feldmanlarry

One amazing highlight today. I saw this poster for another classical concert and immediately bought a ticket when I saw that not only were they playing Mozart’s Requiem but the stunning piece “Exsultate, Jubilate”.

I spoke of this piece in my blog about India. One point in this piece is very calm but then suddenly breaks out into the soprano singing “Alleluia”. In the blog I compared it to coming to the craziness of India from the calm of South Korea. I’ve always associated this musical moment with an exact spot next to a waterfall just a few steps from where I lived in Ithaca, NY. The water is calm until all of a sudden it breaks into this powerful waterfall.

This concert was a much bigger deal than the previous one. It was at St. Germain-des-Pres church wiis located on the square named for Jean-Paul Sartre and Simon de Beauvoir. The two of them hung out in this area along with many other authors.

I paid extra and begged so that I got third row seats.

My favorite classical music means so much more to me than my favorite rock music. I’d trade all the songs of Paul Simon and all other of my favorite musicians for the Exsultate, Jubilate in that amazing church. I felt the emotions of the soprano going up and down and loud and soft. I was moved to tears for the second time this trip. The other was at the Anne Frank House for very different reasons. I got to shake hands with the soprano. Her charisma stayed with her even when not singing.

I was in the IUP Men’s Choir for a year and realized how hard it is to hit really low notes. The bass didn’t just hit those notes, he owned them and played with them. I also shook his hand afterwards. His charisma was also stunning.

This was the best way possible to end the week in Paris. My ears will be ringing with that concert for the rest of my life.