I’m nearly speechless……nearly. Last night I attended a performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the Ha Noi Opera House.  Words fail….                                                   but I can show you some pictures…

 

 

 

It’s quite a large building.  I’d have had to walk across the (insanely busy) street in order to get a picture of the entire structure.

 

It’s very beautiful (just you wait!).  It was built by the French during the first decade of the 20th century.

 

 

 

 

← The portico.

 

 

Welcome…..

 

 

 

 

 

gasp……

 

 

 

 

I was in heaven…..

 

 

…going up another flight of stairs…..

 

 

 

←…….and looking down….

 

 

……and across.↓

←Upon entering my section, I looked in…..

……….across………….↓

 

 

 

 

…….and up.↓

← Looking down from my side of the house….. the “cheap seats”……$10.  Amazing.

I had to chuckle a little at the blue plastic seats on the stage….. signature Viet Nam ~  kinda cute!

← My view during the concert.

 

 

My fellow audience members→

My other view during the concert↓

 

←The orchestra being presented…….

…..and the entire company taking it’s final bow. ↓

 

The concert itself was incredible.  I thought I’d taken a picture of the orchestra actually playing, but I guess I got so caught up in the music I forgot about taking any pictures!  The music was breathtaking and brought tears to my eyes.  I’m not the only one ~ I noticed at the end of the concert when everyone was applauding, a member of the chorus was wiping tears from her eyes as well.  Very touching.

I’m so very grateful I grew up in a household in which classical music was played as a matter of course.  There was never any insistence that we kids listen to it ~ it was just played because my mother loved it….and she passed that love for it on to me…..thanks, mom.