It's not much people can do in a small town to pass time that can lift them spiritually.
I know... I lived for 10 years in a city.
Maybe a book. Some turn to religion.
Commercial music nowadays is rarely uplifting spiritually. At least in my opinion. It can make you feel better... for the moment, especially in the right context.
Every once in a while you get the chance to do something special.
So, we're in a smallish town. But with so many interesting things, like this beautiful theater.
And we're expecting a big cultural event. The tickets, not cheap, have been sold out for the first day months in advance.
A second day of performance has been arranged, also sold out, also months in advance.
We and our friends got our seats in the front row, but at the second level.
On the small stage, an orchestra of 24 players plus the conductor and the performer have been crowded.
Trust me, there are 24 chairs there! I'm better at arithmetic than I am at handling the phone to take a great picture...
And those chairs were about to be filled with young musicians in only a few minutes, I merely turned off my phone during the performance. Not that everyone did the same, unfortunately.
Harmony. Disharmony.
Despite not being a connaisseur, I have always been fascinating by the way orchestras play, either in total harmony between completely different instruments or in apparent disharmony between the various instruments, or in waves, like they are fighting for the spotlight. I wonder, does an orchestra resemble life, or does life resemble an orchestra?
Another question I asked myself when my fascination with orchestras began.
Would it play the same without a conductor? After all, they all know their part, when to come in, when to go out, how strong to play, right?
But I've seen two types of players in great orchestras... Those who follow their own score, turn the pages and keep up, and those who never look at them, but never take their eyes off the conductor. So I guess this answers the question.
A few ending words
Some people can put into words feelings they don't have and move masses with them. Others find it difficult at times to express their own feelings in a manner that catches anyone's attention. I usually fall in the second category.
Yesterday night was an exceptional uplifting spiritual experience for me. And from what I've seen, so was for the majority of people around.
Next orchestra coming to our town in December. From Vienna. We obviously have tickets. :)
Until then, a few theater plays will keep our cultural need well fed.