Brett Dietz was only 29 when he suffered a major stroke. It left him partially paralyzed and completely unable to speak. His doctors held out little hope that he would regain those functions, but after more than a year of rehab, his brain did manage to heal itself, pretty much. And today Dietz has almost fully recovered. His neurologist suggested he write a book about his experience, but being a composer, Dietz decided to write a piece of music instead -- an opera in fact. The result is "Headcase," which is being performed by the Portland Symphony Orchestra January 23, 2010.

		(36:30)

PSO's First Concert of 2010 Focuses on “Head and Heart” Sunday, January 24

The Portland Symphony Orchestra’s first concert of 2010 features, conductor Robert Moody taking the audience on an inspirational and moving journey of “Head and Heart.” This emotionally charged concert pairs the heartfelt poignancy of Ravel's exquisite musical lament Pavane pour une enfante defunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess) with the frenetic and brilliant genius of Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 in G minor (the opening music in Miloš Forman’s film Amadeus). Apropos of both “head” and “heart,” the centerpiece of the program is Headcase, a multimedia musical exploration of living composer Brett Dietz's struggle to regain clarity after a suffering a stroke at the age of 29. The Pittsburgh Tribute Review called Headcase “haunting and powerful - a remarkably sophisticated score that blends words, music and visual displays to touch the heart and mind.”