see itzhak perlman perform live

This was a sold out performance in about 1998 at the Arlene Schnitzer Hall in Portland, OR and I didn’t have a ticket. I decided to just go to the venue with a cardboard sign that read “need one ticket” and see what might happen. My prospects were looking bleak and I was getting rained on, then suddenly the ticket office announced that they had some returned tickets for sale! I guess some corporation didn’t use their block of tickets and turned them back in or something like that. These newly available tickets were in the middle of the dress circle, and I ended up in one of the best seats in the house with almost no one around me. The only person who was near me turned out to be the husband of the pianist who was accompanying Mr. Perlman and it was interesting to talk with him before the performance and during the intermission. I was hoping he’d invite me to go backstage to meet Mr. Perlman but that didn’t happen. It was an amazing performance, he played with so much passion, and his face was so expressive. He really feels every note. It was a great experience.