A little game I play

We've subscribed to the Seattle Symphony for a number of years and before the beginning of each season, I enter both the concert dates and program details in my calendar. It takes some time, and I've always thought given the number of concerts in the season, the symphony should provide an Outlook upload. But, alas, there isn't such a thing, so I hand-enter the concert dates and paste in the program information from the SSO web site.

During the season I normally look ahead at what's next concert-wise - very handy to have it all in my calendar.

But, occasionally, I consciously don't look at the concert information (or the concert program when I get there): I just planned to be surprised when the music starts. I'll ask Drake if I'll recognize what's about to be played, because it not, I want to know (I don't want to listen to a whole piece without a clue as to what it is).

Last night was the perfect night to play my little surprise game. Drake was very confident I would recognize everything on the program, and he was right. I told him I didn't even know who the soloist was and he kind of cocked his eyebrow at that. "You have no idea?..."

"None."

The program opened with Excerpts from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Hard to miss what that is. Though it one of the two (standard) Wagner operas I haven't seen live.

Next, was the soloist. I could tell by the way they were arranging the orchestra chairs that it was going to be a violinist.

The house lights go down and out walks...

I literally gasped. A post for another time, but one of my absolute top favorite classical performers.

Then she starts the Barber Violin Concerto. Sigh. So lovely and the perfect artist to perform it.

The program finished up with Suite from Der Rosenkavalier -- again, music (and an opera) I adore. It look me back to Seattle Opera's stunning production of it: