Photo by Laurie Hatch
Saturday, Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m., Lick Observatory presents an evening of music, an astronomy lecture, and, weather permitting, a look into outer space through a 40-inch telescope. A ‘Music of Spheres’ Concert features Equilibrium, a classical guitar duo comprised of Yuri Liberzon and Patrick O’Connell. For ages 10 and up.
We reached Liberzon earlier this week. He was in Israel, on vacation. He’s originally from Russia, emigrated to Israel at 10, moved to the United States at 18, went to the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins, then on to the Yale University School of Music, lived briefly in New York and then, ever following his heart, came with his now ex-girlfriend to San Francisco. He now lives in San Mateo and has become a noted performer and teacher.
And what is the hour-long program for the evening? Selections from Astor Piazzolla, Domenico Scarlatti, and others.
“We’re not really geared toward a specific venue,” said Mr. Liberzon, who nevertheless is ever interested in the connection between art and science.
“Obviously, music incorporates both the scientific aspect and inspiration, which is the creative side. But everything has to work together. Heart and mind must collaborate.”
Asked about what it’s like to play when the collaboration is true, in other words, ‘In the zone’, he replied, “It’s as if you’re not there. It’s not you, it’s happening on its own, you’re just listening to how it sounds.”
And how do you get to that point?
“For me it’s being really well prepared and so you’re less nervous. Of course, that’s a whole other challenge in an ensemble because then each person’s state of mind has an effect on yours. But you can adjust to that. Patrick and I can get to that point by warming up together, going through the program, and of course it helps if you’re both in a good mood.
Yuri began playing the guitar at 6 and gives this advice to young musicians: “What’s important is to seek inspiration, to gravitate to what inspires you. Because this is the force that drives improvement. If you are happy, from that you will always keep getting better.”
Yuri and Patrick met at the Peabody Institute in 2000, and a few years later formed Duo Equilibrium. Patrick is a member of the San Francisco Guitar Quartet, whose album, Chasing Light, features some of Patrick’s own arrangements. He’s been a featured performer around the country and internationally.
“I would call it intellectual playing,” Yuri says about his partner. “His work always has some kind of idea behind it.”
The lecture, given by UC Santa Cruz professor Steven Vogt, is titled, “Across a Sea of Suns: Chartering Other Worlds, Distant Earth.” Due to safety concerns, children under the age of 10 will not be admitted to Music of the Spheres.