I’m not one of those people who is mad into Christmas; in fact, I’d go as far as to say that I’ve been falling out of love with it for quite a few years now. I know this will sound alien to many and may resonate with a few.
Thing is I want to re-kindle the love but not force it. Anyway, last night, I took myself off to the majestic Theatre Royal in Waterford for a night of Viennese Christmas Music played by the hugely talented violinist, Vladimir Jablokov, and his family.
Photo: http://www.sundaytimes.co.uk
I’d heard Vladimir, his parents and siblings play before and was enthralled by their obvious love of music and their natural synchronicity. They remind me of great sporting siblings, like the Bryan Brothers who have dominated Men’s Doubles in tennis for so many years.
About fifteen minutes into the performance, I could feel myself leaning into the music, being swept away by Strauss’ Blue Danube …..
This morning, the world looks different. I seem to be seeing a lot of red and green ….. and I’m longing to find some berried holly with all the memories and anticipation it evokes.
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
It doesn’t take a lot, does it? For me it is the open air carols…
Hi Sue, I was wondering at the start of the concert if I would warm to it at all but it took about 15 minutes and I was captivated. Yes, open air carols can be great.
There used to be a local event here in the market square… the atmosphere was wonderful
We had one here in Tramore the other evening but I couldn’t make it. It seems to have been great. Next year, hopefully.
I too love Christmas concerts..I especially love the Christmas plays that the school children put on. Over the years we had the privilege of seeing our grandchildren when they were children perform in school and church recitals,plays which were the best. I love to watch the Christmas specials that are on the tv, especially the musical ones. The PBS features all the well known performers Celtic, and those from the opera, and music contemporary …I also love watching “Live From Lincoln Center” the awards given by the President of the USA..and the recipients perform too. This is a wonderful time of year to be the receiver of these programs…
Hi Joni, yes kiddies in Christmas plays are great and, like you, I tend to watch musical programmes at Christmas on TV. Normally, I’m not a TV person at all.
I love Christmas music of all sorts. I haven’t had much of an opportunity to see an orchestra playing but I am sure it was an amazing show Jean.
Hi Paul, it was beyond amazing, especially the family element of it as they all seemed so at one.
I have to admit, since Kubrick’s ‘2001’, whenever I hear this music I can’t help but see big blue earth in the dark of space, with the space station waltzing around it. Still the music is always inspiring, and evocative of it’s beginnings as well as our shared movie memes. Thanks for the lovely interlude — and on the subject of Christmas, it seems to me that every year we get a little more decorated and a little further from the real thing.
Sandy, I don’t know what’s going on with trying to answer your double comment but this is to the PS. No need for any apologies here! The house you visited sounds completely OTT. ‘Grinchy’ is new to me too.
PS – I thought about my Grinchy comment and realized it comes from attending an over-decorated house on a Christmas homes tour last Saturday. I’m looking forward to my brother’s new-old bubble lights and real things like your holly, but wondering why the world needs a display of 100+ nutcracker dolls in one house, no wait — it was one room! Oops, — deep breath. Please forgive my Grinchiness — Sandy
Sandy, I’m sorry to say I don’t know what Kubrick’s ‘2001’ even is but it sounds rather ‘not me.’
As for ‘the real thing,’ there’s the other point for me about Christmas that it makes me feel hypocritical as I’m not into religion at all, at all so I really shouldn’t be involved in the first place. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
‘2001: a Space Odessy’ is a classic film from the late 60s/early 70s. You may have heard references, it’s the one with the computer named HAL (urban legend being the name came from using the first letters after IBM). The opening sequences with music and the earth from space are still thrilling, but the film seems slow for today’s attention spans. — more than you wanted to know about 2001. And the Grinch comes from a Dr Seuss book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
I have some sad associations with Christmas time, but still it’s fun to be with family and friends and feel connected.
Sandy, thanks for updating me. No bells ringing even now!
Yes, Christmas can be a very difficult time in terms of sadness but it seems to have a way of bringing fun too.
I totally hear you, Hoarder! Some people have not understood the mantra “Less is more”!
As for me, I am totally in love with Christmas as I stay away from the malls and cocoon in my house baking away for the Christmas baskets I’ve been creating for my hubs to hand out this year. I have yet to decorate my house (as I try not to do too much before Hubs’ birthday, which just so happens to be exactly one week before Christmas) and was raised in a “put-up-the-tree-on-the-24th house” so there was no getting sick of it before it arrived. I admit that since I have children, usually the day after the 18th, we do put up the tree…
I am happy for you, Jean, that you have re-found a spark of Christmas cheer! Nothing like a wonderful concert to help in this situation!
Dale, thanks for your encouragement.
Now the baking sounds great. I tend to stay well away from sweet stuff as our son can’t have sugar over the last few years so it seems awful to be putting temptation in his way and I’d happily gobble up the lot myself which isn’t so good either.
You sound really into the whole decorating aspect. It’s holly and mistletoe that are the absolute essentials for me. I could happily live without the tree, especially with three crazy dogs on the loose. Stan would think he was in a playground if he saw a tree with stuff hanging from it.
I seriously don’t go that crazy…basically one room!
As for the baking…it’s not even for my family! I make baskets for clients…
Oh my!…………Vladimir Jablokov is pure joy, magic and genius. How very, very lovely.
Vladamir is wonderful but I should stress he’s not the violinist in the YouTube clip, last there’s any confusion. He’s on YouTube alright but not with The Blue Danube!
Hi Jean,
Love the title of this post! I keep my twinkle lights up most of the year, changing them out with the seasons, and that warm glow says ‘celebrate’ and transports me. I don’t care for the commercial aspects of Christmas, but love the lights and the smell of pine and gingerbread in the house. Homemade music is part of the fun. I am sure a magnificent concert was the perfect invitation to step wholeheartedly into the season. Merry Christmafication!
Hi Naomi, the title came to me as I was driving home last night thinking of how unbalanced I am about Christmas compared to years ago. But the concert melted me, that’s for sure.
Interesting that you keep your lights up most of the year. I have a tiny tree like that here in ‘the study.’ It always warms my heart.
Beautiful just beautiful!
Thanks for the wonderful link to Enya, Willow.
Great video, Jean 🙂 I’ve always enjoyed live symphony. There’s just something special about music that can be so uplifting! 🙂 ♥ ❤