The night we listened to lounge music in the Musikverein.

This concert has definitely exceeded any expectations of what we had imagined of this performance may entail. It was a mix of astonishment, pure joy, and penn-ultimate confusion. We all left the concert asking "What did we just witness...?" I will try to describe it to you as best I can but there's nothing like the real thing (baby). 

First, the conductor comes out, who we decide looks like Woody Allen, but I think he looked like Larry from the three stooges. And then the Japanese pianist enters in a sparkling (yes, sparkling) black tuxedo and was sporting bright red socks. We're already off to a good start. 

They start playing ooshy gooshy movie style music. We're dripping cheese already. Then the pianist takes a solo- he's pretty talented! Just simply a Japanese Joyner playing lounge piano music. Then a held, light, trill in the keys summons the singer onto stage. He's wearing a wide grin, cream colored sport coat, white tux shirt, a bow tie, and poofy black pants. His voice is really something else! It's smooth as silk and uses no vibrato at all. He has one pure tone and manipulates vowels and consonants. Very pretty. And he could sing very high! And pretty low for how high he could sing. The entire concert consisted of this guy singing famous show tunes from various American musicals. However. They werent just regular covers. they were very lounge- esque with groovy background rhythms. Pieces included were- smoke gets in your eyes, gal in calamazoo, chim-chim-cherrie, I've got you under my skin (this one had some very odd heavy breathing rhythic parts added to it.) , and Lady Luck, among others. It was rather entertaining listening to this guy try and explain some of these musicals- he's German of course. For example, when he was talking to the audience in between songs, all we would hear is "heiwnajsgxksnw dnsjhdu shah Guys and Dolls shdicns she saksibe." Made for an interesting evening. 

Some versions of these tunes had the man singing the regular tune with the orchestra playing seemingly in another meter. One tune like this that stood out was "favorite things" from the sound of music. It was more like a war chant that he was singing in three while the orchestra was in five. Crazy! And the encores.... If there wasn't enough cheese already, he gave an encore performance of send in the clowns, and then the conductor came out to play some jazz clarinet as another encore performance. I'll let Melanie and Kai explain that one in more detail as they were gushing with resentment as soon as they saw the conductor with a clarinet.

Altogether, it was truly a wonderfully ridiculous performance and I can't think of a better finale performance to end our wonderful, unique trip. 

Thank you!

As we head home very soon I just wanted to say to all the parents reading this blog that sharing all these wonderful adventures and concerts with your child has been nothing short of tremendous!  Terrific humans beings!  This was a phenomenal adventure!  Thank you for supporting this and sending them with me!

Hmmm, let's see here.

So yesterday was fun. We went to the graveyard where all these famous musicians like Bach and Strauss and Beethoven were buried. Then we went and got warm food because it was so super cold! After we warmed up a bit we headed over to the Albertina for some art viewing. It was beautiful! I loved the sculptures of monkeys. Hahaha they were so cute! Anyway, there were also paintings by Monet and Picasso, too. A couple of us went to Forever 21 after that and then back to the hostel! We got ready and left for the Staatsoper to see Boris Gudunov. The opera house is gorgeous with elaborate sculptures and chandeliers everywhere! I loved being in there. On the back of the seat there were little screens attached so the translations of the songs were right in front of you! It was so cool! Eric Spring just sat forward and read over my shoulder… or head… all night. We were on the balcony and had to sit forward to see past heads and railing. The opera was slow to begin with, but then it got better when his family was introduced and Boris started going crazy. By the end of the show my stomach was growling… Luckily only Hannah, who was sitting right next to me, heard. So we stopped at the 24hour Doner stand and got food. After this some of the group went out and others of us went in to our rooms and get ready for bed. Today is our last day and we have a free day until tonight's concert… The Las Vegas Rhapsody!!! I'm stoked for this one. It should prove to be interesting and funny. I hope.