Oct 17, 2018
My October Symphony
“Music express that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent”
-Victor Hugo
It is weird how order of twelve notes and the octave some compositor wrote, can wake up the deepest emotions, feelings and memories in a soul of a human being.
October 15th was truly a beautiful day, in every aspect. The weather was great, the sun was up, wide blue sky above us, golden crowns on the trees, the fallen leaves were shuffling under the feet. Even the atmosphere was artistic and poetic that day.
We arrived at Philharmonic. The junior symphony orchestra from Moscow started its first concert. As the music started, I closed my eyes and completely forgot about the outside world. There were only divine sounds of musical instruments and me.
Compositions chosen for the concert were perfectly completing each other. Beginning was dedicated to the master of classical music-great Ludwig van Beethoven, and latest minutes were moments of glorification for magnificent Shostakovich. In the time between, audience enjoyed beautiful sounds of Tchaikovsky and Mahler’s work.
While listening the music with eyes closed, you are able to see the colour and the shape of every sound heard, to visit distant worlds, different galaxies, to get familiar with species unknown to the human kind, to feel the dance of the light and dark. The greatest part is that you feel all this while sitting in chair surrounded by people you don’t know. That is the true power of music.
The most emotional and the greatest moments of the concert for me, were during “Adagietto” from 5th Symphony by Gustav Mahler. While orchestra was playing I suddenly saw streets and building of Budapest in my head. I remembered every corner of the city. I can still imagine the route that was in my mind back then. My little journey started from Kalvin Square. Then I slowly came to the Serbian street and flew around building of Tekilianum
from which I easily moved to the main Vaci street, but its old part, so I continued to the market, Corvinus University and Liberty bridge. I could see the reflections of the city on the mighty Danube river. The music carried me above the water surface and brought me all the way to the Chain bridge. The next stops were main basilica, Opera house, Andrassy street and Heroes Square, from which I enjoyed the sunset above this beautiful town, just like in old times. Few seconds after, I happened to be on the other side of the town, in Buda Castle, and it was already a sunrise. I saw the magnificent house of the Parliament from there, as well as Margaret island under the bridge with the same name. They looked beautiful with first sun ray’s. The music moved me back to the Pest side, on the Roses Square, place where I spent most of my time while I lived there. I started with my well known route to the East Railway Station, but when I arrived there, the music went down and a thunderous applause followed.
At that moment I was very confused and I lost every sense of orientation in time and space. When my mind recovered from that little nostalgic journey, I continued to follow the concert. The rest of compositions were more than great, but unfortunately, I was so occupied thinking about “Adagietto” and everything that happened during it so I couldn’t fully concentrate on what is going on at the stage.
Reaction of the biggest part of audience was great. As expected, the applause was extended, since the orchestra played amazing, so they played the encore twice.
Every single place to which I was brought by the sounds of the symphony has a great mining for me and is somehow connected to my past, or the people I care about. That is why this was very nostalgic, but also a beautiful experience.
At the end of the concert, my head was full with different thoughts so I decided to take a walk to the dormitory. I managed to clean my mind and just enjoy this cozy October evening.
The beginning of this month was more than marvelous and I hope that it will continue to be this way. There is nothing better than fresh new start full of different activities in which our creativity and inspiration grow larger. Even though I have a lot to study right now, I still manage to find time for cultural and social events and I can still balance between studying and having a great time!
Thank you a lot for your attention!
