09 November 2009

A night at the symphony.


Before our very eyes, Dallas is sprouting into an entirely new city.  Construction cranes stand like skinny skyscrapers along the skyline.  There are rumors that we'll soon have a public park that is built like a bridge over the freeway, and downtown Dallas is actually alive after work hours now, bustling with activity as people return home to their urban loft dwellings.

I've traveled so many places, but I thought it was high time I wrote about the city where I live.  I'm more of a "quaint town" person at heart, but there are so many things to appreciate about Dallas during this time in my life, even though it took me awhile to see them.  One of those things is our amazing Arts District and the Dallas Symphony.

I've always wanted to get dolled up in the perfect black dress and my leopard print heels and go to the symphony. It sounds so sophisticated, so cultured.  "Ah yes, we're going to the symphony tonight, just in case you're wondering."  For folks like us who live most of our days in tank tops and workout pants, it's definitely a rare treat.

Thanks to our friend Tommy and his student discount, we got second row tickets at the Meyerson Center to hear Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.  Now, before you think I really know what I'm talking about or that I've become a classical music aficionado, I have to admit that this is perhaps the only piece of classical music I can actually identify.  It was in one of my favorite early 80s films - Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour.

Here are a few photos to document our evening soaking up the Dallas cultural scene...


the baileys


the symphony warming up - look at that pipe organ!



the gorgeous inside of the meyerson


At the beginning of the performance I found myself a bit nervous and antsy.  We were roughly five feet from the string section, and the printed program had an extensive list of things you are not permitted to do - like cough, for example.  Uh oh.  Apparently, silence is prized at the symphony, and a silent pause can actually be a part of the musical piece.  So, everyone saves their coughs, shuffling of candy wrappers, and yes, even the clanging of their bangle bracelets {it actually said that in the program}, until after a movement is completed.  Then, the entire room erupts into bizarre noises, sounding like an infirmary as everyone lets out their stifled coughs and sneezes.

The performance itself was breathtaking - the violins were so precise that at times they sounded like a swarm of bumble bees.  And the symphony ended on the clearest chord I have ever heard - all of the horns in unison with a purity that forced me to close my eyes.  What is it about music that speaks to the human heart so?

Afterwards, the four of us walked to the car with smiles on our faces, agreeing that part of what made the evening so special was that it was so different than our normal daily lives.  We then headed to another Dallas hot-spot I've always wanted to visit - Reunion Tower.  It's the big sparkling ball that you see on the Dallas skyline.  At the very top is Wolfgang Puck's new restaurant, Five Sixty {because it's 560 feet above the ground}.


There, instead of dinner, we opted for the less expensive desserts: mouth-watering Fuji Apple Crumble Pie a la mode and a chocolate soufflé.  I don't have any photos of the desserts because we devoured them that quickly.  


tommy and linda at five sixty




It was such a fun evening!  If I have to fall in love with Dallas, a classy night out on the town is just the thing to reel me in.

9 comments:

Kristina said...

Y'all are too cute! How much fun! And the desserts sound amazing. :)

maryh said...

i love doing something new when you've lived in a place for years. sounds like a very fun evening! what's next?

Mandy said...

What a fun night!!! I need to explore more parts of Louisville as well. There is some great culture here that I need to discover more now that I'm in a place that actually HAS culture! :) Glad to see you're doing well!

Susan said...

what a fun and cultured night. all these pics are amazing and you looked gorgeous!! So glad you got to go to the tower too!!

Monica said...

So accurate: those noises in-between classical pieces - awkward and funny! I notice them too every time (you know my background :-). And I confess that I have sort of a phobia: I often feel nervous as a concertgoer, specially when my family is involved, because I fear that one of the musicians might miss a note or get unwell ... I know, I know, they're professionals, but it's just that I myself wouldn't get through! Talk to you very soon, Monica.

Lilies of the Field said...

Somewhere in Time?? My family visited where that was filmed the summer before last. It was absolutely breath-taking. Apparently, we watched that all the time when we were little, only Alli remembers it though. You guys can talk about your favorite scenes :) I'm sure she remembers exact dialogue.
Sounds like you had a fantasic night. I'm jealous!

allison said...

This makes me miss Dallas. :)

Madi said...

Dressing up and going out...what's not to love?

I looooove going to the symphony. Once a bando, always a bando...I played clarinet for 8 eight years and I miss it. Not that I was really any good, but it was fun times. I'm glad you enjoyed it =)

Robyn Jones Clark said...

you guys looked beautiful!!