Joys of Big City Life

In addition to insane traffic and a high cost of living, Boston boasts one of the best orchestras in the world. My DH took me to a BSO concert over the weekend and as I wallowed in the pure joy of sound, the negatives of big city living faded into insignificance.

I know classical music isn't for everyone, but it moves me. My imagination goes into overdrive when I hear violins. The symphony subscription was a Christmas gift from my DH. He knows me well. Three dates with my sweetie accompanied by world class music--it doesn't get any better.



The Boston Symphony is conducted by Maestro James Levine and performs in beautiful Symphony Hall. You can't see them in this picture, but in each of the arched alcoves around the room there is a larger-than-life statue of a Greek god (anatomically correct, I might add!). Despite the ornate embellishments on the walls, the acoustics of the hall are fabulous.


The program was all Strauss and the highlight for me was the overture from Die Fledermaus. When I was a professional singer, I sang the role of Rosalinde, the heroine of this sparkling operetta.(Yeah, that's a pic of me in my Rosalinde costume. See why I empathize with my corseted heroines?) In Die Fledermaus, the heroine seduces her own wandering husband by posing as a Hungarian countess at a masked ball. It's a light-hearted froth and utterly delicious, both the story and the music. It was a treat for me to relive it a bit yesterday afternoon.

The rest of the program featured Don Quixote, a Richard Strauss tone poem, which was amazing. At one point they cranked up a wind machine to simulate Don Quixote's battle with a windmill. But the audience really got into the Johann and Jospeph Strauss waltzes. Just hearing that music brings hooped skirts floating around a glittering ballroom to mind.

And remember, when it first became popular, the Waltz was as scandalous as the Lombada. Here's a bit from the program about it:

"This fiend of German birth, destitute of grace, delicacy and propriety, a disgusting practice," spluttered one English writer of the 1830's about that diabolical instrument of immorality, The Waltz. Why, in this depraved display, he ranted, the couple actually danced in each other's arms, refusing to keep the respectable distance that characterized all the good old dances. . . . "a stronger narcotic than alcohol" arousing "passions bordering on mad fury." Alas for the poor Englishman, anything that delicious was bound to be a success!

The DH always stresses over what to get me for Christmas and Bdays, but he certainly chose well this time. I can't wait for the next concert!

What moves you?