Evening at the Symphony

As I suspected, the Symphony was much more sedate. Everyone was wearing their very best finery and anyone who dared to cough or open candy wrappers was glared down in mere seconds.

I was so excited to be going inside the Symphony Center. It’s ridiculous, given the number of times I have walked past the building, that I had never braved stepping inside before. The lobby was as quiet as I expected, only that was more to do with me being two hours early and less to do with hushed tones of reverence. Given that I was two whole hours early, and dressed in relative finery, I had no problem picking up our tickets from Will Call.

With two hours to kill, I did what I’m sure any self-respecting concert attendee would have done - had they been two hours early to a venue a mere 20 minute bus ride away - and went to find the nearest Corner Bakery for a herbal tea. Oh the sophistication.

The inside of Orchestra Hall is stunning. Beautiful, uneven marble floors in the foyer and calming white tones inside the hall itself. It’s strange to think that such a large space is hidden behind a small facade on Michigan Avenue. We had managed to get Main floor tickets in Row F. Perfect distance from the orchestra. You can see the conductor make his instructions to the musicians and see the looks on each individual’s face as they play.

As an adult, I was certainly not finding the Double Bass players worth every penny of the ticket during the opening Hayden piece. No sir, I would not find it amusing every time they struggled to turn the pages, flinging their morning coat tails behind them. Which brings me to a cocnern that occupied my mind for a large part of the evening. How many morning coats do you think a conductor owns? Or for that matter any member of the orchestra? Do you have one that gets dry cleaned on rest days? Or more, which can all be taken to the cleaners at the end of the week?

I was very interested.

Not so much my companion, who, when I shared my observation, thought I was a little bit crazed by the stunning music. It’s been a while since I was at a live classical music concert and I enjoyed the whole evening, and the whole experience of being entertained.

However, the evening did not pass without incident. During the intermission, when everyone else in our row upped and left never to return - although the Shostakovich piece that followed was intended to be the main draw - there was a minor kerfuffle in the balcony area.

My friend, a caring soul, upon hearing shouting above our heads, was concerned that someone had been taken ill.

Caring Friend: It must be serious, look, so many people rushing to help. They must be really sick.

LivinginChicago: Nope, I think those are handcuffs.

Yes, someone did get arrested and taken out of the auditorium in cuffs the night we went to the Symphony.