My husband and I had the extreme pleasure of going to Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s “Handel’s Messiah” last week. What a treat. Was I the only one who didn’t realize that “Hallelujah!” is more of an Easter song, about Jesus rising from the dead, than His birth? Either way, it was a moving, awe-inspiring performance that launched us right into the holiday mood.
The kids and I have been belting out “HAAA-LE-LU-YAH!” every time we heard the performance’s ad on the radio and I wanted to do some recon for a future cultural outing. Was this a family event, or more of a date night? Date night, 100%, all day long.
I work from home and pretty much live in my own family-friendly bubble. One that does not include a whole lot of lipstick. Or Altos or Sopranos. Or adult “occasions.”
Settling in to our seats, it really was fun acting like a big cultured grown up. Looking around, there were lots of others playing along as well. From the first stunning note, we were transported into another world, the history of the world, as told in the Bible. A musical Cliff’s Notes, if you will. But spectacular.
Looking around during intermission, kids were few and far between. I asked a sweet pair of 10-year old girls what they thought, and they admitted that – while it was OK - they thought it was “kind of boring.” Which is the nicest thing my kids would say if I had dragged them along. Just like any restaurant with white table cloths, this one's is best left for date nights.
Now that I have at least one symphony experience under my belt, I am much more comfortable taking the kids to one of the more “family friendly” Lollipops series. “Dancin’ Rockin’ and Hip Hoppin’ with Project Trio” is slated for Saturday, January 12 at 11:00am and “Once Upon a Time with NCDT School of Dance” is scheduled for Saturday, May 4 at 11:00am. For more information, visit: http://www.charlottesymphony.org/SeasonCalendar-S.asp?s=Lollipops.
