By Laurie Niles: How old were you when you went to your first symphony orchestra concert? And do you remember what they played?
This week one of my students, seven-year-old Chloe, went to the symphony for the first time. She went with her mother to see the Pasadena Symphony play Mahler Symphony No. 1 (quite a hefty piece!) as well as Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21.
I was a little concerned about the length of Mahler symphony for this young one, but they did indeed stay for the entire two hours, and so I met them outside, after the concert.
"We LOVED it!" her mother said, "we will go to ALL of them, just let us know when they are!
Wow, music to my ears!
"What parts did you like best?" I asked Chloe.
"The loud parts!" she said happily. A lot of loud to like in Mahler 1!
I'm not sure if I remember the very first time I went to the symphony, but my earliest memory is from when I about 10 years old; I had started playing the violin just a year earlier.
That connection with the violin is probably why my parents took me to see Eugene Fodor perform the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Denver Symphony in the then-new Boettcher Concert Hall. I don't remember the rest of the concert, but Fodor was unforgettable. I remember thinking that Fodor made everything look so amazingly easy -- maybe it actually was that easy? I'd have to go home and figure that out. Also, I did not want the performance to end, ever. I just wanted to keep watching and listening. (Now that I think of it, Paul Stein, you were probably in the orchestra!)
What is your first memory of seeing a symphony orchestra concert? How old were you? What made you go? What do you remember about it? Was it a positive experience? And if you have not yet been to one, what would lure you there? Please participate in the vote and then tell us all about it!
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Laurie with student Chloe, who experienced her first symphony concert last Saturday with the Pasadena Symphony.
Not coincidentally, I was playing (in the second violins, that's right baby!) and had given them my comps. I always try to give them to my students when possible.Clik here to view.
Laurie with student Chloe, who experienced her first symphony concert last Saturday with the Pasadena Symphony.