Europe Day 3: Salzburg

Taking in a classical concert

If there is a thing one should do in Salzburg, is to take in some classical music. Plus, given that under a year ago, as another part of my mid-life crisis, I decided to pick up and try to play a cello, I thought it would be a good way to remember being here. So I lucked out that, on the one evening I was there, a string quartet was playing at the mozarteum – grosser saal as part of the @salzburgerfestspiele.

Now my knowledge of classical music is elementary, so I did not know what I was getting myself in for: Jerusalem Quartet playing Béla Bartók (ok - my cello teacher was envious). It was a challenging listen, with constant shifts of tempo, juxtapositions, dissonant intonations and interruptions. I think my ear wanted to find a melodic flow to follow, but as my cello teacher would later tell me - “You don’t find that in early 20th century classical music”. I guess Bartók’s string quartet did capture that century: busy and ominous.

But from my ongoing attempts at playing a string instrument, I could sit in awe of the skills. The clarity of sound, them being completely relaxed but focused, and performing as one with their instruments - that was incredibly enjoyable. It was a thing to experience.

Sorry no photos and no sound of the actual concert, did not want to get reprimanded by the Austrian ushers… (also going into a theatre in a foreign country will always feel weird - like stepping into another person’s house without taking off your shoes).