Garrett Harris San Diego Reader June 17, 2022
“Now we come to the easiest and most difficult articles I write each year, the Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra articles. These are easy because the orchestra is nigh unto flawless. These are difficult because I quickly run out of superlatives. Finding fault is so much easier than describing greatness…
After Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 I spoke with a visiting musician who caught the concert. He said, ‘That was the best Beethoven Four I’ve heard since well—yeah.’ I didn’t press him to clarify but I think I understood. He was saying that it was the best Beethoven he’d ever heard but no self-respecting musician wants to pronounce such a sweeping conclusion. I, on the other hand, am not a self-respecting musician and have no problem saying that I do not expect that performance to be exceeded in any future concerts I may attend.”
