The Maestro, The Musicians, The Geezer

We are members of the Grant Park Music Festival.  Bad weather has kept us away from the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park since the season began.  The show goes on - rain or shine - but we lack the spirit of adventure that used to propel us through the rain and wind and hope it clears up.

Tuesday was a gorgeous day - so we packed a lunch and headed for the pavilion, where an open rehearsal was taking place for 2 1/2 hours.  It is a relaxing and fun way to spend a lunch hour and we kind of feel like insiders, since we get to see Carlos Kalmar, the principal conductor, in a t-shirt and sweatpants instead of his usual formal attire.

What a treat to see these classical musicians in their shorts and flip flops - as they react to Carlos' direction and lively correction - it  really humanizes them and him.  You can see the affection he has for "his" musicians.  Although the orchestra spots are highly coveted and the few openings every year attract hundreds of  top performers from all over the country, no one is chosen for a position until a final decision by Maestro Kalmar. It appears that the affection is mutual. During their union mandated breaks - a union official  actually comes on stage and calls a halt - the camaraderie is evident and the exchanges are clearly two- way.

The music was a tour of  Latin America with works from Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. Some very tense and dramatic passages which required concentration on the part of the orchestra and focused attention from the audience.  Two young nannies with their charges came and sat near us.  I was prepared for childish prattle as a disturbance to the music.  In stead these little darlings listened and tapped along and one of them silently imitated the hand movements of the conductor.

Just as the Villa Lobos' work about the enchanted Brazilian Bird drew to a powerful silence to be followed by an even more powerful ending, we heard from behind us- "YEAH, HELLO.  CAN YOU HEAR ME?  CAN YOU HEAR THE MUSIC? I'M AT THE SYMPHONY.  NO I DON'T NEED ANY OF THAT TODAY - BLAH-BLAH-BLAH-BLAH AND I'LL CALL YOU TOMORROW.

 I hope the old geezer who interrupted the music isn't at the Art Institute tomorrow when he calls his friend back.  What is is that they say?  ...and a little child shall lead them.

I highly recommend the open rehearsals and the actual performances,  which are posted on the web site 

 www.grantparkmusicfestival.com

With any luck the audience will be filled with music lovers, not geezers with cell phones.