Sixtieth Birthday Concert

I went to see the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and the North Carolina Master Chorale perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony last night at the Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh.
My brother the programmer and his wife treated me, since I had expressed an interest in going a few months ago. Other than a performance of the Nutcracker when I was in elementary school and the NC Symphony performing patriotic classics at their annual Fourth of July concert outdoors at Meredith College, I had never been to a classical performance, and the Ninth is one of my favorite works.
As we entered the concert hall and located our seats (all the way in the back, against a wall, in a corner, with an overhang above us) my first thought was 'never let your brother pick the seats'. But I needn't have worried; the sound was excellent. I could hear the quietest parts easily, even with my bad hearing, and the crescendos were appropriately loud.
Before the concert, there was a bassist tuning up (insert a bassist tuning up joke here) and it sounded equally loud whether we were right in front or at our seats.
There was a pre-concert talk by the associate conductor (David Glover) on the two pieces being performed, and why the conductor (Grant Llewellyn) chose them for this schedule. The other being Richard Strauss's Metamorphosen, a piece almost the exact opposite of the Ninth in it's scale.
 
It was great! I always get goosebumps when the chorus comes in, and hearing it live was no different. It was awesome, epic, with over a hundred singers augmenting the sound of the orchestra's extra-large contingent of musicians. It was a dynamic performance, from the most intimate flute and string parts to the massive Ode To Joy with everybody playing for all they're worth.
I didn't want it to end. I was hoping for an encore, and by the over-five-minute standing ovation, the audience seemed to want the same.
 
When the conductor returned and introduced and thanked each section of the ensemble, the bassists received the loudest applause, go figure, and the Chorale was also loudly lauded.
 
All in all, a great way to begin my 60th year. 

Whomp!

Happy Birthday!

57Gregy
Thanks, Bapu and James.
No longer middle-aged.

Just "aged".

57Gregy
Thanks, Bapu and James.
No longer middle-aged.

Nonsense!  I'm stealing a line from a secretary I had back in the 80's:  "Middle Age is always ten years older than whatever I am." 

Happy B'Day Greg!!
Glad it was a enjoyable/memorable concert.....now I'm looking forward to taking my little ones to a similar concert.  

Hi,
 
Happy Birthday and many more to come and enjoy!

I once did a summer program at Irvine Meadows down in Southern California (when I was living in Irvine) that was one half singles mixer and one half Classical music.  Unfortunately, the music was the best part! 
 
The Four Seasons is one of my favorites.