The Classical Girl

Bach, Shaham, Strad: When the masters meet

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Listening to a live performance of a Bach partita, by a master on the violin, on an instrument crafted by the world’s greatest luthier of all time, in a world-class music venue, is about as sublime as it gets. Almost holy. Certainly the silence, the attention from the audience was reverent, worshipful. Gil Shaham opened … Read more

Ballet in the Mainstream

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I just finished an article by blogger Rainesford Alexandra in the Huffington Post, about the rise of ballet in the mainstream. Great article, intelligent and insightful. You can find the link to it below. I, for one, have relished the way ballet has re-entered the mainstream in the past several years. I was a teenager … Read more

Saint-Saens at 35,000 feet

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I fell in love somewhere near the North Pole one afternoon while kicking back at 35,000 feet. It was sudden, a veritable thunderclap. My breath caught, then quickened. My knees trembled. My husband, engrossed in a paperback, never noticed. I, meanwhile, knew right then that my life had been irrevocably altered. But let me back … Read more

Adult Ballet Classes

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Here’s one of the best things about spending that (gasp) $$ for an adult ballet class. The air radiates with good intention and enthusiasm. No one is there just because they’re “putting time in.” This is not the gym where it’s enough to show up, or go because your spouse bought you a membership. Not … Read more