Kennedy Center; April 9, 2004

So my high school classmate, Becky, invites me to join her at the Kennedy Center for a concert. The National Symphony Orchestra was playing Brahms, accompanied by the Washington Chorus and featuring a soprano and baritone singers. Becky has season tickets. She has lived in DC since college and loves it.

The concert led off with Brahm's "Ein deutches Requiem, Op. 45." It was a very rich sound, like tiramasu for the ear. The baritone, Matthias Goerne, was the most impressive performer of the evening. He sang his songs so that even the German lyrics sounded sweet as Italian. He not only sang his songs, but sang along silently with all the vocals, twisting and fidgeting in his chair as he reacted emotionally to every stanza. The music was everything for him. It was his electricity.

While I admired Goerne's passion for his art, it also had a creepy compulsive Hannibal Lector feel to it. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a human head in his refrigerator.

All in all, it was a spectacular experience, and showcased the best of Washington.