Bach and Beyond

The orchestra members were warming up.  The persistent chime of the gong was calling music lovers to their seats.  Excited chatter was accompanied by the sound of scurrying feet coupled with melodic snippets.  All elements of the concert coming together for a brilliant opening.  There was only one problem.  The final piece, the conductor, was slated to appear in five minutes and seat EB7, at the Meyerson, was still empty.

This particular seat was purchased three weeks in advance.  The patron, an avid Bach fan, had been looking forward to this concert for even longer than that.  So, why was it not until the lights were dimming that she slithered by frustrated concert-goers to find her seat?  Well, the answer is simple- Dallas traffic!

How do I know this?  I am the music lover that was in seat EB7 last Thursday night for the Dallas Symphony's "Bach and Beyond" performance.  I excitedly came home from work and quickly got "dolled" up so I could leave an hour early, with the intent on arriving thirty minutes before start time.  But, road construction on Hwy 67 dashed all of my hopes.

At 7:52 PM, I pulled into the parking lot for the 8 PM performance.  The attendant let me know that he only had one spot left that he would charge me $15 for ($5 increase of the posted price).  I paid, he directed me to a handicap spot in the corner and I ran down the block.  I entered the hall huffing and puffing and trying to not look as harried as I felt.  With two minutes to spare, I joyfully realized that I would not have to wait in the foyer for intermission.  I took my seat as the lights were dimming.

Baroque is my absolute favorite musical genre and the program didn't disappoint.  The concert was fantastic!  Ton Koopman, from the Netherlands, was the conductor.  In addition to being a conductor, he is a musicologist, harpsichordist and organist.  Between 1994 and 2004, Koopman undertook a project to conduct and record ALL of the existing cantatas by Bach.

After reading his bio, I'm convinced that the DSO could not have picked a more perfect person to lead this concert.  Besides knowing his stuff, he was cheery and fun to watch lead the orchestra.  His quirky personality shined through at the end of each piece, as the audience was giving applause; he would bow no less than ten times.  He was much like the little lady that continued to bow as they escorted her off the stage in the last scene of, "The Sound of Music".

Highlights:

* The soloists playing Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major

* Locatelli's Introduzione teatrale IV (my first time to ever hear it)

* Hearing Haydn's near perfect part writing in Sinfonia concertante in B-flat Major- this piece reminded me why I love music so much

* The beautiful harpsichord being played on stage

* A good seat

For me, driving through big cities is like getting a hug; I detour any chance I get. I know it's weird, but there is just something about being surrounded by tall buildings that has always made me feel secure.  You can chalk it up to one of the many quirky things about me.  The drive home after the concert was enjoyed with windows down and made perfect by the visible full moon.

This evening made my heart happy.  I think it is so important to take time to do the things we enjoy...to disconnect from everything and just sit...to soak in something beyond ourselves...to let our imaginations run wild.  What makes your heart happy?  I challenge you to step away from the computer, your phone, and perhaps even your family just for a while and do something that makes your heart happy.  You might be surprised how it will 'recharge your batteries'.