Tchaikovsky and Children

Gabe and I enjoyed a romantic date to the symphony last night to hear Tchaikovsky's piano concerto no. 1. This is one of my favorite pieces and I love to play it in the car. Persephone calls it the "Thunder and Lightening Song" because of the dramatic opening. I found myself listening to the piece in rapture as the superb soloist effortlessly played, and I began to get excited about taking Persy with us to the symphony some day. (The pianist performing was only 17 and had played his first recital at age 4. I can't even imagine Persy sitting still for that long, let alone practicing the piano right now. Apparently we are really slacking as parents! ;) When the 2nd movement began, I started to feel a strong emotional pull toward the next little baby that we hope to have come to our home. I have no idea how long this adoption will take, but I feel like I am being prepared to open my heart for another child. It amazes me that what I struggle to express in writing, Tchaikovsky seemed to express magically in his music.

Figaro

I once had a school teacher comment that she would rather have an interesting day than a perfect day because you rarely learn anything in a perfect day. Perhaps this is true. Perfect moments rarely teach us anything, they don't make for good stories, and they don't often make for juicy blog posts. They do make for beautiful memories though, and my date with Gabe last night to see "The Marriage of Figaro," is certainly one I want to remember.

I want to remember:
Gabe's warm hand upon the small of my back as he leads me gently to the car,
The lacy black "Jane Austen" dress that I can only wear on date nights without Persy,
Devouring a creamy risotto and tender salmon at a fancy restaurant before the show,
The joyful anticipation I feel whenever the lights go dim in a theater and the overture begins,
Whispered conversations in the dark,
The funny guy sitting next to us in top hat and monocle glasses that looked like Mr. Peanut,
Holding hands throughout the performance and tapping our fingers to the music,
Strolling outside and kissing gently during intermission,
Laughing with the crowd when Figaro sings, "(It's Susanna.)"
The way I still feel a secret thrill when I don't have to say "good-bye" at the end of a date.

Notable

I'm the type of person that has notebooks throughout my house with lists of goals, thoughts, phone numbers etc. Yesterday, I came across a funny list that I had written about one of our symphony performances last year. The symphony had chosen to play a more experimental piece. Here is what Gabe had to say about the number:

* "I'd rather be vomiting!"
* "It killed my love of symphony!"
* "It was like squashing bunnies!"
* "It was worse than the Bar Exam!"
* "It was the enemy of fun!"

And my personal favorite . . .
* "They should play this piece for Al-Qaeda detainees."

Reading that little list had me chuckling all over again. Gabe can be so passionate and funny sometimes!

Music in the Mountains

The Perfect Picnic Basket
Originally uploaded by knitsational

Gabe and I were able to enjoy a romantic date on Saturday night thanks to the babysitting help of my sister-in-law Laura. We went to Deer Valley and heard the Utah Symphony play a selection of Broadway songs in the outdoor amphitheater. We brought along a fancy picnic and snuggled into blankets and just felt grateful to be together. I'm so glad I married somebody who enjoys events like this!

Music to "Inform the Soul"

PRECISAMOS DE SUA AJUDA...
Originally uploaded by claudio.marcio2

Gabe and I are finishing up another wonderful symphony season this week. I’ve been lucky to have been exposed to classical music throughout my life, but this passion for the genre has come within the last two years. Honestly, I still feel largely ignorant about the composers, their works, and the different forms. I’m sure we’re among the youngest set of season subscribers. It makes us feel like we’re part of a very exclusive and interesting club with its own language and terminology.

One thing that makes the symphony more enjoyable is attending the pre-performance lectures. This last weekend there was a guest conductor named Larry Rachleff who spoke eloquently and passionately about how classical music is able to reach our deepest emotions. His lecture was fairly spiritual and he concluded by telling the audience how one of the best things they could do for their lives would be to listen to Bach every day for at least 10-15 minutes. He declared passionately that Bach’s music would “inform the soul,” and enhance your entire life. Don’t you just love this idea? Not just about Bach, but about music “informing the soul?”

Here are a few of the pieces that have “informed” my soul this last year:

• Holst: “The Planets,” the Mars movement is my favorite. I can even listen to this piece while I run because it makes me feel like I’m about to march into battle!

• Rachmaninov: “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” You can easily find the familiar and gushing 18th variation on itunes, but I recommend the entire piece.

• Vaugh Williams: “The Lark Ascending,” just plain beautiful!

• Orff: “Carmina Burana,” just plain thrilling and fun! You’ll recognize the opening and closing because it has been in all the NBA playoff commercials. Listen to the whole piece for joyful ditties celebrating the return of spring and the pleasures of the senses.