On Friday night, my daughter and I went to a concert given by country music superstar Luke Combs and three support acts. The venue was Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, seating (and standing) up to 50,000 people. High-octane, adrenaline-inducing stuff. Turns out you can hear 50,000 singing voices over the body-massaging decibels of a rock concert. What an atmosphere!
On Saturday night I went to what is, I suspect, the opposite musical experience. Mezzo-soprano Sally-Anne Russell sang Canteloube’s Chants d’Avergne in the Brunswick Uniting Church. It was moving, supremely skilful and attended by about eighty people who knew that any singing from the audience would have caused an unholy riot!
It was exciting to have two such different, but equally wonderful, concerts on consecutive nights! Each heightened the other. In art, they say creating contrasts—perhaps in colour, shape, light or dark—will inspire in our audiences moments of particular attention or, at at the very best, thrills.
I guess we have the same contrasts in our lives—sudden changes, ups and downs, shifting shades, differences and opposites. There are moments of particular attention. And thrills. After this weekend, I am reminded to accept, or better, to revel in those opposites; to draw them all in and give them their due.
Have a great day.
Until later,
Kirsten
Everyday Thoughts of an Artist 