Though I seldom wear a hat, I would have gladly, gratefully taken it off last night to the Festival of the Arts Boca for presenting such rhapsodic performances by an artful array of brilliant talent coming in all shapes, sizes and ages at the Mizner Amphitheater. All had one thing in common—huge talent! Impressive artistry!
It truly was a rhapsodic evening, not with just Conrad Tao’s superb performance of George Gershwin’s tumultuously melodious Rhapsody in Blue, and his own exhilarating composition, but with a vibrant spring of other prodigies showing so vividly their musical mastery in splendid form.
Tao doesn’t just play the keyboard, he thunders and strikes lightning followed by a hard GershWIND, then a soothing gentle rain!
Foremost was young Thomas “Aidan” Gardner captivating rendition of W.A. Mozart’s Flute Concert No. 1 in G major preceded by the festival orchestra’s stirring Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland with compelling narration by Jon Robertson.
My wife Rita and I sat enraptured, transfixed by this ferocious virtuosity of talent performing with the utmost feeling and zeal for music.
Capping off the evening was running into dear friends who were likewise excited by the performances including one of the evening’s sponsors, Boca Raton Tribune’s publisher Doug Heizer, to whom I promised sending my latest story about the comfort pet condo controversy he’s welcome to publish as he has so many of my other works.
You see, I’m a product myself of music as my dad was a celebrated concert violinist and orchestra conductor, which is why I felt so much at home last night in Mizner Amphitheater.
Festival of the Arts Boca, kindly keep inspiring us with your outstanding performances making Boca Raton such a classic place to live, visit and hang out in!
Bravo! Encore!!!
Most gratefully yours,
Tom Madden