Monday 5 November 2018

An Evening Filled with Music

On the balmy Saturday evening just passed, my beautiful boy and I enjoyed an evening of wonderful music. Works by the composer Franz Schubert, with a little Brahms too, filled the beautifully restored Sandgate Town Hall with music and our hearts with joy.


 The piano from which the music plays.

The evening's program. 

Just as he did the last time we saw him, when he played Gerschwin in this hall, the amazing Australian pianist,  Simon Tedeschi, enchanted us again with music and with his incredible talent. Tedeschi first played at the Sydney Opera House when he was 9years old; his hands played those of the young David Helfgott, whom we saw perform here too, in the movie, Shine. I love that he shares something of the composer, and the music when he introduces the pieces he will play, for those pieces and those who imagined them, all have their stories.

 The town hall lit up at night.

 The hall's historic clock tower.

 Fairy lights twinkling in the trees.

The pattern on the hall's beautiful ceiling. 

The lights that hang from the ceiling. 

The old timber and iron seats of the mezzanine where we sit.

We have been to a handful of these concerts now and we make it a special night out. We dress up a little, drive up together and walk arm in arm, along paths lit by twinkling fairy lights in the trees, to the town hall. We sit up on the mezzanine, on the old timber and iron seats, and look out across the expanse of the floor below to the stage. We listen in rapt silence and our clapping joins the enthusiastic applause for the playing and for the music. It's music we love.

You can enjoy a little of Simon Tedeschi's playing piano here, as there is a choice of videos on his website, or listen to a little of Schubert at this YouTube link.  

I always find it hard to describe what I love so much about classical music. It's the mountains and the valleys of pieces, how it describes such a range of emotions from glorious love and elation to the depths of desolate despair and melancholy. And how that's so open to the interpretation of the one who is listening.  I love to close my eyes and just listen. It's a joy my son and I share and I hope he'll long remember our evenings filled with music.

Meg














20 comments:

  1. It sounds wonderful, Meg. I love the photos. I always listen to classical music when I am driving in my car. It is so uplifting. It's good for the soul.

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    1. It was a wonderful evening! I love that children are welcome at these concerts so my son and I can share such a joy. Definitely good for the soul! Meg:)

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  2. Oh that simply sounds so nostalgic...love the old seats.

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    1. It is a beautiful old building, Kathy. Perfect for a concert like this. Meg🙂

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  3. What a wonderful way to spend an evening, and what a lovely memory for you and your son to look back on.

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    1. We had such a lovely time, Jan.
      It's really wonderful that children are welcome at these concerts and can enjoy such beautiful performances too. Meg🙂

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  4. It sounds like a wonderful evening Meg.
    I too love classical music. I often listen to Vivaldi's Four Seasons- that's one of my favorites.

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    1. It was a lovely night out, Nil. We have been to several of these concerts now and they have all been wonderful. We are looking forward to attending another concert next year. Meg:)

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  5. Absolutely beautiful to share this wonderful cultural event with your son. What a lucky young man he is to have this opportunity, and what a lucky mother you are that your son enjoys such things. XX

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    1. We had such a lovely night out together, Sally. My son loves a wide range of music and it's a joy to share that with him. I think too that it's important for children to be welcome at concerts like these as that fosters their love of music. Meg Xx

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  6. It's so lovely to have these things to share with our children, isn't it? My son and I share a love of local theater, and over the years he and I have attended quite a few different plays and shows together- we have one this weekend too! It's a tradition I hope continues even after he grows older and moves on with his life (as long as he's living somewhere locally, of course!), and one I'm hoping to be able to start with my daughter as she gets big enough to attend such events. :) I'm glad you had such a nice night with your son. :)

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    1. What a lovely tradition to share with you son, Stephanie. You must be both looking forward to the weekend with a show to see. I hope my son will continue wanting to go to concerts with me when he is older too. Meg:)

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  7. This sounds so special what lovely memories to share together x

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    1. It is a special tradition that I really treasure, Fiona. Lovely memories indeed! Meg:)

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  8. Sounds like it was a lovely evening, Meg, and how nice to be able to share it with your son! Thank you for sharing the photos - it looks like a lovely setting in which to enjoy the music.

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    1. It's a beautiful old hall, Bless. The acoustics are lovely! Meg:)

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  9. Meg, how lovely to have something you both enjoy doing together. We used to holiday at Redcliffe and Sandgate so I have probably seen that Town Hall. It looks fantastic now.

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    1. I think you would have seen the Town Hall, Chel. It's not far from the railway station. It's a lovely place for the community to use for concerts and other events. Meg:)

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  10. What a perfect setting for a beautiful evening. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. xx Susan

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    1. It's in a little seaside suburb so it's a very pretty place to visit. Makes for a lovely night out. Meg:)

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