"Fate"

Just got back about an hour ago from watching Beethoven's Symphony 5, nicknamed "Fate" because of the supposed caption for the first movement: "Thus Fate knocks at the door." Amazing. Now, I suppose it can be said that I have 2 down, 7 to go (as far as seeing all of the Beethoven symphonies live in concert before I die, which I fully intend to do, along with my bucket-list goal of cultivating a hedge maze). My dad and I were two rows from the front and on the left side of the auditorium, right beneath the violinists....It was pretty incredible. A nice memorial speech was given in honor of Mr. Simonel before any of the music was played....Saoirse and Kiki were both present at the concert, and I spoke to Kiki during the intermission. There was a horn soloist from the Canadian Brass who came to play Strauss' first concerto for horn. He was really awesome as well, but there was nothing quite equivalent to the build-up between the third and fourth movements of the fifth symphony...I hope I dream of it.