Discovering Clara
... with a surprise visit from Mr. Rogers
For months, I have looked forward to visiting Tanglewood on August 10 to hear Yo-Yo Ma. I knew it would be magical, no matter what he played. The day before the highly anticipated trip, I checked the website for updates and noticed that a pre-concert performance was to be given by guitarist Clara Guatta, a young woman I had not heard of. Her recital was to be in a small venue on the edge of the grounds, and it looked intriguing. (Whenever I go to Tanglewood, I am game to stay for as many performances as are on offer that day. I love to soak it all in.)
What an unexpected pleasure! Clara is a 22-year old singer-songwriter living in western Mass, where she was born. However, she grew up in Buenos Aires Argentina, and the beautiful music and rhythms of Argentina and Latin America form the foundation of the songs she writes and performs, mostly in Spanish. I would describe her beautiful melodies as soulful -- from the heart -- sometimes even haunting -- and very open to connection with the audience. I didn't know enough Spanish to understand the lyrics, but it didn't matter at all. The emotions were clearly expressed. From her program: "Her work seeks to reflect the complexity of human emotions and life experiences, exploring themes such as change, resilience, love, and self-discovery. Blending Latin American and contemporary influences, Clara has brought her music to diverse stages and festivals, always sharing her passion for connecting with audiences through authentic stories and melodies."
From the stage, she mentioned that her performance was sponsored by an organization in western Mass (whose name I did not catch) whose mission is to highlight young musicians in the region and offer opportunities for them to become better known. What better starting point than Tanglewood??!! Anyway, I shall be watching for her future performances and recordings. At the end, we all went up to express our thanks, and she was very gracious and welcoming -- well beyond her 22 years.
Clara, thank you!
That, alone, made my day. Everyone in our group commented that if she had been the only performer, we would have gone home happy.
But on to the main event, world class cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
He played the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No 1 in A minor, Op. 33 - brilliantly, of course. I had not heard the piece before, but it is quite lovely. After the standing ovation and cheering subsided, he came back on stage to have a little intimate chat with us. We were seated in the Koussevitzky Music Shed, which was sold out at 5,000 seats, and the grounds were also packed with people who had lawn tickets -- at least a few thousand more. Yet his moment with us did indeed feel intimate.
He began by saying that the day's program was dedicated to educators of all kinds and asked for a show of hands of educators in the audience. Many, many hands went up. Then he segued to comment that teachers are so important, because they help others through difficult times. Then he asked those of us in the audience to pause for a moment of silence, and remember and express gratitude to someone in our lives who had helped us through a rough time.
The shed and the grounds were packed, but there was total, respectful silence. Not a sound was heard. Lots of emotion -- lots of feelings. What a beautiful way to end his performance. But then ... he moved over and sat with the 3 cellists from the Boston Symphony Orchestra -- just WITH them as colleagues, not as the rock star -- and they proceeded to play a piece that they did not announce but that almost everyone knew --- the theme from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, in honor of Fred Rogers, who was one of the greatest ambassadors of love and connection on American television.
Four cellists, obviously good colleagues and probably friends, just playing a beautiful and simple theme to serenade the thousands of us gathered together on a sunny Sunday afternoon. (I can barely contain my emotions as I am writing this.)
Thank you Clara, Yo Yo, and Fred for making yesterday such a special and meaningful day for me and for my friends who joined me. I'm wishing some musical magic for all who read this.
As I have noted many times in these essays, music is powerful medicine.
Music That Moves Me
Music has great power to move me. It always has. I am certainly not unique in that regard, and that's what makes music so special -- its power to evoke human emotions across culture, history, and all the identities that might otherwise divide us.
Sounds magical!
In sometimes sleepy Indiana we have a summer competition for 16 high school age students from around the country. It is sponsored by The Great American Songbook Foundation, also based here, its director being Michael Feinstein.
Over five days the competitors, all interested in careers in musical theater, are tutored by professionals in song (all from and The GAS) dance by theater professionals. They perform in subgroups of competitors and solos. On the final night a "winner" is announced, chosen the the band of professionals who are tutoring that year.
This competition is held in a beautiful theater, The Palladium, in Carmel (a northern suburb of Indianapolis.) One can get tickets for the rehearsals as well as for the final night.
Now, admittedly, this is not as high brow as the wonderful YoYo Ma, but it acknowledges the form of mysical theater originated in the USA. I've loved watching these student perform.
My new-this-week digs has just one room completely set up and decorated so far: the guest room. Y'all come next summer for the Songbook competition, Hal. I promise that the other four rooms will be visitor-ready by then! (OK, let's be honest, being a bit compulsive, I'll bet it will be ready in a couple of weeks!