Submitted by Susanne Bacon
I come from a music addicted family and married into another music addicted one. For both branches that means a history of concerts, wherever we were able to grab one. And yet, our experiences could probably not be more different.
My love for music started long before my first visit to the Stuttgart Opera; today it encompasses the music my American-born husband introduced me to, as well.I grew up on almost only smooth jazz and classical music. I saw my first opera in Stuttgart, Germany, at the opera house when I was eight. We were all dressed to the tees and after the doors closed, everybody just sat and listened in awe. It was an easy opera to watch, Engelbert Humperdinck’s “Haensel und Gretel”, and the stage set was marvelously traditional. After that event, I started saving up pocket money for buying classical records.
Looking back, my circle of friends was all stage-struck in the traditional department as well. I was probably the only one who didn’t have regular private musical lessons due to any lack of ambition until I was 15. Some of my friends were avid piano players or even ballerinas. In my mid-teens, my music teacher told me I ought to be trained professionally and hooked me up with a concert singer. My perspective changed big time from being the rapt girl in the audience to being a soloist up front on stage or organ lofts. I learned how many rehearsals go into one tiny piece of less than five minutes, until all the orchestra instruments corelate with each other and the singer. Until the acoustics have been figured out and the tempi and volumes are adapted to the location. I ditched my social life as an evolving teenager to be on stage, to maybe become a professional singer one day, to breathe music four to five hours a day at home, not counting music lessons at school or with private singing and piano teachers.
Well, I didn’t become a professional opera singer, as we all know by now, but I was able to make use of my knowledge in my first year as a journalist. I wrote for a local paper’s culture section. Thanks to my dancing friends, I knew enough about ballet to appreciate pirouettes and lifting figures, jetés and pliers danced to the music of any era. Talking to opera stars and prima ballerinas, jazz musicians and actors after shows became my every weekend enjoyment. It didn’t matter to me whether they were big stars or fervent up-and-coming artists. They gave their all. That was all that counted. That is why I am still stage-struck whenever I sense somebody giving their heart and soul to their performance.
I met who would become my husband over the guitar-music and voice of an Irish singer-songwriter in my hometown. We were both enjoying the tunes hugely, and our first encounter was actually a remark about the amazing quality of that artist. The rest of the conversation was about music, books, movies, and our life philosophy – but music definitely started it.
I visited my first rock concert the summer I arrived in Washington State. Rock music had never been on my concert list anywhere before. I was a bit tense at first. It was a little like going to the opera for the first time. I had no clue what kind of a crowd I would be surrounded by. My husband had introduced me to the music we’d be listening to via records and playing the guitar, explaining texts and watching interviews with the band. And then, one balmy summer night, we actually were out there at the White River Amphitheater in Enumclaw. It was a happy crowd we plunged into, one generation along the next, people singing along, playing air instruments. The stage show was colorful and enjoyable. I found myself humming along with one or two songs to my own surprise.
Since then, we have been to jazz concerts and musicals all over the place. We have seen and heard rock stars that I grew up with only on the radio. And I have admired amateur stage productions around here that had the same ambition as the big names – to satisfy their audience. And they did.
We love to listen to classical music on the radio every once in a while. I still sing a lot, opera or oratorio arias and lieder, sometimes still at a church or social event, but mostly to myself and when I’m doing the dishes at home. Still, the best moments to me are when my husband grabs his guitar and rocks it. That always reminds me of our first encounter and of how much music – no matter what kind – can bring different worlds together.
“ Wo man singt da laß Dich ruhig nieder-
B?se Menschen spielen Gramophon.”
You made me laugh – that’s certainly not working with the melody to the song 😀
Music is the best means to express emotions where words wouldn’t suffice. Or disturb. and there is not something like good music or better music or music that is more cultivated or less. There is just music one likes or not.
The wide span between Opera and Rock is like understanding various languages. And each of them opening a new Horizon.
Well, I guess there is good and bad music, actually. Badly performed or oversimply composed doesn’t serve the genres well …
Have you attended any of Symphony Tacoma’s concerts in the last four years, since Sarah Ioannides became our Music Director? She’s an amazing conductor, and each concert ifeatures world-class guest artist, plus an unexpected surprise for the audience. Our professional orchestra has thrived under her leadership. I hope you’ll check out the 2018-19 season’s programming and try at least one concert. Better yet, buy season tickets!
Thank you for the tip, Mary. I might look into it – it sounds intriguing!
Last fall’s opening concert had a “West Side Story” them, in honor of Leonard Bernstein’s anniversary. Joining the orchestra were 4 professional singers, in costume, singing their respective roles in the play/film; and also, from the side aisles, our own Symphony Tacoma Singers. What a great way to start our season last year! To find a list of the 2018-19 season’s programs, plus ticket information, just go to symphonytacoma.org.
Hahaha, Almost had the same experience as yours, anyways it was fun reading the blog.
That is fun indeed 🙂
P.S. Tacoma Opera is also quite good—certainly not as elaborate productions as in Seattle, but still lots of fun, and well-done. You will go home singing! I just “discovered” them last year. Depending on the opera, it will be sung in English or French/German/Italian, with subtitles projected above the stage.
And this summer, FREE outdoor jazz concerts by a wide range of professional musicians from the region, at PLU’s “Jazz Under the Stars” series. Take your folding chair and a picnic supper!
Oh my, Mary, I’m sorry I only see this now! I’m used to operas without any subtitles and reading up on them before I go. I’ll definitely have to check out the “Jazz under the Stars” series – that sounds like something wonderful! Thank you for the tip …
I adore music. I’d love to go to some concerts, or musical plays, but I don’t want to go alone. I settled for karaoke for a while, but I don’t get out very often anymore.
I settle for watching concerts online, or purchase the post concert DVDs. I only fairly recently learned that there was a sequel to The Phantom Of The Opera. It’s called…” Love Never Dies ” and it’s AMAZING. I watched it online. I highly recommend it.
Hi Janice,
As we are going to bed before the birds due to work schedules, we haven’t been able to go to any big musical events a lot either. Most of them were the rock and jazz kind of late, as it seems a generation of stars I grew up with are retiring, and this is the last opportunity to see them live.
As to the “Phantom of the Opera”, I always liked the version by Kopit/Yeston way better than the Andrew Lloyd Webber one. The other day, I actually caught it on TV – I was totally thrilled!
Know how it is with the work schedules. We own a business. We provide maintenance services for commercial property managers and owners. We have crews pretty much working around the clock, year round. Which means the phone rings at least once a night during the wee hours.
I was going for karaoke at least once a week, Wed. nights at the La Palmas restaurant lounge. But it doesn’t start until 8 p.m. on Wed., and on Fri. and Sat. nights, it’s supposed to start at 9 p.m. but usually gets going around 9:30, whenever the hostess arrives.
Wish I could find a venue that starts earlier. Go and sing for a few hours, and back home to hit the hay.
Used to go to the Stonegate once in a blue moon when my favorite local band was playing, just to dance like I was still a teeny bopper. But they start at 9 too, and the older I get, the harder it is to wake up early after getting home at Pumpkin time.
Pumpkin Time – I love that term … Yep, this Cinderella doesn’t make it past midnight these days anymore either. Funny enough, it’s not that important anymore. Though sometimes, in the case of concerts, theater, and other nice events, it’s a little annoying. It always takes me a couple of days when I go past what you callPupkin Time 🙂