Stay Classy, Austin

Saturday night Mr. Betty and I dressed up and went to see Conspirare sing with the Austin Symphony. In the Long Center’s Dell Hall there’s not a bad seat in the house. It also affords one of the best views of downtown.

The music was, of course, phenomenal. They opened with Dracula’s favorite number, Toccacta and Fugue in D Minor. It vas vonderful, muah ah ah!

Then the 150 person choir, Conspirare joined them onstage at did Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms and later Bernstein’s Chichester of Psalms. The music ranged from tense and warlike to ethereal and serene. When a young boy soloist , Lucas Revering, took the stage, you could hear a pin drop in the full auditorium. His clear voice accompanied by a harp commanded attention of even the guy next to me squirmiest of attendees. It was so beautiful. I’m sure I wasn’t the only person to tear up.

The voice-accompanied pieces didn’t require a full orchestra, so at times different sections would get up and leave the stage. It was nice to have an unobstructed view of instruments you don’t normally get to see well, like the contrabassoon, which is so extraordinary.

Everyone who lives in Austin should make time to see the symphony at least once. We have so many incredibly talented musicians here, and these may be the very best.