I believe that my friends who know me well are mindful of my obsession towards classical music. I attended my first concert at around the age of 11. I remember it was Handel's Oratorio: Messiah. I honestly did not want to go to the concert. But somewhere deep inside my bone, I was sure that I would be missing a whole universe if I don't check it out.
I was so nervous to attend my first classical concert. It was, in fact, my very first concert—yes, I don't listen to pop. I felt like all eyes were watching each and every single gesture I made. The awkwardness led to scrambling followed by other unwanted noises I made. My mom knocked me with her elbow once in a while to remind me of the situation we were at.
The overture was finished. I clapped my hands for appreciation. However I realized that I was the only one who was clapping in the whole hall. I was embarrassed as a sheared sheep! I did not know that appreciations are only permissible at the end of any movements or parts.
During the second part of the Oratorio, I fell asleep for a minute or two. But I still tried my best to keep my mind attentive. It's funny how I enjoyed listening to classical CD's at home for hours, but couldn't stand a minute of a live concert. Anyway, I remember waking up right before the Hallelujah Chorus. Perfect timing, huh? I believe Handel's ghost woke me up that night.
Once the chorus began, I witnessed the most beautiful, heavenly music I have ever heard in my whole life. Although I've heard my mom singing this piece several times at home, I never imagined a situation in which hundreds of people stand on their feet and listen to such majestic declaration. We were all under a spell.
And you can guess what happens next: I stayed awake for the entire Part III of the oratorio.
Since that very night, I went to at least a classical concert a month. The first concerts were still tough for I was not so familiar with the rules and regulations yet.
A concert guard once pointed a laser on me for taping the concert. That night, I brought a friend with me. She is a classical music geek and she respects the dead composers as much as she respects herself. She wouldn't even download classical music online for that same cause. And when she found out I was taping, yep... she lectured me for the whole night after the concert.
Another bad concert experience was when I attended a concert in a T-shirt. Yes, I did see many fine ladies and gentlemen with gowns and suits. "But who cares!", I thought. "I'm here for entertainment, therefore I have the right to be comfy!" Wrong! Bad idea.
When my mom and dad picked me up from the concert later on, I was lectured for the rest of the night for my disrespectful attire.
After so many concerts and the struggles that came along with it, I started thinking. Thinking of why these manner stuff are so important for people? Why do people come to these concerts at the first place anyway? There must be something wonderful behind this world that I never knew. And what is it there that people respect classical music so much? Their respect can almost be compared to a respect towards an individual. So alive. So passionate.
And that thoughts led me to the gate of the musical world I know today.
Have you ever experienced similar concert nightmares?
No worries! Relax and laugh it off!
Then listen to some more classical music! ;)
Alice
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