Nothing But Love :: golf blogger

Cleveland Orchestra

The Cleveland Orchestra's 19th annual free summer concert on Public Square opened with the Star-Spangled Banner. A friend called, asking I where I was at that moment, to which I replied, "Walking the dogs on Ontario near Public Square listening to 'Summertime' from 'Porgy and Bess.'" He asked if he'd be able to see the fireworks from our rooftop deck -- "Perfect view," I replied; but he thought he wouldn't make it by about 10 after 10, the time I thought they would start. He forgot that the concert was tonight.

During the concert, lightning over Lake Erie illuminated the sky, moving toward the North Shore. I started walking west, heading toward home, dogs stopping to check out many people who rarely ventured downtown, but staked out small pieces of real estate with their collapsible chairs, blankets, and strollers, people laughing, smiling, wearing glowing necklaces and flashing glasses, enjoying their community through music conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero, his fourth appearance as guest conductor of the best orchestra in the world, attended by over 50,000 and heard by many more at the restaurants and cafes near Public Square, on a warm night, electricity in the air.

Fireworks, against the backdrop of the pink, granite, chevron-shaped skyscraper, shot into the night sky, explosions reflected in the windows of the 50-story tower, after the Orchestra finished "Stars and Stripes Forever," just as the first drops of rain began to fall.

And the closer the dogs and I got to home, the harder the rain poured down; but the red, white, and blue incendiary display wasn't dampened, the crowd roaring its approval, as it had the entire evening after each number the Orchestra played.

Man and nature collaborated to an event that will be long remembered by those who witnessed it.

Posted by Bill at July 2, 2008 11:55 PM