SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS

DAY 75

From France to Finland, to Mexico and back again, from the great masters to Rogers and Hammerstein and modern composers, a packed City Park in Launceston was treated to an evening’s great music last night from the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

The plan was to get there about an hour early in order to find a parking space closer than a kilometer away and a good spot on the grass. Seems like everyone else had the same idea, they’ve obviously been before, but as first time TSO Symphony under the Stars attendees, our group did pretty well. Armed with rugs and low chairs (you’re relegated to the back if you have a regular chair), we joined the throng and spread out with our picnic dinner. Surrounded by lively chatter, the sharing of camembert and blue vein, grapes both whole and fermented, the chink of wine glasses and the quaffing of more down to earth brew, the crowd continued to build in anticipation of the night to come.

MC Tim Cox from ABC Radio greeted the crowd and guided us through the works and their composers as the night got underway. Lying back on my rug gazing up at the speckled cloud with the reverberations of the big drum vibrating through the ground made me realise I have to get out more, experience more of what this wonderful State has on offer on a very regular basis.

Guest soloist, soprano Jacqueline Porter delighted us with three songs from Die Fliedermaus, then in the second half to My Favourite Things from The Sound of Music. Diabetics were forewarned of the sweetness to come as Jun Yi Ma’s violin solo carried on the night air, charming us all. In vivid contrast the night wound up with vigorous foot tapping and clapping in time to the music as many danced can-can style a la Moulin Rouge. To whoops and whistles and hollers for “more, more” the conductor rallied the troops for four encores much to the delight of an appreciative audience who obviously had no desire to go home.

With a light cloud cover the stars did manage to wink here and there, but what better way to spend a balmy summer’s evening. My knowledge of classical music is scant at best, I don’t know my Brahms from my Beethoven, but I do know a great evening out when it comes along. How am I going to wait a whole year to experience it again?