Sunday, June 7

Pops at the Post

We went as a family last night to the Pops @ the Post. This free outdoor symphony concert was begun five years ago to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our local newspaper. The public enjoyed it so much they clamored for the Post to make it an annual event. So they did.

The Post has a covered loading dock sort of tucked into the side of its building. The back and one side of the dock are walls of the building, and the roof extends above. This makes sort an excellent orchestra shell for the musicians... except that it faces west, and with the concert in June, the players sort of slow-bake in the concrete. Some years they have gotten 'way too hot. But they were fine last night as it was downright chilly.

The concert proper runs from 8 to 10. We arrived at 6:30 loaded with chairs, cooler and picnic bag. Tailgating is allowed, but alcohol is not. (although I did see lots of ppl with beer in their stadium cups. I guess as long as one keeps it discreet...)

The company was wonderful, and the music was delightful. Each year's concert has a theme, and this one was no different. Our clever conductor developed a program of "Fantasy and Finance." The music ranged from "The Scheherezade" to "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?".

Most of the music was just the orchestra, with 3 or 4 vocals. Two locals, a man and a woman, sang a duet of, "Money Makes the World Go 'Round" from Cabaret.

A local woman I never saw before sang, "God Bless the Child," and just took our breath away.

The planners had erected 3 or 4 huge screens so that all the people sitting through parking lots downtown could see the orchestra, the conductor, the narrator, or the vocalists.

The whole town looks forward to this event every year, and last night surely did not disappoint us.

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