LSO at Trafalgar Square

While all my friends back in Cleveland - my high school buddies and neighbors from high school, mostly, but other college friends, as well - are gettin' themselves hitched and popping out beautiful new babies, I’m over here in London, newly single AGAIN, and am enjoying my additional free time out in the city, of COURSE! I mean, seriously, you have to basically be trying NOT to be happy if you live here; there's so much to entertain, all the time. And so much of it is free! Which, obviously, is great if you're a student, like me, or just a cheapskate. No, I’m totally kidding...everyone should take advantage of the free events in London because they're usually really, really good.

In the most recent instance the London Symphony Orchestra, henceforth known as LSO, and BMW (think “cars”), as a result of a long-standing partnership, together put on an open air concert in Trafalgar Square, aiming to bring classical music out of the concert hall and into the great outdoors, to expose a whole new audience to its beauty and style. This is one of the world's most prominent orchestras, based at the Barbican, however, they also have annual residencies in New York, Paris and the Aix-en-Provence Festival. The LSO, fun fact, recorded soundtracks for hugely popular films such as Star Wars, The King's Speech and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. 

Still, it was totally informal; anyone could just show up and hundreds of people did. The giant T. Square was completely packed to bursting. Luckily, we were right up front against the barricade at the edge of the stage...always the best spot at any kind of concert! But for those farther back, giant screens were set up on either side of the platform.

On the menu that afternoon was Russian composer Igor Stravinsky's 'Fireworks', 'The Firebird Suite' and 'The Rite of Spring' conducted by Valery Gergiev, the orchestra's principle conductor. Additionally, a performance of Gareth Glyn's 'The Lite of Spring' by 100 young musicians from LSO Discovery (the orchestra's music education and community program) charmed the audience.

Cellist right above us on stage, taking a photo of the crowd with his iPhone

It was very well done and, in my opinion, is a fantastic idea...to have a free outdoors concert, that is. These days most people, unless they're classically trained musically, as I was, have very little exposure to classical music despite the fact it was the building blocks for modern music. Yes, it's in movies and TV and all, but that doesn't count. So yes, I admit it, I am grateful I was forced to learn to play the piano for 12 years, despite the fact I hated practicing with a raging passion....it made reading music a breeze and made playing any other instrument and singing so much easier, too. Plus, when you understand the effort it takes to practice and perform a piece of music, when you realize how challenging one piece is compared to others, and how intricate some can be...that's when music transforms into a real art form, so much more than just a tune on an iPod channeling background music straight into your ears. And that's when you can appreciate music in all it's forms, too, whether you enjoy the particular style or the artist or not!

This one is going to be short and sweet because, honestly, I have to get to sleep.

Oddly enough, Jesus made an appearance and, in effect, stole the show. (no, this was a different day...I lied).