Woke up in Newcastle to a beautiful Harbourview out of my window. Didn’t move too fast as I had nothing big on the agenda for today. As I didn’t make it downstairs in time for breakfast, they only had raspberry muffins (yum).
After loading my car I headed out in the beautiful weather for Sydney. (Going to brave the traffic and take this car back, no more driving on the left side, until next time anyway.) Saw some interesting sites on the way in.
Decided to come on in, because they have a great street market on Saturday and I need to get some prettys for people. Also I am tired of driving everywhere. I contemplated yesterday driving 5+ hours to Coff’s Harbour and I know it would have been worth it, but I just had to say no to that. It would have been almost 7 hours back --- nope not happening.
The Harbour Bridge in Sydney was closed today due to some moron who decided to protest on the top, yeah --- climb up that high to gripe about Office of Child Services, that will help you get your kids back by showing you are sane???? not.
No problem getting to the airport. Problem finding gas station to fill up car, problem finding the car rental return at the domestic terminal (so I ended up at the International Terminal and needed 1/4 tank of gas). Also when I got there, no car representative to take the car? So far I have only found car rental return fairly easy at two places. Does it really have to be that difficult? My stuff has expanded a little.
Got cheap shuttle into town. Very nice driver (he used to drive only limos for rich folks) of the shuttle and a Montreal dad coming to visit his daughter who is an exchange student here in Brisbane. She set up a week visit with him (ie he’s paying and she’s planning -- good idea). They were staying at the Westin. I proceeded to the Shangri-la Hotel -- sweet hotel we had seen on our first day here. Got a great internet rate, so why not. Check out my view----
After relaxing and unpacking all my stuff, I got gussied up for a concert event. My first one ever -- Mahler 10 -- “Love and Death”. I know nothing about classical music and don’t even know who he was.
It was an event to just be at the Sydney Opera House for a performance (and I was going to be in the Concert Hall). I just hoped I didn’t fall asleep and start snoring or talking in my sleep -- how embarrassing if that was to happen.
I stopped for some spaghetti bolognese at the East Quay Restaurant and visited with a couple from Vancouver, Washington. They had spent 11 days at Lizard Island. Wonder what bank they robbed to come down here? Very nice couple who gave me tips about what they had seen in Sydney.
When I got to the Opera House, they were having a “talk” about the performance - as I am an idiot on these things, I figured it couldn’t hurt to listen to the talk. I found a seat on the floor level and had sites while I was there. (You are not supposed to take photos in the Opera House -- but so what) Check out someone who was not gussied up to go to the show (FYI he has leg warmers on too).
Robert Davey explained what the performance was supposed to be about. It whetted your appetite to see if what he described was correct -- the world premiere weekend of a couple of pieces and the unfinished piece was about the adultery and betrayal in a marriage right before the composer died (uplifting?). Warning -- I have seen Jazz in bars and theaters before but never classical music-- this was going to be an experience for this uncultured Southern Belle. Stay awake, stay awake, stay awake....
My seat was prime in the Concert Hall (love the seats are a bright fuchsia color):
The first piece was a concerto for two pianos -- not exactly Pat O’s dueling pianos but it was great too. Matthew Hindson (born 1968 -- as it pointed out in the program and in the talk, I guess it is just surprising that someone who was alive and young wrote the music?) wrote “The Two of Us’ and “Love Song” and Pascal and Ami Roge played them on two pianos right beside each other. The first piece sounded like bells ringing. The second piece sounded like spring very crisp and fresh. At the end, the pianist ended upon one bench playing one piano -- it was a wedding song. It was brilliant. They brought out the composer who was extremely tall and young looking.
They reset the stage and took off the pianos and it looked like they brought out more musicians. The little composer came out and started the 75 minute concerto. It was amazing-- I don’t really know how to describe it. At first is was slow and haunting and then it got very rough and accusatory. Then toward the end it was slow again and sounded forgiving and accepting. At one point it made you almost want to cry because you were listening to human pain. Very good performance and of course as I was walking out there were the symphony snobs talking about it was just one person’s interpretation and it wasn’t that good etc. To each their own I guess.
When the piano part was over the two pianist came out and sat two rows behind me. She was a little bitty Japanese lady, who studied at Juilliard, and he was French with unruly curly hair. They took pics of the concert hall (and giggled when they mentioned over the intercom the next time about not taking photos). Heck, if I had just performed there I would have a big ass camera taking pictures of me doing it -- mom, where are you. I spoke to them on the way out and told them they did a beautiful job.
PS - I stayed awake the whole time. :)
On my walk back to my hotel, I had some great views, if I could only find someone to take a good photo of me in front of these structures, maybe, I have a few more days left.
double fisting ice cream cones -- he must have been hungry
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