On Writing and Music

I was just writing chapter 22 of Stirring Up The World and listening to a recording of Beethoven's Concerto for Piano No. 5 in E Flat, Op 73 and had to stop--it was soooooo beautiful! On Friday we saw "33 Variations," a play in previews written and directed by Moises Kaufman, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (a wonderful space). It's about Beethoven's Diabelli Variations and a dying musicologist's quest to discover why Beethoven wrote them. There's also a mother/daughter plot line, plus a romance, etc. We went because I love Beethoven's music, Linda loves the theater, we were both curious to see Jane Fonda, at the age of 71, who plays Dr. Katherine Brandt. We were captivated--fast-paced complex, but clear and engaging (and funny at times) script; terrific cast; clever staging and set design; gorgeous music. There were times I wished I had a replay button, especially the scene when Zach Grenier as Beethoven stands alone, center front, and "composes" one of the variations as the pianist, Diane Walsh, plays it--intensely and intricately coordinated--took my breath away!