Ending on a good note...

Ready for a night out on the town!

My birthday week concluded Saturday with a wonderful evening spent at Campagnia and the Fresno Philharmonic. Jeremy & I were smokin’ hot; Jeremy in his dapper suit, and I in my sexy little dress and heels that absolutely kill my feet! Campagnia never fails to impress, and, as expected, dinner was delicious. Jeremy ordered the filet mignon with spinach and sun-dried tomato ravioli, and I had the braised short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes. Yum.

After dinner we headed downtown to the William Saroyan Theatre for an evening of classical music. We don’t go to the symphony all too often, and every time I attend a performance I wonder why that is. I truly love it.

Not only was the music incredible, but so was the company. Seated next to us were a wonderful 85-year-old man and his 80-year-old wife. This older gentleman was one of those people you could sit with for hours, listening to a lifetime of stories and learning from his 85 years rich with experiences. He spoke of his time as a gunner on the B-29 heavy bomber aircraft during World War II, how he returned home to marry his bride, went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana and later went on to receive his PhD in Genetics. To celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this summer, he and his wife retraced the route they took on their honeymoon, traveling throughout Montana, Idaho and up into the Canadian Rockies. Next year they plan on visiting Alaska. “See, that’s what you get to do when you’re retired,” he said with a grin.

As a season ticket holder, he also imparted to us some knowledge about the Philharmonic. As the beautiful Steinway piano was rolled out to the center of the stage, he leaned over and asked if we had heard about the Philharmonic’s extensive search for the exquisite piano, which cost about $200,000. With unmasked excitement on his face, he eagerly told us that this Steinway had a beautiful “voice” and exclaimed that it was a “wonderful piano.” Indeed he was correct; after listening to the first few notes rise from the keys, I knew we were in for a treat.

This particular performance featured guest pianist, Orli Shaham, playing Frederic Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. As an amateur piano player (and much unpracticed as of late) I was captivated by the fluidity of her movement and how quickly her fingers danced across the keys. It was beautiful and moving; goose bumps rose along my arms as I listened, and I was swept away. That’s the wonderful thing about sitting in a dark theatre listening to an orchestra play; the music washes over you, and all at once your mind is collectively racing and perfectly still.