Today I got to spend a few hours with Margareta between two of her English lessons. She has about 20 private students as well as taking a full load of extension classes at Charles University toward her masters. Busy lady.
We spent a couple of hours looking at Czech (and other) art from the late 19th and early 20th centuries at one of the Prague National Gallery locations at the Veletržní Palác (Trade Show Palace). Then we walked over to a kind of fairground that was built in a century or so ago. It had an impressive central building.
Then we had lunch and I caught up with her on her year of changes — new residence, new church, and new (part time) job. It has been a challenging time, but she is rejoicing in the Lord’s blessings.
After I left Margareta, I was passing the Obecní Dům (Municipal House) near Náměsti Republiky, and saw a sign outside for a concert at 7:30 PM in the Smetana Hall inside — the Colorado Symphony Chorus with a combined orchestra from East Bohemia playing Verdi’s Requiem. Could not pass that one up. Got a great seat for a good price, and enjoyed the concert thoroughly.
I counted 180 singers (±2-3) in the chorus. What a glorious sound in that acoustically live auditorium!! The chorus responded so well to their accustomed conductor, but the orchestra’s entries were a bit ragged in place (especially the brass “attacks”) probably because they had not had sufficient rehearsal time with an unfamiliar conductor. But no matter.
The Dies irae section — one of the most dramatic pieces of music ever — was stunning (the bass drum resounded through the hall in such a way that it made it sound like we were inside the drum), and, soon afterward, Verdi’s version of “the last trump” gave me quadurple goosebumps (they positioned pairs of trumpeters at other places in the hall and as they began to play their antiphonal fanfares…)!
What a treat. Thank you, Lord, for music!
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