I went to the Opera house today to listen to a concert performed by the Sydney Symphony. The opera season is over. They performed Beethoven's Syn. No. 4 and Dvorak's Syn. No. 9 From the New World and were absolutely magnificent. The symphony performs in the concert hall, which is the largest of the many venues in the Opera house I believe, though the Opera stage may be slightly larger, I'm not sure. Every seat in the house is a good one because the balconies don't overlap each other. It is as if we are all sitting in a vast amphitheater.. It is even in the round because there are some seats surrounding the orchestra. I was back in the hall so I could see the full sweep of it and it is very impressive.

The roof is made of upside down crenulations and the walls are overlaping swoops. The front, above the symphony is dominated by a massive set of organ pipes, which according to the lady next to me are rarely used by look great.

The orchestra was arranged in a different order than I am used to, and almost diametrically opposite to how they are arranged in Hong Kong, I'm told. The principle violinist was on the left of the conductor as usual, surounded by the first violins. The second violins, however, were all the way over on the far right, divided from the other violins by the violas and the cellos, which were on the left-center instead of right. The bassviolins were at the back on the left, exactly opposite where I am used to. The brass and tympani were where I expected, but both were raised up on platforms so they could see the conductor better. I'm not sure why it is different, but that is how the Sydney symphony always arranges itself. The stage is symmetrical so any arrangement would do and no one is better than another I suppose.

Beethoven's fourth was sprightly and trimphant throughout, especially in the third movement which I was most familiar with. It has that "da, da, duhduhduh, da" line that is like "med, high, three quick higher, and med" in the strings. Mostly the strings took the lead in that symphony. Most excellent.

Davorak's ninth started with a more melancholy feel, as the flute and woodwinds sounded like lost birds. Overall there was a lot more brass in that symphony, and the wind section was greatly expanded. Once again I recognized the third movemnt the most, and the fourth began with a theme reminiscent of the Jaws theme before segueing into less repetitive music. The third movement ended with such a flourish that I wanted to clap, but of course you can't. But the fourth ended so exquisitely as well that we aupplauded and said "Bravo!" at the top of lungs.

I went to the Saturday Matinee so when I got out it was still afternoon. The sun was shining, it felt so warm and summery (though the locals predicted this would be the last summer weekend) and lots of people were by the Circular Quay (pronounced "key") with the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge enjoying the weather. The open air bar between the water and the Opera house featured a female singer backed by a trio of drums, guitar and keyboard. She was singing "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5 (one of my favorite songs) and it sounded to relaxed and sensuous in the warm breeze. People, like me in my chiffony summer dress, leaned on the railing above the bar to hear better. You could see the Bridge and the House and the boats criscrossing the harbor. An indelible Sydney memory.

Well now it is 6 and getting dark so I better get back to the hotel, though the area I'm in is full of restaurants and hotels so it is safe at night. Tomorrow I plan on using my bus tour and harbor cruise vouchers. Big day ahead!