One Week in Luxembourg

If ice cream is my happy food, then a classical concert is my happy place. Tonight i celebrated one week in Luxembourg with a trip to the Luxembourg Philharmonic. To sweeten the deal, I obtained a wonderful 10 euro under 30 ticket! 

The concert hall rivaled any in a James Bond movie. The beautiful balconies were just inviting an assassin to glide between the glamorous patrons. I myself selected a seat slightly above the orchestra, above the violas. One of my favorite vantage points, as I'm sometimes able to see the music even. Tonight i was afforded a wonderful view of the oboe, clarinet, and bassoon conversations and solos. The highlight, however, was seeing the face of the conductor. He didn't conduct hardly at all. He pleaded and threatened and coaxed the music from his orchestra. At the end of each piece, you could tell he was lost in the memory of the music as the last note died away. Not a soul, it seemed, dared to breathe or move until he did. It was hushed, reverential even, in those moments of absolute silence and stillness, only for him moments later to wildly gesticulate and use his hands to draw out what I imagine were the notes floating in the air sans Disney movie. 

The tram home was no less a treat. The cacophony of voices and languages, all intensely discussing the concert we experienced were something special to listen too. The tall Italians loudly talking and gesturing over my head; the broken English of two friends unexpectedly meeting on the tram, sharing their views on the performance; the intense French conversation beautifully rolling on my right, while an austere German couple spoke sharing the same tram grip as myself. And a few friends trying to teach one of their party phrases in another language; I felt like the only silent one.  

Moving alone to a foreign country where you know no one is hard. As grateful as I am for the kindness and support I've received virtually and in-person, there is no one else who can pull up my bootstraps. 

The music tonight was exhilarating and magical and emotional. The wild roller coaster of feelings this week are indescribable in words. But as is so often the case, all it takes is music to capture it all.