I’m a klutz – or as they say in Central Pennsylvania – dopic. So, I really admire people that are more coordinated than I am (which is pretty much everyone). Last night, we enjoyed a date night at the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by our beloved Maestro Stuart Malina. What made the performance particularly memorable were the additional performers on stage last evening. “Cirque de la Symphonie” featured acrobats and aerialists who amazed the audience with choreographed moves, accompanied by the orchestra’s masterful artistry. I was particularly enrapt with the final performance by two bronzed muscular men. Those in attendance were spellbound by their feats of strength, balance and grace.
As I watched, I wondered what propelled these athletes to choose this occupation. What discipline and practice it must have taken to achieve such synchronicity! The countless hours of training and experimentation, the injuries that were likely sustained are beyond my comprehension. And I’ve wondered similar thoughts about those musicians whose performances we so look forward to as they weave their own magic, beneath the stars of the glorious Harrisburg Forum.