symphony in the park

Saturday afternoon, I went with a housemate and another friend, Ruth, up to a park in Portland where the Oregon Symphony came to play:
Strauss dance waltzes
Blue Tango
Dances with Wolves
Pops Hoe-Down
Grease
Pomp and Circumstance
Love for Three Oranges
Whistler and His Dog
Siamese Children
Hungarian, Spanish and Neapolitan Dances.

They played in the evening from sunset to dark under a canopy. We sat in the back behind the crowd, surrounded by tall trees, grass and occasional clapping and dancing. I read some of a book while eating chips and fresh salsa, listening to the amazingly beautiful music. Unlike the real symphony where you must dress up, sit down and be quiet; here I could add in my comments, lounge on the grass carpet, get up to buy ice cream and strawberries or teach Ruth how to dance hoe-down style. We laughed and listened. It was beautiful.

This Thursday, the OS plans on playing at the Waterfront in Portland and we intend to make a repeat audience, armed with books and good food.