A pseudo-elegant evening

The music was great and so was the company. My friend Luke called me up this afternoon, asking if I wanted to take the other ticket he had for the Mt. Baker theater, featuring soprano Heidi Grant Murphy--a graduate from Western apparently.

"I don't know who she is; it might be a sleeper of a concert; who knows," he said before I accepted his offer.

I managed to dress a little down (with him in his nice suit) and show up a little late...and to add insult to injury, I think I enjoyed the concert more than he did...

There were a few people in the chorus who I know and the orchestra finished up the evening with Beethoven's fifth! What a treat! I got to sit there and let my ears isolate each section of the orchestra and examine their contributions to the whole harmony...

The violins...

The first chair was very easily identified, even without the solos he played with Ms Murphy. He was the one who generally looked the most comfortable.

The violas...

The lead had a quirky habit of looking at other players nearby and raising eyebrows as if he just gotten tipped off to an inside joke.

The cellos...

The lead had a very impressive Italian profile if I ever saw one. But nothing stood out to me more than the man who had a weird scope attachment to his glasses. My only guess was that it helps him focus on the music.

The basses...

They were, as usual and unfortunately, too restrained. I'm a great fan of prominent bass, you know. Only in the last movement were there a couple bars of extra prominence.

The woodwinds...

I love the Oboe, what can I say? I was impressed with one piece where I noticed for the first time a few bars where the flutes subtly backed up the violins on the same crescendo note...all too subtly I'm afraid. I liked the intensity it added--something the pretentious violins cannot provide on their own, no matter how much they think they can.

The brass...

They were out of sight most of the concert. Afterward, however, the conductor did a section-by-section bow and I located them behind the woodwinds...which must have been interesting for the woodwinds.

It ended at 9:30 so we decided to find some place to go that didn't close at ten. Through various odd-ball events we ended up at the Olive Garden ready to take on the full meal deal. Unfortunately, just as I decided on the three meat ravioli, Luke pipped up and said, "I think I'll just get the three meat ravioli."...

"Oh, you would," I said with indignation. "I had just decided on that one!"

Before I could step back from the wine menu and choose some other main dish, he was kind enough to concede and choose the lasagna instead. But no sooner did we order then the waitress returned to the table to tell him the lasagna wasn't available...he suppressed a snicker and calmly said he would settle for the three meat ravioli. Did he get off easy or what!?

No matter, because I got to demonstrate to Luke first-hand how nice it is to not be carded over a glass of wine.