece is played, and adds much to the emotional storytelling. 

All the pieces she played that night were extremely difficult. And yet, despite all this, she never over-does any aspect of her performance, allowing the audience to swiftly move along with her. 

I’ll never forget the encore – it was light and fun, nothing like the pieces before. It put a smile on my face, one that I couldn’t shake for the whole performance. It felt as if Avdeeva was telling us to celebrate, and I couldn't help but want to dance along. The ending of the encore was comical – in a way I can't put into words. Someone from the audience couldn't help but laugh, and I did too. I’m not sure what the song was, but it was definitely worth staying for. 

I’ve never been to a piano concert before, nor gave classical music much thought. Why would I? Piano, to me, was boring – old-fashioned. The truth is, I should've never gone to this piano concert, but I did. And I’m glad I gave it the chance. 

I always thought my first concert would be rock. That it would be a venue full of screaming, of people going insane – jumping up and down, all of their senses captivated by the music. I would walk out with a smile on my face, my ears still ringing. Instead, at Benaroya Hall, the audience leans back – closes their eyes, and lets the music guide them. The audience sits in silence, listening with fascination, to the music in which words are conveyed through simple melodies. 

Next time you're given the opportunity to try something new, don't be afraid. Face the unknown with determination, and most importantly, an open heart. Let the music guide you. Who knows? Maybe a piano concert can change your life. Maybe it won’t.

Maybe, just maybe, you’ll leave Benaroya Hall, rain soaking through your clothes, the world spinning around you –  and you'll feel more alive than you have in a very long time.

Lead photo by Carlin Ma.

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