Michael and I have been in the general area of Saint Louis for over a year now. We’ve seen and done some really cool stuff, here.
When we first moved, I worried a lot. Would I be able to see concerts? Would I be able to go see indie movies? The truth is, Saint Louis is one of the coolest cities I’ve visited, and without a doubt, the best place I’ve ever lived. Indie movie theaters, we got it. Live theatre, live music, awesome museums… we got it. You can go into the city and see almost any professional sport you want to. There’s some really high quality colleges around here. Business and industry still exist in Saint Louis.
But the absolute, without a doubt, best thing we’ve done in Saint Louis is subscribe to the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. About once a month, we head down to Powell Hall and see the symphony.
When I was six or seven, my class took a trip to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to see the Nutcracker. I moved out of my mother’s house at twenty-two, and I found the ticket stub from that concert in a jewelry box still. I adored the experience – the beautiful concert hall, the glowing instruments, the glorious noise.
Michael and I have been to probably 4 or 5 concerts at Powell Hall since September. We’ve sat in some fantastic seats and some less fantastic seats, but there’s no bad seat in the place. Powell Hall is gorgeous, all red and velvet and gold painted crystal chandeliers. It’s been beautifully renovated and feels simply elegant. It’s a gem.
And the orchestra is ridiculously good. They’re a full-time orchestra, this is their only job. We’ve seen them play music from Looney Tunes, with the cartoons playing behind them, we’ve seen them play a show of only Mozart, we’ve watched them accompany vocalists and tap-dancers and Ben Folds kicking a piano’s ass. There’s a variety of talent.
The second concert we went to was an all Mozart program, including some more obscure pieces. Our seats looked right out over the entire orchestra, watching the bows rise and fall together, and the waxed shine of the stringed instruments contrasting with the bright, bright brass. The warmth and the power of the sound… I have never heard music sound so perfect. You can pick out the sound of a lone triangle as easily as the sound of a lone bassoon or violin.
After the first movement, I started to cry a little, very quietly. Michael looked at me quizzically and I just took his hand. It was maybe the most profoundly beautiful thing I’ve experienced. And it can be experienced by anyone. The cheapest seats are typically around $40 bucks a pop, usually it’s a bit cheaper for the family shows. The experience is astounding for the cost.
And the cost… it supports keeping something as magnificent as a symphony around. Because once the symphony and the hall fall into disrepair, no one is going to choose to spend the money to bring them back. In my mind, I get a mind-blowing experience and help to make sure that my children and grandchildren can have that exact same experience some time in the future. The kind of experience that reminds you of the power and beauty in a world that can be kind of deadening sometimes.
If you live in Saint Louis, or are just visiting, I urge you to take the time to see the Symphony. I’ll meet you there!
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