Panner's Posts: I was transported to another world..........

When I was in Barcelona, I went to the best concert I have ever been to in my life. On Saturday Nov. 19, I was walking around by myself discovering the city, and I went to Santa Maria del Pi (which is on my blog for Nov. 30). At this church, I started talking to Ramon, who was an incredibly nice older man. He had lived a while in NY, and I was telling him all about me. Then he says, well, there is a concert tomorrow night given by guitarrist Manuel Gonzalez, and I would love for you to come... it is only 15 Euro which is amazing b/c this man has been all over the world, has performed in Lincoln Center and in Madrid, and gives master classes all over Europe and the US. I said well, sounds like a great deal-I will buy a ticket! Ramon then says that if I go, he will give me a reserved seat. It pays to travel alone I tell you. ; )

I arrived the next night right on time. Ramon had marked an R on my ticket so that the ticket taker would know that I was supposed to be in the reserved section. Well, I guess at first the ticket taker didn't see the R, and I was just wandering around trying to find a seat. Then the ticket taker (whose name was also Ramon) made this sound like a PSST and ushered me to the FRONT ROW OF THE CHURCH. I felt like a celebrity! There it was, just one seat left waiting for me. So, I was there to witness this incredible guitar playing in the front row, and I was probably the closest audience member to Manuel. I cannot describe this concert, and how much I am obsessed with his music now and the sounds it made in this church. Just picture sitting in this 14th century church, the guitar echoing sevillanas and one of my favorite songs "Romance" (Anon. ). Throughout the concert, Manuel led the audience through this journey throughout Espana... from Sevilla to Cordoba to Mallorca, to Asturias and through the Moorish/Arabe influence. Each part of the Paisajes de Espana (selections from Albeniz (1860-1909) and Tarrega (1852-1909) ) was written so that you can feel what it is like to be in each part of Espana. Asturias (Leyenda) by Albeniz is my favorite-Asturias is in N. Espana where the weather is tumultuous and it rains and people live off the sea... so the music is fast and sometimes in a minor key. I love it. I was so taken by this music, and so lucky and privileged to be at this concert that I secretly cried b/c it was like a surreal dream world for me. I know it sounds corny, but being in Espana, listening to this music... I don't know-it could be my entire life living there.

After the concert, Manuel was signing his CDs and taking pics with people. He was SO nice, and he took a pic of me and Ramon (the first Ramon) after too! A celebrity doing those things for me! (The other pics of both Ramons you can see on my Snapfish album). It was an intense, magical night, and one that stands out as one of the best nights of my life.........