Such a plethora of languages being shared at this VOICE Salon Series concert!!!
This was the first one ever for me, as they are held at the Green-Meldrim House.
I had never been to this venue, but I had no problem finding it -
all I had to do was listen for the music pouring out into the world!
This photo is of Minghao Liu warming up his vocal chords as Assaf Gleizner provided the tuneful background with his piano.
Oh, let me tell you about the moment I had with the pianist!
This was after folks began arriving for the the concert, and I'd given out several of the programs, as that was my duty this time as usher.
I asked Assaf if he would like one, so he'd "have his name in print", and he took it, saying it could serve as his set list.
"That's quite a step up," I said, smiling. "All the musicians I know have their set list scribbled on whatever paper is handy and taped to the floor."
"Those days are long past for me," he said, grinning.
Very nice!
Like I said, I was chosen to usher the evening event, titled "Mediterranean Voyages," along with Penny and Lonnie Breslow.
That's Penny in the pink sweater, with her hubby in the gray jacket beside her.
She was checking folks in and he helped folks find seats.
The woman in the white sweater is Evelina Erickson, our house manager.
I also recognized some of the patrons, like Linda White and David Lake, as they attend so many of the Savannah VOICE events (as well as the SMF concerts).
Except for the tenor and pianist, I knew all the other performers tonight.
That's Ashley Nunez, Chad Sonka, and Maria Zouves, all performing selections from Ravel's "Cinq melodies populaires grecques" and choosing to do so in three languages of the Mediterranean: Greek, French, and Italian.
What great fun that was to hear, even from the back row!
I was in very good company, though, as Sherrill Milnes was also right there.
That meant he got to witness my reactions to the songs, as I'd close my eyes to just listen to the notes surround me, or I'd have my toe tapping or a hand weaving in the air, or I'd be mouthing the words along with the singer.
I know Chad got a kick out of watching me as he performed "Rosabella" from the 1950's opera-musical, "The Most Happy Fella"!
I made sure to tell him afterward how much I liked that joyful song!
Lonnie and Penny (see her red hair?) were in the row in front of me.
Like I said, good company!
And after the concert, we three ushers were invited to partake of the dinner feast!
Antipasta with a range of meats, olives, and pickles!
Tuna salad, a chick pea salad with pasta, chicken meatballs!
Spanikopita, hummus with fresh and crusty bread!
And, in the other room, many types of desserts... but I grabbed only a piece of baklava!
Then I took my feast into the parlor to dine.
That's when I met Dana and Bill, sitting in the row just ahead of mine, and sipping on the limoncello and prosceco spritzers they still savored.
She's a marine biologist and he's a chemist!
So, naturally, I told them of my education plans post-Navy, and how my very first chemistry class with Beverly Pestel set me firmly on that path instead!
They both moved to Savannah twenty years ago, as they both found work here, and they retired from those jobs last year.
That meant I spoke with them of my upcoming 7-year anniversary of retirement!
Really, they were delightful, and unexpected, dinner companions!
As they left, I re-entered the dessert room, finding the baklava long gone.
However, Minghao was there, and I taught the tenor to eat tiramisu.
I did!
He had given me a big dollop of the Italian treat, as I told him of having gone to Siena n 2012 and learned how to make pasta and ravioli and that delectable concoction.
As I put the first forkful into my mouth, the look of rapture on my face took him completely by surprise!
I guess he'd never seen anyone so enjoy their food before.
So, I explained that tiramisu (which literally means "cheer me up") is one of those foods to be savored, molecule by molecule, not simply eaten.
It isn't sustenance... it's oral joy!
I told him the proper way to maximize that enjoyment: place it into the mouth and allow it to warm on the tongue as you press your palate toward the tongue, releasing the sweet, creamy, coffee flavor from the thoroughly soaked ladyfingers as the delectable treat literally melts down your throat...
then I ate another forkful of the dessert, to demonstrate...
and may have even hummed a little, as I do when eating something that good...
as he stood there, mesmerized.
Then he followed my example and I saw the realization cross his face: I was right!!!
There was a correct way to eat that!!!
(smile!)
Time for me to take my leave!
Farewell to Evelina and Penny and Lonnie!
Farewell, and a curtsey, to Master Milnes...
who reached out his left hand and took my right hand...
saying "farewell, Faustina"...
to which I said "farewell, Sherrill"...
very nice!
Such a lovely evening, with good song, with good food, and with good company!
i thank You, God!
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