Every summer for the last seventy years, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has performed at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, an out door venue that has the correct acoustics which any performing musician would relish. The orchestra does four performances, each with a varied theme and guest conductor or soloist. To hear the likes of Beethoven, Mozart or a Mendelssohn on a breezy, warm summer’s night under the stars is a joyful, and for me, an utterly startling experience.
We arrived around six and there were people everywhere, eating and drinking their respective picnic suppers, and enjoying the sea breeze that has been conspicuously absent for almost a week. Melbourne has had an extended hot summer, and the natives have started to complain because constant heat and humidity can drive a saint to a life of crime: weather-wise, a perfect night, despite the massive crowd.
Walking through the crowd, we made our way to the front of the stage in hopes of possibly finding two seats close to the orchestra. Considering the amount of people, chances of finding such seats were next to none. Then something strange and wonderful happened, a little old lady, at least eighty years young, grabbed my friend by the sleeve and asked,
“Darling are you two meeting anyone?”
“”No, we’re looking for some good seats.”
She smiled and said, “Come with me.”
We followed her through the isles, dodging people and those unawares, where she led us to the fourth row, dead centre; seats that in normal circumstances would have cost us $250 a ticket!
The Good Samaritan’s friend appeared slightly younger and was so pleased that her friend had found us, to sit next to them and experience the concert. Once we were seated, I noticed that both ladies returned to reading their books, those books with the big type: easier reading for tired eyes. Interestingly, they felt to be content that we were there, sitting next to them, someone to share the glory of the music.
As the time approached seven o’clock, the orchestra began to meander to their spots, warming up to their instruments. I love that sound of the strings tuning together, a universal sound that we are about to hear something magnificent.
The stage lights slowly rose and the conductor, the world renowned, Oleg Caetani, a maestro, who conducted his first symphony at the age of seventeen, came on stage, bowed, turned to the orchestra, lifting his hands, the music began…
They began with the Overture from the opera, Donna Diana, by Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek. This is music that I have never heard before, told that his music now is being rediscovered and played again…as it should because this particular Overture is so dramatic yet sensitive and technically, from my view, sophisticated.
The next piece came from the popular Percy Grainger, an Australian, who won critical and popular acclaim for his work internationally. Born in Australia in 1882, he studied music to travel to Europe and found the study of folk tunes an inspiration; the folk tune had great meaning for Grainger, and the song performed, Green Bushes, seemed to me to be a combination of Celtic, German and Polish influences. This is a piece of music that makes you instantly, no matter what your circumstances, feel right with the world.
The peak of the night for me was the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64…this has always, since a little boy, been a special and emotional piece of music.
Mendelssohn had always wanted to write the perfect violin concerto for his friend, Ferdinand David, leader of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Mendelssohn wrote,
“I should also like to write a violin concerto for you next winter. One in E minor runs in my head. The beginning which gives me no peace.”
Just over six years after this letter was sent, he finished the concerto, sending the final draft to David.
This is a moving piece of music, sending one to the depths of sadness to the heights of ecstasy, a kind of ‘beautiful sadness’, this music can send you to a truly wonderful place. As a little boy, I still remember the images the melody conjured…that of snow, so much white, more whiteness, cold and suffering, but a feeling of Noble suffering.
Sophie Rowell is a violinist of the highest order. To play any instrument, no matter what genre of music, to see and hear someone who has actually mastered their tool of expression, is inspiring, converting, a spiritual experience in the most profound and honest way. To be really honest, seeing her play brought me to tears…and awe…up and down the emotional scale like a schizoid off their medication. In all my years, I have never experienced such feelings, so acute, in response to a piece of music. Sophie was absolutely a marvel, performing Mendelssohn as if the composition was her very own.
When the thirty minute piece ended, not surprisingly, the audience went wild…”Bravo, Bravo…” And of course Sophie came out for a second bow….amazing!
My friend and I left hand in hand without speaking one word. Walking through the park under a star lit night, words felt to be unnecessary, superfluous, our minds and souls submerged in the music. It was only much later that we began to converse, one word utterances…wow, beautiful, unexpected, moving…
My night ended with the head finally hitting the pillow after a very long day…as Mendelssohn wafted in the air, falling to sleep.
We arrived around six and there were people everywhere, eating and drinking their respective picnic suppers, and enjoying the sea breeze that has been conspicuously absent for almost a week. Melbourne has had an extended hot summer, and the natives have started to complain because constant heat and humidity can drive a saint to a life of crime: weather-wise, a perfect night, despite the massive crowd.
Walking through the crowd, we made our way to the front of the stage in hopes of possibly finding two seats close to the orchestra. Considering the amount of people, chances of finding such seats were next to none. Then something strange and wonderful happened, a little old lady, at least eighty years young, grabbed my friend by the sleeve and asked,
“Darling are you two meeting anyone?”
“”No, we’re looking for some good seats.”
She smiled and said, “Come with me.”
We followed her through the isles, dodging people and those unawares, where she led us to the fourth row, dead centre; seats that in normal circumstances would have cost us $250 a ticket!
The Good Samaritan’s friend appeared slightly younger and was so pleased that her friend had found us, to sit next to them and experience the concert. Once we were seated, I noticed that both ladies returned to reading their books, those books with the big type: easier reading for tired eyes. Interestingly, they felt to be content that we were there, sitting next to them, someone to share the glory of the music.
As the time approached seven o’clock, the orchestra began to meander to their spots, warming up to their instruments. I love that sound of the strings tuning together, a universal sound that we are about to hear something magnificent.
The stage lights slowly rose and the conductor, the world renowned, Oleg Caetani, a maestro, who conducted his first symphony at the age of seventeen, came on stage, bowed, turned to the orchestra, lifting his hands, the music began…
They began with the Overture from the opera, Donna Diana, by Emil Nikolaus von Reznicek. This is music that I have never heard before, told that his music now is being rediscovered and played again…as it should because this particular Overture is so dramatic yet sensitive and technically, from my view, sophisticated.
The next piece came from the popular Percy Grainger, an Australian, who won critical and popular acclaim for his work internationally. Born in Australia in 1882, he studied music to travel to Europe and found the study of folk tunes an inspiration; the folk tune had great meaning for Grainger, and the song performed, Green Bushes, seemed to me to be a combination of Celtic, German and Polish influences. This is a piece of music that makes you instantly, no matter what your circumstances, feel right with the world.
The peak of the night for me was the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64…this has always, since a little boy, been a special and emotional piece of music.
Mendelssohn had always wanted to write the perfect violin concerto for his friend, Ferdinand David, leader of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Mendelssohn wrote,
“I should also like to write a violin concerto for you next winter. One in E minor runs in my head. The beginning which gives me no peace.”
Just over six years after this letter was sent, he finished the concerto, sending the final draft to David.
This is a moving piece of music, sending one to the depths of sadness to the heights of ecstasy, a kind of ‘beautiful sadness’, this music can send you to a truly wonderful place. As a little boy, I still remember the images the melody conjured…that of snow, so much white, more whiteness, cold and suffering, but a feeling of Noble suffering.
Sophie Rowell is a violinist of the highest order. To play any instrument, no matter what genre of music, to see and hear someone who has actually mastered their tool of expression, is inspiring, converting, a spiritual experience in the most profound and honest way. To be really honest, seeing her play brought me to tears…and awe…up and down the emotional scale like a schizoid off their medication. In all my years, I have never experienced such feelings, so acute, in response to a piece of music. Sophie was absolutely a marvel, performing Mendelssohn as if the composition was her very own.
When the thirty minute piece ended, not surprisingly, the audience went wild…”Bravo, Bravo…” And of course Sophie came out for a second bow….amazing!
My friend and I left hand in hand without speaking one word. Walking through the park under a star lit night, words felt to be unnecessary, superfluous, our minds and souls submerged in the music. It was only much later that we began to converse, one word utterances…wow, beautiful, unexpected, moving…
My night ended with the head finally hitting the pillow after a very long day…as Mendelssohn wafted in the air, falling to sleep.
1 comment:
What a wondrous, magical night!
You were so fortunate to experience such moments. Yes, as the old saying goes"if music be the food for the soul, play on!"
Violin music, especially the high notes always makes me think of the soul's continuous search for the Creator, which seems to come together on that finally reached high note.
Yes, nights like these certainly makes life on this "pain planet" worth living!
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