Dearest friends,
I hope that you are in good health, and that your family and friends are safe and well! We all know that we must stay home for now and be patient, even if this confinement is a difficult experience. It feels so hard right now to be socially distanced and isolated from you, dear patrons, subscribers, donors, above all music lovers and CSO friends.
In this period of confinement, one of the things I’ve been doing is reading. I came across this beautiful phrase from Seneca, written 2000 years ago: “it is when the sun is in eclipse that we realize how precious it is.” We took for granted seeing each other week after week, program after program; we took for granted sharing the joy of live music, as it was our most natural way to interact with each other, and to keep connected with our own sensitivity and sensibility. How disorienting that it is denied to us in this period…
Isn’t it hard to believe that it is only two months ago that we enjoyed Beethoven’s 1808 Akademie? How sad that this beautiful celebration unexpectedly became our last event… Even though this season was suddenly cut short, it remains unforgettable! From the shimmering colors of Strauss’ Alpine Symphony to the overwhelming premiere of Christopher Rouse’s Sixth Symphony, from the sparkles of Pétrouchka to the fireworks of our Gala and Anniversary concerts, from Ravel’s enchantment to the glorious Beethoven Akademie!
I miss you so much right now, we all miss you! But we know that Music Hall will reopen, and our hearts and souls will resonate together again! I can already see your smiles gathering together again, safe and thrilled; I can hear the joyful rumble filling the house, and the thunderous applause soaring when the musicians enter on stage; I can already feel our collective emotion when the first note finally resonates in Music Hall! That day will be one of the most beautiful days of my life, of our lives. I so much look forward to this moment…
In the meantime, I am sending you my warmest wishes for health and strength!
Yours,
Louis Langrée
