As I said, I went to the Midori rehearsal at the Kennedy
Center, M playing with the National Symphony Orchestra.
I was so nervous I would oversleep and miss my 8.45 AM bus,
I took a shower the night before, and was just one notch short of my Philippina
classmate in Boulder CO, when I first arrived, who said she always slept in her
jeans if she needed to take a morning flight, and also packed a sandwich from
Manilla, in case it was too dark and she was too tired when she got to NY and
could not go out to eat.
Sounded reasonable enough to me, but of course customs threw
out her ham sandwich.
I saw a custom bus waiting by the curbside at the Village
Center near me, but the bus driver was sleeping inside and motioned to me to go
to the Center, where the door was closed.
It's getting rather nippy, but the fountains are still on.
I saw one woman, but she said she was with the walking
group.
The walkers were all dressed for walking, not to go to a
classical music concert, albeit a rehearsal.
I used to walk with them before, before I got into the late
night fiction writing, and before my favorite in that group, elegant, gracious
Marjorie, died at the age of about 82.
Now maybe I should start trying again.
The group has reconstituted itself, apparently, with
slightly younger folks and many Asians.
That should be interesting.
Presently they set off, and the music lovers arrived.
It was very easy, being shepherded by 2 staff members from
the Center and going and returning almost door to door.
It only cost $25 and even the taxi one way cost $50 when I
went to see the Shen Yun concert (balcony $95), in the midst of a very cold
winter.
--
This is a rehearsal, the first I have ever been to.
They played one piece straight through, and it all sounded
fine to me, but then the conductor, who had a most interesting conducting
style, rehearsed the musicians over different phrases.
I think what he was doing was trying to bring up the drama
of the dramatic moments, and the lyricism of the lyrical phrases.
It really was very interesting to me.
Classical music rehearsal (contd)
I was going to listen to Midori live! so I did not want to
go in the clothes I might go to supermart with.
So I wore my customary black outfit with the light coat I
made from Thai woven materials (I am wearing same on pic on L, taken with
photographer Reza) and the same shocking pink scarf, also from Thailand. I added a big floppy pink flower I made
myself from the cut off edges of my old lambswool sweater.
I had to wear my wool coat on top as it was 40 degrees F.
On the bus, the lady in charge explained concert manners,
cell phones off, no chatting and told us not to get lost, our bus was
#--rehearsal from 10-12 noon--
and we should do everything we needed to do during the
intermission.
During intermission the ladies line was winding round and
round like a snake.
Someone behind me admired my hat, so I said, I needed my hat
now due to the glare bothering my eyes, and I bought the hat and added the felt
rose.
I asked what piece that was they just played, and woman next
to me said, Mendelsohn, with bits of Bach thrown in, if you listen carefully
you can hear it.
And the conductor?
She said a name like Eichorn?
(I can't go to NSO site right now as my laptop is acting
up.)
The conductor would make little jumps when he wanted to
emphasize something.
--back in--
saw Midori on stage tuning with first violin, wearing black
skirt, black and white top with red piping, habitual severely pulled back black
hair, and black pump shoes.
I got sleepy during this section and felt the orchestra
playing loud did not go so well with M's soft style, anyway, nodded off, maybe
bc I slept only a few hours last night.
Then either intermission (2nd) or end of rehearsal.
No one announced anything and paid no attention at all to
the audience, about 300? in all, mostly seniors, mostly women.
But ushers there, and ushers also seniors.
Well, I have been a theatre usher in Philadelphia at the
Annenberg Center, as I love plays and have written one, and being an usher is a
great way to study plays.
So I asked the usher if it was the end of the rehearsal, as
our lady of the bus had said 12 noon, and it was 12 noon.
Definitely not, Usher said, I think he's going to do the
Mozart.
So I headed back in straight away.
No way will I miss any Mozart. If I miss the bus, I can return on the Metro.
There is no snow and ice and there's a Kennedy Center
shuttle.
I love Mozart.
(In Boulder my friend, a lady who had known poet Langston
Hughes, got us tickets to The Magic Flute.
I headed in fast after intermission, as Act II starts with O Isis and
Osiris, a lovely prayer. Not this ISIS,
of course, the Egyptian god Isis.)
Anyway, it was Mozart, and they did a pretty good job.
It sounded like the Overture to The Magic Flute.
--Back on bus, only 2 people a bit late, but as we all sat
in our seats and Lady was very systematic, no one was left behind.
I am going to do more of these day trips in future, and book
early, and even maybe some of the over-nighters, if my budget allows it.
Got back to Village very hungry and went and had salmon
bento, the salmon piece getting smaller and smaller, but still a good deal.
Waitress said I looked "fresh" but I know her
English is not so good, and she meant "well-dressed."
KMKaung
10-30-2014
