Why I adore my city, reason #4,791 (and counting.)

[vulgarweed]

25,000 people came to Millennium Park on Sunday to hear Riccardo Muti's official first concert as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.


That's right. 25,000 people. For classical music. And once the music started, there was pin-drop silence from beginning to end of each piece.

And at the end, there were fireworks.

Comments

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

Huzzah!

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

It really, really was cool. I think that's the largest crowd I've been in since Obama's inauguration, and the way all 25,000 fell into rapt, silent appreciation was just simply magical.

[deborah-judge.livejournal.com]

It was awesome! Thanks for inviting me.

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

Thanks for coming along! I'm really glad you got to experience it too.

[waxbean.livejournal.com]

oh, that does sound awesome.

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

it really, really was.

[oceaxe.livejournal.com]

My best friend from high school is the Membership Director at Millenium Park!

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

Oooooo, that's a cool gig. The people who run it are doing an outstanding job, I have to say--Chicago has always been a great city for live music (one of the main reasons I chose it), and since MP opened, a lot of the very best of it has been in the open air and free!

[biichan.livejournal.com]

I would bet money that either my Aunt Lynne or my Aunt Paulette was there. Or both.

(Chicago is truly the most awesome city. I kind of wish I could live there.)

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

I would not be surprised. I hope they got there before 5, though--apparently the crowd was so big they actually had to close the gates just before start time! Millennium Park isn't small, that doesn't happen often!

If you ever do wind up here, let me know. I can help hook you up for good music at least. :)

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

That must have been awesome to see (not to mention hear)!

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

It was, it really, really was. This was a big deal - the CSO is a matter of national pride, and we haven't actually had a music director since Barenboim left in '04. We've been courting Muti for a long time, and when he finally said "I do," it was like winning a sports championship. (Or a Presidential election, and that was a great crowd party night too.)

[shadowvalkyrie.livejournal.com]

Wow! It's good to see classical music can be a non-elite thing!

[vulgarweed.livejournal.com]

well, it was free, so that helps. But I can assure you, most of the crowd was not 65+/white. :D