It was a night of many live firsts for me. My first time seeing a live opera singer, my first time seeing a live clarinetist–and my first time in over 5 years seeing a live orchestra play. The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra concert was simply phenomenal. There’s something really beautiful about hearing live music that just makes it incomparable to the recording, no matter how carefully mastered and produced. It’s why going to concerts is so much fun even if the singer or band doesn’t sound as perfectly in tune as they do on the album. Live music brings about a rush of excitement and joy that only the best things in life incite.

Maybe it’s the rush of sound echoing around Bailey Hall’s pristine white walls. Maybe it’s the looks of delight and concentration passing over the musicians’ faces. Maybe it’s the roar of the audience’s clapping after the third encore. Whatever it is that makes live music so enjoyable, was abundantly in session tonight at the Mozart concert.

The orchestra was masterfully led from the concertmaster in his seat, with just the right amount of musicians to make the concert seem cozy, but still give the grandeur of a full symphony. The clarinetist was truly magnificent–and a real treat. It’s not often that one sees a world-renowned professional clarinet player, especially one as talented as the one we saw tonight. He gave an amusing little speech about the instrument as well, which made watching the performance all the more engaging. The opera baritone was phenomenal-every note was carefully crafted and richly supported as it rang, echoing around the hall. And at the end, I loved the little encore they played with the mandolin, as if giving a lullaby to send off the audience for a peaceful night’s slumber after the lovely concert.

But above all, the best part for me about live music and this orchestra was seeing how much fun the musicians were having. Music is really a two way street–it’s not just for the audience; the performers have a fantastic time as well. I can’t wait to attend more concerts in the future and see what other exciting performances the world of music has in store.