Blogging about music at a time like Spoleto can be so incredibly cool – it’s like keeping a diary, except everybody can read it. And even though there are some things about my life that I will NOT blog about, I find it’s still something like taking one’s pants off in public. After all, a big part of music is emotion. And my posts (as with those from others) certainly bare my emotions and gut responses — stuff that I might not otherwise spill in polite company. I even admitted to weeping as a result of the overwhelming multiple eargasms from the Chamber series’ final Schubert outpouring. Big boys don’t cry? Ha! So consider yourselves … er … cybermooned?
I’ve long described Spoleto as an “artistic orgy.” And here in my humble blog, I’ve gotten to describe - to attempt to evoke – every musical titillation, every chilling thrill, every gut-wrenching eargasm … from most of the best of the so-called “classical” stuff. I’ve had the incredible joy and good fortune to experience all three operas (plus Verdi’s “sacred opera”), both big orchestral evenings, Philip Glass’s big festival theme event, a pair of Westminster Choir programs under their new director – and a liberal sprinkling of Chamber, Intermezzi, and Music in Time events. Not to mention a few prime Piccolo concerts. Close to 35 events in all. And in just seventeen days. And all I had to do in exchange for such riches was to tell you about it. And it has been my incalculable pleasure and privilege to do just that for you.
Still, I couldn’t make it to everything – nobody could. But I was blessed to have some very capable and discerning help this time ‘round. And so my profuse and sincere THANKS are due to Robert Bondurant, Fernando Rivas and guest blogger Sam Sfirri for covering a host of worthy events I couldn’t make it to or didn’t nave time to blog about. I hope the extra eargasms made it worth their while.
And YOU, dear reader – if you weren’t lucky enough to catch it all, just scroll WAAAY back to my very first post, over three weeks ago – and come along with me and my esteemed cohorts on our wild and ecstatic ride through the artistic wonderland that is Spoleto. Let our eyes and ears and words give you at least some faint, vicarious inkling as to some of the musical miracles that were ours in this year’s festival.
There’s one thing about eargasms. No matter how old you are, or how jaded to pleasure you get, you can keep having them (unlike other kinds of “gasms”) with the same frequency and intensity as ever. That’s why I love Spoleto: it offers unlimited eargasm potential, making each new a day a potential musical adventure that’s well worth getting out of bed for.
I’m sure many of you have your own precious memories of Spoleto journeys, past and present. Like I said last year, all I can do is tell you about my own path through Spoleto, and hope that it intersects with yours here and there. Thanks to all of you, my faithful blogophiles, for coming along for the ride.
As I was driving home tonight (Monday), I began to feel kinda sorry for myself – even bereft – now that Charleston’s (and America’s) most comprehensive and exciting annual performing arts extravaganza is over. What the hell am I gonna DO with myself?
But HEY, I thought – it’ll be back before I know it. It seems life is shortest for those of us who are fortunate enough to fill it well. And just then, my car radio – tuned to NPR, as always – began to broadcast a “Carolina Concerts” replay of this season’s Charleston Symphony Masterworks concert that featured Mendelssohn’s incidental music to Shakespeare’s A midsummer Night’s Dream – one of his most inspired and delightful compositions.
And – as I listened to the orchestra’s gossamer, fairy-tale string sound and sweet woodwind textures for the second time (I was there for the concert), my gloom suddenly lifted. In just a couple months, I thought, the CSO will be off to another promising season. And then there’s the local College’s parade of musical treats – including a domestic chamber series that rivals the festival’s. Not to mention their world-class piano series. And I’ll be there for all of it.
Then I got home. And as I walked in the door, the first thing I saw, right there on the coffee table, was the pile of 12 new CDs I have to review for American Record Guide by the end of June. And I felt again that old inward smile building. Who, ME? Run out of great music? Or chances to tell folks about it? Never. Not even in ten lifetimes. And so I am richly blessed.
I don’t know what will become of this blog …I wouldn’t mind keeping it up between Spoletos as a kind of local journal devoted to great music. Lord knows there’s enough going on musically in Chucktown year-round to justify it. And there are plenty of sensitive ears and dedicated voices around to tell you about it all. So, if you’ve enjoyed your visits to “Eargasms” thus far, kindly check back with us from time to time; the trip may not be over. Also, I intend to stay in touch with various festival personalities as best I can, until they return next year. So who knows what I might come up with?
