A mesmerizing evening
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » As a live performer each night there is hope that the artist or artists will connect with their audience in each setting, whether that is in front of packed house, an intimate setting or a first-time appearance at Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Tuesday night.
When an artist embraces its audience, provides worthwhile entertainment along with a memory that will last, it can only be considered a good night.
But when The Piano Guys spent Tuesday night mesmerizing the outdoor amphitheater crowd for more than two hours, filling their hearts with continuing worldly performances, sprinkling in humorous, light-hearted jokes, providing moments of reflection, and then finish the night with an audience in tears from such a moving rendition of a recent hit and an everlasting hymn that the audience leaps to its feet in applause, then that night’s performance is, pardon the expression, legendary.
The Piano Guys, four talented gentlemen from Saint George, Utah, started this musical journey in the most unassuming way, Paul Anderson owned a piano store in Utah and pianist/songwriter Jon Schmidt had a performance nearby and asked permission to practice on some of the store’s displays. Looking to gain popularity Anderson said yes and asked permission to videotape the event and put it up on YouTube for more exposure. The fuse was lit. Enter cellist/songwriter and comedic front man Steven Sharp Nelson who can only be considered a rock star among standing string instrument musicians and The Piano Guys began to reach new heights.
With Anderson moving over to producer and videographer duties and Al van der Beek, another collision of worlds, moving in down the street from Nelson joining as producer and songwriter there are no limits to the imagination, musically or visually of this multi-talented quartet.
The night had an intimate setting with Jon Schmidt sitting behind his piano and Steven Sharp Nelson seated among three of his collection of 29 cellos with the large SPAC video screen providing a backdrop of many of The Piano Guys performance moments along with illuminating YouTube video which has 6.2 million subscribers and more than 1.6 billion views.
From their opening performance of Disney’s Frozen “Let it Go” combined with Vivaldi’s winter to a dramatic train ride during Code Name Vivaldi the grouping of the Bourne soundtrack with Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto there wasn’t an opportunity for the audience to not be transfixed to the stage or the screen.
Each uplifting arrangement, continually integrating modern music from screen or current audio source of choice is intertwined with classic compositions from Chopin, Bach and Beethoven.
There is never a dull moment and like a wellstaged play, the timed intermission in perfect for both performers and audiences to regroup and prepare their ears, eyes, minds and soul for another joyful set.
What makes this night so unique is the utter joy each musician takes when performing and interacting with each piece. As Jon Schmidt’s keys float effortlessly upon his keyboard a smile never leaves his face, embracing the moment and each upcoming change, the same for Steven Sharp Nelson who embraces each piece, sharing his joy and again, connecting with the audience.
Often classical musicians are locked into their mechanics, memorization and specific moment they often appear alone, almost as if in a vacuum and missing the crowd around them, The Piano Men know where they are and who they are playing for.
Not enough can be said about Al van der Beek’s production skills and Anderson videography vision as a trip through The Piano Guys You Tube channel not only takes you through time, but around the world as the quarter has performed at four of the classic seven wonders of the world and have a trip to the Taj Mahal in the works.
With a musical and visual trip onto the Great Wall of China for Kung Fu Panda, part soundtrack and Chopin then at Iguazu Falls and the Christ the Redeemer Statue that overlooks the city of Rio de Janeiro for The Mission/ How Great thou Art.
The night, like their various musical performances reached an appropriate crescendo with their arrangement of Rachel Platten’s Fight Song and Amazing Grace which brought the amphitheater crowd to its feet in a moment of appreciation, applause and amazement.
With Tuesday being The Piano Guys first-ever appearance to this Spa City — as Saratoga Springs, Utah is four-hours north of Saint George — we can only hope that The Piano Guys will not be strangers to their beloved East Coast fans.