Do you remember the first time?
Picture the scene - an eager young 11 year old bludgeons his way through Dvorak's New World Symphony as a teacher looks on aghast. You know, the one from the bread advert... Stick to delivering newspapers the teacher told me. Still, it was my first experience of music and a love affair was born. I'm not cut out to be a musician but I can use my ears, I thought! I guess I'm more of a contemporary music fan and I'm into a wide range of music. The first gig I ever went to was Carter USM, Glasgow Barrowland, 1991. What an experience! Lots of beer, lots of noise, lots of jumping about. I still go to gigs although the beer consumption has lessened, I don't jump about as much and I - and my hairline - seem to be gradually moving further back from the stage...
The first ever classical gig I went to was last year with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ SSO. Beethoven Symphony no.8 and Brahms Violin concerto with Ilan Volkov conducting. Also an incredible experience and not entirely different. The beer had changed to red wine and I took a load off but the fundamentals are the same....
The first thing that struck me was the amount of musicians on the stage. Surely they can't all play together at once?! Turns out they can and they damn well rocked!! The volume! Incredible! As with a rock gig there was a solo. Soloist to be exact, and he was mesmerising. The whole concert was as exhilarating an experience as any rock or dance music event I've been to. I was literally blown away by the whole thing. I've been recommending the classical concert vibe to friends ever since. A not-to-be missed experience.... OK, I don't want to go on too long but let's hear your first experience of a classical gig. I hope it was as enjoyable as mine....
Johnny Laville, ´óÏó´«Ã½ SSO web assistant
Comments