Mmmmmsinging.

Last night, I watched S perform Stravinsky's Les Noces with the North Carolina Master Chorale (170 or so voices) and Menotti's The Unicorn, The Gorgon and the Manticore with the NCMC Chamber Choir (professional, competitive group of about 20). I purchased a gold-tier ticket for a balcony seat and I sat next to the wife of one of the percussionists in the Stravinsky piece - she was fun! On my other side were two hilarious old ladies with crushes on the conductor.

I much preferred the Menotti; Russian and Eastern European classical music is usually much too chaotic and cacophonous for me to truly enjoy, even while I appreciate how difficult it is to learn and perform. The Chamber Choir is elite. I loved the Menotti piece - every part of it. The ensemble was superb and the ballet dancers were a nice touch. Voices intertwine and intermingle, move apart and together with tender intricacy. They lose each other, are at odds, and then they seduce each other to converge again in new and fascinating combinations. In such a small group, every person's voice is of utmost importance. I could hear S's voice ringing out and I watched him form the words and sounds. It's always very sensual to me, watching him sing.

When it comes to choral music I like, I'm hopelessly romantic.

And as for Quantum of Solace - fun! Explosions, gunfights, hot chicks, and high-speed pursuit in various and sundry vehicles are totally my style.