Utah Symphony - Beethoven's Fifth

" Do you want to buy the very last ticket, middle of the main floor, $68.00?"
I took about 2 seconds to think and then said "Yes. Do you take American Express?"

Yesterday my dear friends, Larry, Maria & Dante were in town for the weekend to attend Dante's Suzuki cello graduation. Dante plays so very well and seems to be addicted to composing. I was very impressed with all the students. Everybody played well, and the concert was well organized. It took about an hour or so and was pretty enjoyable, all things considered.

My friends were going to see the Utah Symphony after supper and asked me to join them. But I didn't have a ticket and didn't think I could get one just a couple of hours before the concert. Maria called Arttix while we were in the car going to the restaurant. One last ticket only. I got it.

I've never been to Abravanel Hall, have never heard the Utah Symphony. About time I did and starting with the most famous four notes in all of classical music.....a mighty fine idea.

I had a wonderful seat. right in the center, about 1/4 of the way from the front. The floor slants down, so unless Lincoln with his hat sits in front of you, the view is fine.

I enjoyed the whole program which included 3 short pieces by Gabriel Fauré and a world premier new piece by Michael Jarrell called "Émergenences (Nachlese VI) for cello and orchestra" with Jean-Guhihen Queryas soloist. I'm not sure what to say about the new piece. It is modern and so has no melody. I have no specific memory of any part of it except the REALLY LOUD and SUDDEN drum beats that happened from time to time. A lot of the piece was whisper quiet, and the soloist made the cello make a whole lot of sounds I didn't know I cello could do. I noticed that the pianist was doing something by standing up and reaching into the body where the strings are, and someone else way in the back was doing something unknown with two sticks of some kind. When I wasn't watching the cellist, I was studying the three percussionists who had a heck of a lot of interesting things to pound on.

And then it was time for Beethovan. I'm pretty sure I have never heard this piece live, but, of course, I knew the whole of it.  This may be the only time I get to hear the Fifth Symphony in person. So I made the most of it. I was not disappointed. In fact, I loved it, every second of it. Leaning forward in my wonderful seat, I just drank it in.

This is how I want to spend my time and money - creating totally memorable experiences to carry with me the rest of my life.