Yesterday, the girls and I were joined by my parents for one of my personal high-lights of early summer: the family open air concert by the Siemens Orchestra Erlangen. Richard has been playing with them for a little over a year now, and I'm so excited to see him enjoying his instrument again. After leaving the Army back in 2008, he was done with his music. After a while, he started to play with a private quintett again, and after moving back to Germany, he was excited to see that there's a local orchestra. He contacted them and was invited for the rehearsal. After a couple of months, he thought about quitting, since he had troubles following the instructions in German, but the people there asked him to stay, as they very much appreciated having two bassoons in the orchestra again.
After last year's concert had to be moved inside due to bad weather, but this year, we had just perfect weather. The theme of the concert was "Pomp and Pirates"; it's a family concert, so children were most welcome and no-one complained if they were running around dancing or asking questions about the music or the instruments. The orchestra played Beethoven, pieces from the operas Nabucco and Aida, Strauss' Egyptian March, and many more. At the end, the kids got little surprises. We enjoyed ourselves so much, and I was happy to see the hubby enjoying himself playing again.
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The ship stage |
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| Yes, he is conducting with a pirate saber! |
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| Introducing Sullivan and Edcar Elgar |
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| My favorite bassoonist |
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| Hubby and I after the concert |
This is really awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jen! We all had so much fun at the concert!
DeleteThat sounds so awesome! So fantastic your hubby still plays :)!
ReplyDeleteIt is, Pinky! I'm glad he's playing and I get to go to his concerts ;-)
DeleteThat looks soooooo fun! Love the conductor and his saber!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Blair! The conductor is awesome, he's always so great with the kids, and even at the evening concerts, he's a force of nature ;-)
DeleteI love the ship stage! Really neat. Music is really a universal language. My daughter had played the flute a few years ago, and I wish she had kept at it. She was like a natural, and learned so quickly. She's wanting to learn how to play guitar now.
ReplyDeleteGood for your hubby getting back to playing!
~Kim
Thanks a lot, Kim! The amazing thing is that the members of the orchestra did all that. Music is so important for kids, glad your daughter is interested. Lily has already been practicing on Daddy's bass guitar, so cute!
DeleteWhat fun!!! I love outdoor concerts! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was so much fun, Susannah! I loved especially that it was ok for the kids to be kids. I'd not take them to a sit-down concert at this point, but they loved seeing their daddy perform.
DeleteThat looks like it was a ton of fun. Glad your husband was able to play music and enjoy himself. I'd understand some frustration sticking with it originally due to a language barrier. Is he happy he stuck it out?
ReplyDeletePretty cool theme, and the fact they actually had props for it and all. Hope a lot were able to make it out to enjoy the concert!
Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink
Thanks, Jak! Yes, he's very happy he pushed through the hard time. He's a little frustrated, because the orchestra has a lot different rehearsal etiquette than what he's used to. But he just loves his music, and I'm happy he has a hobby like that!
DeleteI think they sold almost all the tickets, so the turn-out was great; so glad many people came to see them, it was an awesome concert.
What a great concert! It is so wonderful when you find a hobby that really fulfils you as playing music obviously does for your husband!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the conductor using a saber! :-) Awesome!
Thanks, Joy! The conductor is always awesome like that. Last year, he used an antique baton, and this year the saber. Can't wait what's going on next year!
DeleteJealous! That looks like such fun, and the added bonus of people not minding if little kids are running around. You never get that here! And as an even bigger bonus, I get to see a pic of you and the hubby. So cute!
ReplyDeleteIt was a family concert in the late morning, kids should be considered. The orchestra also does evening concerts, and if kids would behave like kids there, I bet the audience would not be happy then. Thanks for your sween comment on the picture of the hubby and me. Love seeing him all dressed up ;-)
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