8/4/09 John at the Lodge/ Chamber Concert

Yesterday I had my traditional meeting with John at the L of D.  We sat beside the tall,  ancient looking wood and stone fire place--very tall with aged river wood and huge blocks of grey ice age stone.  The Bear standing guard.  

We always talk about diet and how to lose weight.  We also talk about John's trips to Italy and the various trips he takes with Susan.  Somehow it's so interesting to catch up.  We only get together at the Bear.  John is worried that the Bear may not survive the economy (a lot of places up here haven't).   But in the case of the Music Festival,  I have the feeling that it will.  There are a lot of wealthy people up here,  people that love this Festival and have been coming since it's start twenty some years ago.  So .  . . . 

It can get very cold up here.  Very.  Some years during the chamber concert,  I've been so cold that I needed a blanket.  It seems that the coldest nights have been the Chamber Concert Tuesdays.  

Last year,  Luke and I did special prayers and it wasn't too cold.  This year,  Luke wanted to make the Tuesday Evening Freeze a joke.  I kept on and kept on visualizing and praying for warmth.  When I left the L of D,  I opened the car window and felt warmth.  I knew that the musicians would be fine.  

It wasn't Indy in August.  But it was warm enough to allow the musicians to enjoy their evening.  Luke rocked it out.  He was funny,  theatrical and his playing was better than last year.  He keeps on getting better.  

The evening was called,  "An Evening of Wine Tating and Chamber Music."  Nicole Darracq is the sommelier that we had last year.  She is funny and always has interesting things to say about the music and the wine.  She always makes people laugh and provides us with a taste of delicious wine.  I can't drink red,  but I had some Chatom Souvignon Blanc.  Delicious.  I didn't taste the grapefruit,  but I loved the spicy,  dry flavor.  The woman next to me,  an English woman who comes up to the Bear each year with the Sierra Club,  is also allergic to red wine.  As she drank she turned red,  but oh well.  

L played a funny,  theatrical piece with David Murry ( amazing bass player from Butler)-- Botesini's "Grande Duo Concertina.  "This piece is sweet and light,  with a good sense of humor.  Nicole described it as a piece that wants to be liked and it was.  The audience laughed and applauded and had a great experience of the humor of great music.   

After intermission,  the Pacific Opera Institue presented two young men singing arias.  The second young man was only 17 and he sang like a star to be.   

Then Luke,  Brenda Tom,  and Douglas Harvey presented the beautiful Mendelssohn "Trio in B Major"-- very popular and for good reason.  Luke commanded the stage.  He gets better and more free every time I hear him.  The audience gave a standing ovation.  Afterwards many came up and thanked Luke for his uplifting music.   Many were also surprised by his acting ability.