The Transcending Beauty of the San Diego Symphony
Article by Kristen Schweizer
“Wherever you go, there you are.” I think I read that quote on an advertisement for mindfulness lessons. Or a yoga studio. Or adult coloring books. Or something. The idea remains the same. Simply put, it means that if you have not made peace with yourself or you do not like yourself for some reason or another, you will be dealing with baggage forever.
As a society, though, we avoid situations that require us to be alone with ourselves. Blaise Pascal famously summed it up: ‘all men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.’ Learning to be alone with your own thoughts is a powerful strength. This is why I love the symphony…
…you can only hear the symphony alone.
Sure, you might have a date or group, but in silence; without the bumper lanes of lyrics, you listen to the music with your inner narrative to guide you through a piece. This is the beauty of the symphony. Let your mind float where the music guides you, through your past and remember: Wherever you go, there you are.
On Thursday, April 21 the San Diego Symphony announced its 2016 – 2017 season, including the Jacobs Masterworks, City Lights, Jazz @ The Jacobs, Family Festival, Fox Theatre Film Series and seasonal special concerts (learn more at www.sandiegosymphony.org). Their expected expertise never fails to disappoint and their elegance is matched only by the gorgeous Symphony Hall. San Diego is in for a beautiful season, including special concerts with Bernadette Peters, Seth MacFarlane, and Diana Ross.
While I’m already in line for Bernadette Peters, San Diegans who neglect Jacobs Masterworks 16 – 17 series are missing out on far more than music. If you have never been to a symphony performance, let me describe it:
The lights do not dim as you would expect in a movie theater, but there is a change. You hear the musicians tuning their instruments; with both poise and bated breath, all eyes are trained on a slim baton containing the power to make rest of the world momentarily unimportant. The symphony allows you to be alone with yourself the way in a way that silence cannot support. You can explore your own quiet places with the support and transcending beauty of timeless song. Reserve your seat at San Diego Symphony’s 2016 – 2017 season and listen for your own voice in the music. For more information visit http://www.sandiegosymphony.org/
