Classical music has played a major role in my life since I was very young, and in old age it means even more. I am so lucky to live in the Rogue Valley where it gets richer and fuller every year and I can get to the venues in 10 minutes. We have a fine symphony orchestra in residence with 6 concerts in winter and in summer the Britt Classical Festival, which draws its musicians from all over the country for 3 weekends of outdoor music. There is an excellent chamber music series, and Southern Oregon University has a wonderful concerts by wind ensembles, percussion, choral music groups and soloists. In addition to all of this, several wineries are now holding regular recitals and feature duets like piano/ flute, piano/cello and piano/violin, and wine can be sipped while listening.
Then there are also OLLI courses, and I am enrolled in two this winter that have been very special. One is on Rogue Valley Concerts, 8 sessions which preview the concerts coming on the weekend – Rogue Valley Symphony, RV Chorale, Repertory Singers, etc. For each there is a knowledgeable person (conductor, critic, or music professor) to talk about the program. It is a rich learning experience and has led me to go to events I would otherwise have passed over. The other is called ‘Strings Attached’ and is based on the the Kronos Quartet’s Explorer Series, a 5-CD set, newly released as part of the celebration of their 40th anniversary. The music is from 5 different areas of the world where Kronos has collaborated with musicians. We have been introduced to the African ‘mbira’, an instrument most of us had never heard of (google it). Next came Tuvan Throat Singers (there is a country named Tuva in the former Soviet Union), and then leaf-blade singers. After each session our professor Robert Adams sends out a playlist which includes links to what we have heard in class and what there was not time to listen to. I have put them all into an email box for future reference. For this course I gave up my watercolor workshop for 7 weeks, as it promised to be a lifetime opportunity and so it has been.
This week promises to break all records for must-do events and there will be little time for other activities if I attend them all, which I intend to. Peter Sellars is coming and will give a free talk, Siskiyou Singers is doing a choral concert of new works that sounds intriguing and innovative, there is a violin/piano recital at Grizzly Peak Winery and an OSF play. (Yes, the 2018 season opened a few weeks ago and I’ve already seen one astonishing play.)
My very favorite music comes from the Rogue Valley Symphony concerts, as symphonic music is the musical love of my life. And now it is joined by visits from Jenny. It is hard to find more to wish for.
What I had planned to do in March was go to Rancho sin Nombre for 3 weeks, accompanied by several friends and relations (my family is unanimous in my not being there alone). Heath and Phoebe were going with me and planned to stay a week, then Lolly, and then Pat Flanagan. But Heath had a serious bike accident two weeks ago and broke her right ankle and is not going anywhere for at least 6 weeks. She is doing well but is in a cast and there are 40 steps up to her condo (half inside, half outside). She managed to get up them with Phoebe’s help but is now housebound. Her friends and family have rallied round her wonderfully and she needs their help, one-leggedness does not make for easy mobility. So the trip was cancelled, but for me compensation comes from all the above events.
I have started a new mosaic with butterflies as the theme. And thanks for all the ‘wow’, ‘marvelous’, ‘fantastic’, ‘amazing’, ‘delightful’ email replies. The peacock certainly struck a chord.
Til next time…….