05.09.09
Clarinet Concert
Early this week Jenny sent me her Clarinet concert ticket because she couldn’t go.
Since this is not something I do all the time and I hardly know the place I planned to go with Gordo, but at last moment this guy balied out on me–”too much trouble.”
I looked through my whole wardrobe and couldn’t find anything that looks like a decent “clarinet concert goer” would wear. In the end I picked a black dress that looks a bit old-fashioned.
While going out to the city strangely it felt like I was taking a bus-trip home after a hard day’s work. A bit tired and in-animated.
The show was held in one of the smaller rooms in Xinghai Concert Hall.4-500 seats in total and I was in an elevated place on the right side. It was good because it was the exact place where I can see the finger movements of the pianist.
It was supposed to be mainly a clarinet/Saxophone concert but the only thing impressive is the piano performance.It was unbelievably amazing. At some point it was the only thing that made the whole show endurable for me. The performer (XiYIng Huang) is a very elegant lady and it looked like she had springs under each of her fingers when she played. It was emotional, fluent and at an extreme professional level. I was shocked.
The Clarinet was shadowed and in fact the whole time I was wishing it could just shut up already.
After clarinet the guy also played on the Contralto and the soprano Saxophone, duet with electronic organ.
His playing was quite flat and “recital-ly”. He’s supposed to be quite good a player–probably because I have no idea how difficult it can be. He played “going home” in the end but I am not sure it’s the right closing piece cause certainly he is no Kenny G.Electrical Organ was over-killed and performer dressed up funny. She had a glittering short jacket and a long T shirt with a huge question mark printed on. It looked like a big shinny question-mark walking around. Later I knew I am not the only one who felt weird about it…
Guest singer was not as good as what his profile said about him. I was thinking if it were an AI show, he should be sent home next day.Maybe wrong song choice? But I am no judge. hahahah…
Met Jenny’s friend and she offered to drive me to the bus station. Good luck because it’d been a nuisance to find an available taxi with all that crowd.
I read somewhere that one of the most romantic things to do in the city of Canton is walk along Pearl River around this area.
It’s still beautiful but isn’t there too much traffic now?
Got on Clifford bus shortly feeling the body and mind of someone who is heading home finally, after a long day working O.T. (The same place I read says the other most romantic things to do is get on a midnight bus-tour watching people through its windows…All I was watching is those traffic lights.).. suddenly felt the urge of having some barbecued oysters, since I didn’t have dinner yet.
That urge made the trip seem longer.
I got off and ran to the Owl’s and ordered half a dozen of Oysters. Waiter “meiyou-ed”me . Then I ordered barbecued eggplant. He went in the back, came out and “Meiyou-ed” me again. It was then I decided instant noodle would be dinner.
One thing I learned, one shouldn’t complain that there is nothing cultural going on in the city. There were full of posters of shows and concerts in Xinghai Concert Hall. For me it was a different experience. Being alone and going to a small clarinet concert and all… it was just fine.
Those are the only 2 pics I took when there was light.
It was not encouraged to take pictures inside.
And by “not encouraged” I mean forbidden.
