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<\/a>Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n
Le Salon de Musique is basically a three-part classical music event in one intimate space atop the venerable Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, with beautiful views of the plaza below and the mountains above. I\u2019ve been to this location for many parties over the years, but never during the day. It brought me back to my Lincoln Center philharmonic concert days growing up in New York. My parents always made sure that my siblings and I had cultural experiences, and the entire family would have loved this one.<\/p>\n
Le Salon is the brain child of French pianist\/melodist Fran\u00e7ois Chouchan. Each month, they feature a different program of chamber music with rotating musicians, followed by a champagne toast and brief discussion, and then a lovely buffet catered by Patina. What\u2019s not to like?<\/p>\n
<\/a>Photo by Carole Sternicha. <\/p><\/div>\n
It was a joy to hear Schubert and Mozart so up-close and personal. I had lots on my mind that day, but the second that Violinist Phillip Levy bowed his first note, I snapped to attention. It brought me to another place. (Julie Gigante on violin, David Low on cello, and Andrew Duckles and Victoria Miskolczy on viola rounded-out the string quintet.)<\/p>\n
I always begin writing movies in my head at classical concerts, perhaps because this genre brings up more emotions in me than any other. (Even more than hip-hop and R&B! I\u2019m not kidding about them.) Possibly that happens because I grew-up dancing ballet, and that\u2019s the feeling that every note of classical evokes in me.<\/p>\n
And once again, I had to sit near the back of the audience, which was still really close, because I\u2019m the only person who bops to classical. I don\u2019t know how others can sit still! It boggles the mind.<\/p>\n
Anyway, a question-and-answer period followed the concert, led by professor Byron Adams, (who had many anecdotes about Mozart\u2019s family,) while we sipped on special champagne, imported by the Montesquieu Winery in France. You all know I hate the taste of alcohol, but this was such a treat for everyone in attendance that I had to muster a few sips, which added to the classiness of this whole event.<\/p>\n
I had a question, but I was afraid the answer would be too long, and I was eyeing the buffet, so I kept it to myself. So, if any of you know the answer to it, please feel free to let us know in the comments section below. Here it is: what crazy person invented not<\/em> clapping between movements??? We all want to applaud, and it\u2019s just weird to hold back from giving the musicians their due. It seems rude to me, and I can\u2019t imagine why that\u2019s de rigueur at concerts.<\/p>\n I have so much more to say about classical music, but hopefully one day I\u2019ll address it all in one of my Karen\u2019s Musings columns. But now I must tell you about the post-concert repast.<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n The buffet was actually a perfect afternoon tea! I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s what they were going for, but it\u2019s what they achieved, happily for the assemblage. It was presented beautifully, as well. The finger sandwiches were salmon on pumpernickel, roast beef and cucumber on sourdough toast, tuna salad on e-word bread, and e-word salad on white. (No matter how classy the event, I still can\u2019t say or write the real e-word. If you\u2019re a newcomer to my quirks, it\u2019s the oval white thing that many people eat for breakfast.)<\/p>\n Then there were cranberry scones with creamy butter and vanilla whipped cream, fresh berries, and lots of small sweet treats, such as chocolate-covered biscotti, two flavors of \u00e9clairs, and petit cookies in a variety of flavors. And, of course, tea! Coffee, more champagne, and water, as well.<\/p>\n This kind of lovely and relaxing event can\u2019t be often enough. But sadly, next month is the last one for the season, and they don\u2019t begin again until October. So, if you\u2019re a music fan, or an afternoon tea fan, or just a fan of spending some peaceful and educational time in Los Angeles, see the info below to make your reservations for May, before they sell-out.<\/p>\n The next concert, and last one of the season, is on May 15, 20011.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 www.lesalondemusiques.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" LE SALON DE MUSIQUES Last Sunday, I finally made it to the once-a-month, (from October-May,) late-afternoon concert, Le Salon de Musique, and wish I had been free in the previous months to enjoy this whole series. It was one of the most relaxing, classy events of my year so far, and I don\u2019t envision<\/p>\n<\/a>