Tonight I experienced the most miserable evening at a
symphony concert I’ve had in a long time.
Not because of the orchestra itself, or the programming. In
fact, the evening had promised to be both exciting and lovely.
The first half consisted of pieces by Stravinsky -- my
favorite composer, if I may be said to have one; and the headliner was the L.A.
Guitar Quartet performing Rodrigo’s “Concierto Andaluz.” Plus, the concert
would finish with the seldom-performed “Suite from The Incredible Flutist” by American composer Walter Piston, to be
recorded live for the Oregon Symphony’s next CD.
What made the evening an ordeal was the young woman sitting
in the next row in front of me, and her obsession with her smartphone.
About 15 minutes before showtime I settled in my seat and
studied the program notes. In the row ahead and one seat to my right I noticed
a striking young woman -- sharp-featured, well-coiffed, and showily dressed.
Based on her appearance, I guessed she might be an Eastern European or Russian/Ukrainian
“import bride,” especially since her companion, further to the right, was a
much older white gentleman, heavy-set, white-haired, and balding.
She was busily taking photographs of herself with her
smartphone, trying to get the concert stage in the photo behind her. Is being
at the symphony such a big deal for her, I wondered, or is she just vain? Stage announcements
included the usual admonishments to shut off one’s electronic devices, and then
Oregon Symphony Music Director Carlos Kalmar spoke for several minutes about
the evening’s program.
Posts
