I played the viola from middle school through college. Most of that time I played in orchestras. Though I never practiced enough to be good, violists are in short supply, so I was able to experience serious classical music from the middle of the Utah Youth Symphony. It was an amazing experience.
For that reason, I've always wanted to see the Utah Symphony more often.
But it’s downtown. Tickets and parking are expensive. I’m the only one in the family who really wants to go. It's smarter and cheaper to buy CDs of the pieces I really care about.
I had accepted this situation, but suddenly things have changed.
My friend has a friend who has a friend who is sometimes given handfuls of free symphony tickets. Now I’m part of a group who attends the symphony on a fairly regular basis.
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| Glass sculpture in the lobby of Abravanel Hall--Utah Symphony's home |
Since the new year, I have been to a Mozart/Hayden concert and a Saint-Saens/Bernstein one. There is a second Saint-Saens/Bernstein concert I can attend tonight.
The last concert left me with a major talent crush.
Well, I have a crush on Bernstein to begin with. My mom made sure of that by never missing a Boston Pops concert on PBS while he was the conductor. The fact that he was old enough to be my grandfather didn’t keep me from finding him thoroughly attractive.
The new crush is likely young enough to be my son, but as this is a TALENT crush, it’s not creepy. For the Bernstein number, Age of Anxiety there was a piano soloist. Conrad Tao came out in skinny jeans and a t-shirt under his tuxedo vest and I was automatically charmed by youthful energy. When he started to play, I was blown away. His fingers are superhero-fast, yet he manages to be powerfully expressive.
He’ll be back in April and I’m hoping we’ll have tickets for that performance too. Here are links to short clips from his solo and his thoughts on the piece.
THE PODCAST
This week Emily comments on frogs and fame. She certainly makes privacy seem preferable--to be a "nobody."
Yet, if I was content with a quiet, private life, I probably wouldn't be blogging and podcasting, or as Emily would say, telling my "name-- the livelong June--To an admiring Bog."
Which do you prefer? Listen and decide.
| Episode 1.3 I'm nobody! Who are you-- |
THE KNITTING--has been frustrating.
Between getting wool that didn't quite match and having a pattern that needed to be altered because it didn't fit the size of yarn I spun, this sweater has taken three times longer than it should have. But it it finished and gorgeous. If it wasn't so warm (Menopause impermanently tropical.), I'd be tempted to keep it.
It won't be in my shop because it's a commission from a friend, but there are other nice things there that you might like.
I was never fortunate enough to see Bernstein in person, sort of. I saw the Boston Pops in Boston while Bernstein was the director. Unfortunately, he was on vacation that night. So his orchestra, but not him. The orchestra was great.
ReplyDeleteNow I certainly enjoyed other conductors over the years. But Bernstein was the one that got away.
I love the knitting this week.
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBoston is on my bucket list. I have only barely gotten across the Mississippi. I need to convince my husband that flying is safe.