Status Update – The Philadelphia Orchestra

My view last night

I was raised on classical music. As far back as I can remember, it was in the air around me. We had a nifty album when I was a very little kid called “Hooked On Classics,” which took the major, recognizable themes from the great composers and set them to a disco beat (it was the very early 80s, after all). I used to dance around to that album for hours!

I also think that the first concert I ever went to was an orchestral concert. I know that when my mom was still alive, we used to go to the Philadelphia Orchestra concerts in the summer at the Mann Music Center, bring a picnic, and sit out on the grass. It was great!

So of course my big treat to myself these days is going into the city to see the Philadelphia Orchestra, which I did last night. The concert was lovely! The famous pianist Andre Watts was supposed to be the featured soloist, but Mr. Watts couldn’t make it, due to insufficient recovery from surgery. So, with three days’ notice, three days, brilliant young pianist Lise de la Salle stepped in. And wow! She’s only 27 years old, but she was magnificent. And at that level, the soloist memorizes the entire piece and plays without music. Mlle. de la Salle (she’s French) played Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto, and wow! She also had a really awesome red dress on, but seeing as you’re not allowed to take pics during the concert, you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Photo of Philadelphia by Dave Z, courtesy of Flickr

I love these concerts, but I also have to admit that I get really sleepy sitting there listening to them. And my thoughts drift a lot. I revisited a lot of old memories while listening to the orchestra, some good, some bad. I puzzled over the mysteries of consciousness and how impossible it seems to me that consciousness could just disappear with the death of the body. Yes, these are some of the things I think about. I know.

Anyhow, whenever I go to an orchestra concert—and I have season tickets—I stay at a hotel in the city. The Marriott is my hotel of choice. I’m a big fan of room service, although I forgot to put the tray out in the hall to be picked up before I went to bed, and seeing as I had the striped bass, my room smelled fishy all night long. But I slept fairly well for a hotel room, so it was a win after all.

And now I’m home, and it’s back to work! It’s really nice to take a miniature vacation now and then, though. I feel a lot more refreshed than you’d imagine for such a short trip.