The dark ages.

Not having internet is upsetting.

Stuff and Bother

Since the other day, the internet at my house has totally crapped out. Not sure what the deal is, but it's not even broadcasting a Wifi signal, although the modem box is lit up like Christmas and everything seems to be fine.

Gah. On the other hand, I have just under a month left, and I have a lot of books to finish ... Maybe it's for the best? We'll see. Thank GOODNESS I bought my Blackberry, it's already saving the day.

Anyway, this one's for you Gennie. Saw it and it made me laugh. It's a fashiony clothes and shoes store. Go figure.

Rainbow ones in the Marais!

Use the force?

This statue is of Henri IV, and it's on the Pont Neuf. I might add that originally he wasn't holding a light saber.

Not sure why we gave him one, but it's AWESOME. It's blue, in case you wondered.

Uniforms -- Yeah cool, but is he holding a violin?

Last night, I got home from school, picked up a few things from the store, and plopped down in front of my computer for a relaxing night of lazy inefficaciousness.

In the course of a quick Facebook tour, I saw that my friend had posted about having extra tickets for a concert of the Garde Républicaine (The French army band/orchestra). That night. In an hour and a half. I quick sent him a message to which he replied "Hurry!"

So I went. So cool. Not only was it fancy (I love playing dress-up), it was in the fancy military closed courtyard and buildings. Huge. Old school.

The best part was their program. The first half was the concert band playing Bernstein, Gershwin and Respighi (the Calvary band made a guest appearance on the Respighi and I was like 5 yards from them). The Entre acte had a surprise performance of Django Reinhardt by some of the orchestra and three guitarists. I think I drooled. Hearing the Marseillaise improv'ed upon, in the by the French army orchestra in Paris? I can probably die happy now. The second part was music I know better -- Berstein, the Carousel Waltz, My Fair Lady, Hello, Dolly! and an arrangement of West Side Story.

On a funny note, the irony of a French chorus (of men only, mind you) singing America from West Side Story (you know, the one where typically Americans pretend to have a Puerto Rican accent), about wanting to 'be in America,' was not lost on me. Also, hearing them sing 'I Feel Pretty.' BAHAHAHAHAA.

Anyway, the other cool thing was that we were seated in a sort of balcony behind the orchestra (which, given the number of brass instruments on stage, was totally cool with me). We could see the conductor and everything, which made for a funny change. The other night I went to see the opera (in concert format) Genoveva at the Salle Pleyel, which has seating behind the orchestra, and I thought about how much I'd like to try it sometime. Done. Things work out :)

Next thing is to get my subscription for next year's concerts taken care of - if you want to have advance tickets for them you have to book now. Hillary Hahn is coming ...

Benjamin Franklin was ahead of his time.

Just wanted to share this ... It says that Benjamin Franklin just activated his Facebook. Then it offers a link to write on his wall.

Awesome.

Sandbox

Yesterday Charlotte and I went from orchestra rehearsal to the Luxembourg gardens, and we stayed there all afternoon.

We ended up hiding in the shade between the tennis courts and the playground, on the edge of the sandbox. So we made a Barbapapa, a French cartoon character.

This is the second sand-Barbapapa we've made, we call them our children.

We tried to take a family photo, but missed. After we got out of the sandbox some little brat came and wrecked him. Next time I think I'll plop a towel down in the middle and pretend I'm at the beach.

Mozart, Kodaly, Liszt : May 26th Concert

So Gabrielle sent me her pictures from the concert, and I ganked the official photos from the Mondial Assistance website. These pictures are all from the concert on the 26th, which was a private concert for our sponsors (the 27th was public).

If you want to see more pictures, or the video of the concert, go here to their website!

Here is Charlotte (it's her fault I have trouble smiling normally in pictures now), Gabrielle, and yours truly. Welcome to backstage.

Inter-sectional cooperation. This is Bastien.

I've known Arthur since I did orchestra in 2008 ... We consider him the unofficial leader of the second violins.

The second violins are definitely the tightest of all the sections. At least, we're up there. Magali, Anne-Sophie, Charlotte, and Elodie.

This is what I see from on stage ... The Grand Amphithéâtre de la Sorbonne. The picture doesn't do its size justice ... those illuminated squares across the middle of the back wall, for example, are the back-lit, larger-than-life statues of famous French thinkers.

Mozart, with solo flute!

Perhaps Kodaly?

And Liszt?

Final bows.