We only knew that it was at the Teatro Peon Contreras, near the Plaza Grande. We had no idea where it actually was.
We inadvertantly got off the Autoprogreso before getting to the depot. Several people in front of us got off the bus so we thought we all had to. Um...nope. So we had to ask for directions to the theatre. We'd go a couple of blocks and then ask someone else. Then a couple more and ask again until we got there.
The show was magnificent! The music was mesmerizing. I felt like I was in a trance that wanted to put me to sleep. Not because it was boring but because it transported me to another place where the music could only be fully felt without the cumberance of being awake. It's hard to explain.
We had a great seat but, honestly, there aren't any bad seats.
When Alina Komissarova, the violin soloist, came out to do her encore, there was a little girl of about 5 dancing in the back, right hand corner of the stage. Just as I got my camera focused on her and was about to snap the photo, someone backstage called her off the stage. She was adorable and I was excited at the prospect of capturing her enjoyment and obliviousness to where she was. Ah, well.
The lady in the centre of this pic has the most beautiful white hair. She was sitting in the middle of the orchestra and there seemed to be a light shining right down on her. She's surrounded by a sea of long, black sleeves which made her stand out all the more. Unfortunately, my camera didn't capture the scene the way my eyes saw it.
Here's a view of one side of the auditorium. (And look at this. Blogger has decided my type needs to be centered. I have no idea how to fix this. Sorry.)
The chandelier. Isn't it stunning?! It looks like it's about 10 feet from top to bottom. We were told that it can be lowered in order to change the light bulbs.
The lobby.
Looking up from the landing where the flowers are.
Stained glass on the ceiling. It's flanked by two medallions, one of which you can see.
It's a lovely old building, built between 1900 and 1908. You just don't see architectural details like these anymore.
I thoroughly enjoyed the symphony and I hope to attend more events.
So funny you spotted the violinist with the white hair. She is none other than Elizabeth Arnott! She's a British expat, and a real marvel, who's written a get-healthy cookbook I published in December:
ReplyDeletehttp://hamacapress.com/130-superfood-recipes-inspired-by-world-cuisine-for-the-detox-lifestyle
The building itself was in disrepair for most of the 20th century. I found a photo from the 80s, and it was in a sad state. Look online and you'll read about its resurgence in the 1990s.
Lee, I had no idea who she was nor that she is famous in her own right. How cool!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the building was restored. It would be such a shame for such beauty to fall into ruin.