So I’ve been out watching the ballet yet again!! It’s beginning to grow on me, I never realised how much fun it could be, and the atmosphere tonight was awesome! Particularly watching the aged yet energetic Sir Jon Trimmer, who’s been at this lark for over 50 years!!

I’ll remember this ballet for a good while, it even had a good few laugh out loud moments through the three acts; Gary Harris’ take on this piece is a refreshing departure from the original Russian Ballet interpretation and if I could afford it, I’d go and watch it again tomorrow!

Anyways…I’m tired now and in need of sleep so I am off to bed now, enough culture for one evening eh?

I’ve just got back from the Fowler Centre, this evening where I was delighted to watch Christian Lindberg playing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and hopefully the Principle Trombone player (Dave Bremner) was pleasantly surprised to see me there too! Since he conducts our Brass Band!! An emotional evening and a musically rich one too!

The first half consisted of Rachmaninov’s The Rock (Opus 7) and certainly set the scene for an awesome program; this was followed by Lindberg playing and conducting the Wagenseil Trombone Conerto a very barocian flavoured interlude indeed! This is topped off with Linbergs own composition “Helikon Wasp” which is classical and contemporary and modern at the same time, and certainly an extremly fun piece to listen too, with a certain poetry in a league of it’s own! Not as good as his Motorcycle Odessy some might say; but I liked it - so that’s all that matters

Then there was the interval, where ‘Rachael’ saunters down the aisle (she’s a fellow brass bandy) and I’m like ‘arn’t you supposed to be at work??’ some people want their cake AND eat it I guess; so as not to be the hippocrit I make nothing of it ;p and enjoy the rest of the program in her company

The second half is Tchaikovsky beginning with Le Voyevoda Symphonic Ballad (Opus 78) which has all the Tchaikovsky hallmarks, and stirred my emotional centre nicely. Then the program finished with the Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture which some may find corny; but for me it is a very personal and emotion piece - and it almost brought me to tears. Whether or not it was the accoustic in the hall; which is fantastic by the way, or the memory attached to the music which is buried deep down inside, I cannot decide. Or maybe I can and I just can’t share it here; since it is so personal to me?

Anyway, when Christian Lindberg wasn’t conducting, Hannu Lintu WAS!! and boy can he conduct! Or should I say dance with the way he wielded the baton; I was mesmerised by his style, it was almost like he was Harry Potter and the baton his wand! simply magical!

I’m off now to chill and remember a few old memories over a glass of wine. I can’t promise I won’t cry tonight - but then it’s a healthy thing so I won’t supress this emotion I am feeling right now. Tonight I remember my first kiss, as if it were yesterday. Nuff said.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present - Pelorus Trust Wellington Brass Band. Performing Mambo Caliente at the 2008 Band of the Year Contest, in Christchurch!!

THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME!

I hope this remains online for a while, cos it ROK’D

Edit to track back to related post… > A Grade

It’s all done and dusted for now, we’ve finished our concert; and whilst I remain hopeful that we will do well, we still have a LOT of work to do! Apparently if you have a broadband connection, and you feel like staying up wierd hours (depending on your time zone) you can even ‘watch’ us playing in the contest on Friday, Saturday and in the Band of the Year Contest on Sunday ‘LIVE’ streamed over the internet…. no pressure then eh?

The link is here >> Hi there I’m a LINK!!? you’ll probably need to register or something to get started, but then you’ll be able to see what all the fuss is about!

…me? I’ve never been so nervous in my entire life. Not because of the band contest(s) but because I have FOOLISHLY agreed to give ice-skating a try for the first time in my life, whilst there, be afraid be very, VERY afraid!