Panda and I went to a performance by the West Los Angeles Symphony at Royce Hall tonight (called Good Vibrations).  I enjoyed their unusual lineup with solos by a harpist and marimba-ist (is that what they’re called?).  These two instruments don’t get the limelight enough, so it was refreshing to hear them in their glory.  Yet, what I noticed most was the fact that the two ladies playing these instruments got to wear beautiful evening gowns whereas the rest of the orchestra wore black, as is traditional.  Is it the fact that they had solo acts or is it because of the unusual nature of their instruments?  Either way, it was a great way for them to stand out even more and truly perform to us the audience.

I also noticed that I enjoyed the energy level of certain performers, whereas the more reserved ones decreased my enjoyment of the music.  In particular there were a few who really moved with the music, so I liked to watch them most.  But occasionally, my eyes were drawn to the one lady who barely moved at all, even when the music was loud and energetic.  Everyone else around her moved with forcefulness, but she was completely stiff, letting as little of her body do the work as possible.  It was really strange and really awkward to see.  I tried to avoid looking at her, but sometimes her lack of passion really stuck out like a sore thumb.

Also entertaining was the first celloist, who was a lady with a fun outfit on of black laced with gold in a full pantsuit type attire.  She looked a lot like one of my old high school friends, who I showed Panda on Facebook and he agreed.  They had the same short brown hair with thin bangs that fell in a stringy sort of manner.  And of course, my friend also played a stringed instrument, not like that was much of a coincidence.  I was greatly entertained by that resemblance though.  I could totally see my friend being just like that lady in the future, performing in an orchestra.

Rounding off the night were the comments from Panda, saying he liked the hair of this and that guy (one with crazy gray curls that reminded me of a doll my mom used to have – except that doll’s hair was blonde – and one with white hair pulled back in a ponytail).  Certainly not the hair styles I would expect him to aspire to.  He also started to point out the couple of men he thought had day jobs as engineers because they “looked smart.”  -___-  As if only engineers can be smart.  I do wonder if the West Los Angeles Symphony is composed of professional musicians or more of hobbyists.  Perhaps I should do some research.

It was a fun night and loved that it was completely free!  We had a nice stroll/speed walk there and a refreshing jog back.  I need to get more active again!