A Chronicle of my Changing Times.

Friday night music...

Last night I took a break from all the work and took in a pair of concerts here in Haskovo with some friends – Ethan, Angie and Lili.  I haven’t been hanging out with friends nearly as much since school started a few weeks ago, so it was good to simply get out and hang out a bit.

The first concert was at the beautifully restored theater in town.  The theater was refurbished a year or so prior to my arrival here in Haskovo so it lacks the brand new shine of so many of the new buildings, café’s or other area of town.  But the job was done the right way and still seemingly sparkles when you go in. 

When you go in the main doors you’re greeted by a compact, yet adequate main hall.  Presently there is an exhibition of artwork from town being shown there.  The floors are a pinkish smooth tile with the walls done in a deep maroon with the significant amount of trim in white.   On either side of the entrance hall are doors leading to hallways that line the outside of the performance hall itself so that you actually enter from the side.  These are carpeted to lessen the outside noise.  It’s a smaller venue only seating probably 200 or so people.  A gigantic chandelier is the most notable decoration inside with the rest being done in the similar maroon/white décor that was prevalent in the outer halls.

The concert was by the local symphony, before unknown to me.  There were two pieces in the show, a Piano Concerto by Beethoven and another piece by Mozart.  Each one showcased a youth soloist.  The Piano Concerto was especially memorable with a 16 year old playing flawlessly and with great heart.  The recital was actually one of the best on piano that I’ve ever witnessed live.

After this we headed over to the Business Center, a building I’d never been in before, to see a Jazz Concert. I’m guessing the building is about 15-20 years old, built right at the end of Communism or right after its fall.  It’s impressive, solidly built but lacks any character.  In many ways it’s ill conceived too.  For instance, the performance hall is on a floor that’s below ground level.  So when you go inside you have to go down a flight of stairs.  The common area there is wide open with a raised ceiling giving it a generally open feel (albeit dark due to the murky marble stonework there).  Yet to enter the performance hall you have to go up a set of stairs whilst the ceiling doesn’t rise up at the same time.  The effect is highly claustrophobic.

There’s a yearly jazz festival going on this week in Haskovo.  I hadn’t managed to get out to some of the other shows and I was determined to at least see one.  I picked a great one to go to.  The singer is a Bulgarian famous for her jazz singing.  Whilst I wouldn’t qualify what she sings as straight jazz, it was impressive.  I was particularly taken with her renditions of Route 66 and a series of Aretha Franklin and Supremes songs.  Like I said, not straight jazz (more than a bit of Motown) – but none the less she was good enough for the audience to demand 4 curtain calls (and extra songs).

Generally the evening was one big Peace Corps moment for me.  To sit and listen to music that brought a smile to my and my friends faces – and all for free – was almost too good to be true.  I’m going to try and pay more attention and try find out more about when these types of things go on in town.

Posted by: mjmarble at September 30, 2006 21:48 | link | comments

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