What a difference a day makes! Today it was in the mid-70s and there was nary a cloud in the sky. Scarves were nowhere to be seen. Girls were out in their sleeveless tops and their flowing skirts. Some guys were even wearing shorts. Little kids had on their summer outfits and cute sunglasses. Everyone was out in the streets and parks. Sidewalk cafes were absolutely jammed, especially the ones on the sunny side of the street. Market vendors were singing out to passers-by. People were drinking rosé wine. Good moods prevailed.
Windows were open. Cats were sitting on windowsills. On my street, the sound of someone practicing piano wafted out of an open window.
In the evening I attended a free organ recital by Jean-Baptiste Monnot at Saint-Eustache, a huge church just a few blocks from my apartment. It has been a Paris parish church since 1223. The current building was started in 1532. One of my favorite sculptures, "Ecoute," was on the plaza outside the church until just a year or so ago when it was removed (to be restored later) for the razing and rebuilding of the Les Halles gardens.
Saint-Eustache has the largest pipe organ in France (8000 pipes) and oh, my goodness, can they ever make the place rumble! Today's concert included works of Bach, Frescobaldi and Prokofiev. The 30-year-old Mr. Monnot is a recitalist, a professor at the Paris Conservatoire, a church organist in Bordeaux, and one hecuva player!
As soon as the concert ended, preparations began for a Vespers service. I hadn't had enough, so I hung around for a while! I believe that the prelude was something by Messiaen. They had a great cantor, and I was able to "get" enough of the music and liturgy up until the sermon, at which point I understood nothing, so I left to wander the neighborhood a bit more before heading back home.
Aaahhhh...the hazy lazy crazy days of summer!
No comments:
Post a Comment