Concert Season has Begun

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Dear friends,

Today was the first concert of the season in our chamber music series. The concerts, which we have attended for years, are held in an attractive venue called Hillwood Recital Hall on the Post University campus located only 15 minutes from our home. Our long time seats (we think they are the best in the house) are up four steps and in the first row of a section overlooking the performers in an unobstructed way. We thought, though, that these familiar seats would be a problem because if Bernice does not have her legs elevated the discomfort would prohibit staying for the concert. There is a low wall directly in front of our regular seats that would not allow this option. Luckily, I was able to switch seats and secure two where there is a wide aisle directly in front of the seats. We took Bernice’s wheelie, rode the elevator down one floor, and Bernice used the wheelie to keep her legs lifted for comforting periods during the recital. That is enough about the logistics and strategies we must now be conscious of and employ. We are already thinking of how we will manage our upcoming NY Philharmonic concert. These considerations are now part of our lives.

The concert itself was exceptional and we both enjoyed every part immensely. The program moved chronologically from Mozart, to Beethoven and concluded with Brahms’ wonderful clarinet quintet. I happen to have all these pieces on my iPod that furnishes the music for our home system, so the familiarity lent an extra pleasure. We have music on constantly at home and the pieces only occasionally receive our undivided attention but its presence provides a rich background we relish. When Bernice reaches the kitchen in the morning before I arrive her first words are often “music, music.”

Sorry, no pictures today but you can see our music program.

Our host for many years at these concerts is a talented pianist
(she performed in the Mozart piano quintet) who most often talks about the composer and the music in a short and interesting presentation in an introduction before each piece. She is very interested in music history and has visited many of the world’s music centers. She remarked on viewing some of Mozart’s original manuscripts and noting that they are amazingly pristine — no marks of revision, no cross outs, not even any stray drops of ink. Asked how it was that he composed, Mozart is reported to have answered that all the music is already in his head and his task is merely to transcribe it to paper. In contrast, Beethoven’s manuscripts bear heavy evidence of revision. Our commentator concluded that Beethoven had to work hard at creating his marvels.

We have heard the renowned Shanghai Quartet on prior occasions and they are excellent. The clarinet quintet featured the talented Igor Begelman who performed wonderfully. We saw a few friends at the concert and all were especially happy to see Bernice in the swim again.

On our way to the concert we pass our local farm and Bernice was anxious to stop and continue her adventure with cauliflower recipes. The farm will close on the day before Thanksgiving so we must take advantage of its proximity and wealth of fresh produce before then. We selected a great looking cauliflower picked today, some apples for baking, radishes, and what are probably the last of the field tomatoes. On our arrival home, Bernice, the whirlwind cook, went into action and issued command after command to me, her assistant and scullery maid. I could not report on the ingredients but there was olive oil and an assortment of spices and a 400-degree oven involved. Bernice was hungry and things moved quickly. We soon sat down and enjoyed a different version of cauliflower than we had just days ago. Don’t ask which I prefer. I like almost everything Bernice prepares and avoid being critical.

Love and healthy eating to all,

Merwin