An Uninitiated’s Take on The Prague Sinfonia Orchestra.

Originally uploaded by The Smile Team.

(On the 8th of September 2007, the renowned Prague Sinfonia Orchestra conducted by Christian Benda performed a one-night only charity Gala Benefit Concert together with famed violin soloist Min-Lee, pianist Vaclav Macha and young Malaysian soprano Irma Lailatul at the Plenary Hall of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The main beneficiary of this charity performance will be the MY Budding Artists Fund, an initiative of the Kiwanis Club of Petaling Jaya and The Smile Team. The Fund was set up to provide assist and support for children who are interested and talented in the arts but come from an economically disadvantaged background. )

I have a friend whom I just called “genius” simply because he is one. I knew this young man through my son and they are thick as thieves. This couple of thieves was involved in helping to organize the above function and that is how I found myself uncomfortably dressed up for the night escorted by three young people who were roped in to enjoy the show with me. I was carrying some emotional baggage to the performance and was a little under the weather.

But when I listened to Min Lee slicing the silence with her violin, I was transported to another realm and forgot my troubles. She picked up the knots in my heart and untangled them. And there and then I fell in love again. Not with her (though who would not love to). Not with her music (though it swirled round the edge of perfection). But with Life again (in times of trouble, we need reaffirmation - again and again). And music soothes, and makes us forget and reminds us how beautiful life is and can be. Her music has the power to do that.

For more info on Min Lee - http://www.min-lee.com/index.htm

When Vaclav Macha sat at the piano on centre stage, I could only see his body slightly hunched down to the keys but not his hands. At that angle, the effect is nothing short of amazing. How could a stationary figure produced such a rapid succession of notes that ran and skipped faster than a laughing brook? Yet with the rush, each note was clearly and distinctly defined.

Then our local talent, Irma Lailatul took to the stage with a melodious rendition in memory of Luciano Pavarotti. It was nice to know we have such a talented songbird in our land. Unfortunately, her performance was too short and I would have loved to hear more.

And when Christian Benda the conductor exploded on stage with his energy, my spirit soared on the wings of the notes of the Orchestra. Though my body remained firmly rooted to my seat and my eyes fixated on the stage, my spirit took flight and left Earth. The conductor used his whole being to extol the music to surge forth. And they did - with passion, exuberance and grace. What command he had. He stopped notes dead with a single flick, tempered them with slow floats of his wrist and got them to roar with the uplifts of both hands. He threw powerful thrust with his body to emphasize a note. The conductor led. The orchestra responded. And the audience was enthralled.

For more info on Christian Benda -http://www.christianbenda.com/bio.htm

The quieter music followed me all the long way home. And when I switched on my computer at 2.10 am in the morning, I found that a very nice lady, writer and fellow traveler named Susie (wakingdream) from Toronto, Canada had included me as one of her favorite travelers. This is the first time I received such a compliment since I started blogging about a month ago and it is a big encouragement for me. Thank you Susie. We had been having fun exchanging haiku the last few days. Check it out in "The Neverending Haiku" under Forum in TravelPod.

As the music followed me to bed, I knew it will be a satisfying sleep, I was not totally convinced all my troubles had ended (lived long enough to know that problems are not solved with the flourish of a wand). But whatever happened tomorrow, last night will have made it easier to bear and for that I can raise a smile. And Hope.

And when I woke up the next morning, my son gave me a souvenir program that was signed by both Christian Benda and Min-Lee.