Going to a concert
Mar. 22nd, 2014 11:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
smallhobbitTonight was SM's Mozart concert. I went to listen. I have to admit to not being a great fan of Mozart. But I was hopeful. Until it began. First two words of the Te Deum and I realised I wasn't going to enjoy that piece. At least it was only about seven minutes long. It would have helped if I could have made out more of the words. I know it was in Latin, but I can recognise some Latin, but it was a real struggle to follow, even with the words in front of me.
Then it was time for Emma Johnson playing Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. The reason why I was sitting in the front row having bought an expensive ticket. I may not like Mozart in general, but the Clarinet Concerto is one of my ten favourite classical pieces. And I've liked Emma Johnson's playing for years (any of my UK flist remember the Victorian Kitchen Garden?). She wore a beautiful silver sequined dress with white wedge sandals. Her playing was awesome. The beginning of the second movement of the concerto is one of the most sublime pieces of classical music in my opinion. And when it came to the third movement she was practically dancing as she played. Just amazing.
During the interval I wandered down the side aisle (the concert was held in Gloucester cathedral) and met a friend who normally sings in the choir but had missed too many rehearsals. She was sitting at the back and suggested that I could join her for the second half and we could sit at the back and giggle. That sounded like a great idea, so I abandoned my seat in the front - a very uncomfortable, cold, wooden and cramped seat and joined her on a marginally less uncomfortable, still cold but at least there was space - seat. We didn't actually giggle, and I didn't live tweet, despite her suggesting I could, but it was a great improvement.
The second half was the Mozart Mass in C minor. I was so glad I was sitting at the back. I got bored part way through, so sat reading the programme and thought about what I would write for this weeks ACD Holmes 60 for 60. Interestingly, for any Lewis fans reading, one of the soloists was Kitty Whately.
And then we went to the pub and discussed the concert over a glass of wine.
Then it was time for Emma Johnson playing Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. The reason why I was sitting in the front row having bought an expensive ticket. I may not like Mozart in general, but the Clarinet Concerto is one of my ten favourite classical pieces. And I've liked Emma Johnson's playing for years (any of my UK flist remember the Victorian Kitchen Garden?). She wore a beautiful silver sequined dress with white wedge sandals. Her playing was awesome. The beginning of the second movement of the concerto is one of the most sublime pieces of classical music in my opinion. And when it came to the third movement she was practically dancing as she played. Just amazing.
During the interval I wandered down the side aisle (the concert was held in Gloucester cathedral) and met a friend who normally sings in the choir but had missed too many rehearsals. She was sitting at the back and suggested that I could join her for the second half and we could sit at the back and giggle. That sounded like a great idea, so I abandoned my seat in the front - a very uncomfortable, cold, wooden and cramped seat and joined her on a marginally less uncomfortable, still cold but at least there was space - seat. We didn't actually giggle, and I didn't live tweet, despite her suggesting I could, but it was a great improvement.
The second half was the Mozart Mass in C minor. I was so glad I was sitting at the back. I got bored part way through, so sat reading the programme and thought about what I would write for this weeks ACD Holmes 60 for 60. Interestingly, for any Lewis fans reading, one of the soloists was Kitty Whately.
And then we went to the pub and discussed the concert over a glass of wine.
