Classical Binge and a New Friend

In the past two weeks, I've attended two classical concerts: the first at the gorgeous Art Deco Alex Theatre in Glendale, which featured pianist super star Andre Watts, and the second at Segerstrom Hall across from South Coast Plaza. As an extra treat, I went with ladies who "know people" and so were able to secure free tickets. Alexi, via her opera singer grandmother, is friends with Andre Watts, and Diana's brother is a bass player for the Pacific Symphony.

I often listen to classical music on the radio and I have a few choice CDs. I was a member of the Southern California Early Music Society for many years and so attended medieval-music concerts in candlelit cathedrals in Los Angeles and Pasadena. But besides these two recent adventures, I have not been to a symphony performance since I was in high school.

Classical music is one of the pinnacles of Western civilization. Two Saturdays ago, I met with Andre Watts during intermission. He was a gracious man, remembering my name and introducing me to other admirers as they poured into his dressing room. After last Saturday's performance at Segerstrom Hall, Diana and I went backstage to meet with several of the musicians, all old friends and/or lovers of Diana's. To be around such accomplished professionals makes me feel as if I am at the very nexus of human aspiration over the past four or five centuries.

As Diana is a cellist, her brother plays for the Pacific Symphony and her sister plays for the LA Opera Company, I will probably be going to many more classical venues.

And Diana, in her own way, is thrilled to know a writer. She said, "I'm always around musicians. It's nice to know someone who expresses creativity through another medium."

It's interesting how life unfolds. I met Diana in January on the Blue Line. I had attended a peace demonstration in Los Angeles, and she was returning from an architectural tour. I'm not sure if I asked her about the tour first, or if she, seeing my sign, asked me about the march. Either way, we struck up a conversation and exchanged phone numbers and email addresses. Diana invited me to attend a number of events with her--the "lefties" potluck at El Dorado Park, a Shakespearean play, a lecture by an environmentalist--but I was always busy. Two weeks ago, I contacted her about a Russian choral group that is performing tonight in Costa Mesa. She said $35 was too much for her to spend, but would I like to see the Pacific Symphony for free? So last Saturday was the first time we've seen each other since that January train ride.

Tonight I'm attending the performance by the Russian choral group with another friend, Beverly, who had the $35 for a ticket.

It's so important to surround yourself with people of a creative spirit, whatever form that creativity takes. It gives me a zing down in my soul. It's as if through their music or their words or through dance or cooking or simply living a life of adventure and courage, they are touching the divine and sharing their take on the divine with the world.