Last November, I gave into a very effective telephone solicitation and bought a series of concerts at the Disney Hall in Los Angeles. It sounded good and I felt a desire to support the LA Philharmonic, just as I support the public radio and TV stations I listen to or watch.

The salesman was excellent. Perhaps I should say representative, but he was a salesman in the best meaning of the word. He had complete knowledge of the program, the seats, the other benefits. I bought. And I am happy with my purchase. Very happy.

This last weekend we went to our second concert (we missed the first, but since it was a minimalist presentation, we were OK with missing it). It included a performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

I first heard Beethoven’s Fifth when I was 11 and my parents bought a reel-to-reel tape deck and locals provided tapes of the Fifth, the Brandenburg Concertos, and other works. I listened to this music many times over, so it holds a special place in my memory.

The performance was amazing. Our seats are behind the basses, looking across the stage toward the conductor. I love watching the music move around the orchestra. Feeling the sound of the basses playing as you hear and see it.

The seeing it with hearing it is the real key. To see how a single oboe fills an entire concert hall. To be confused and then realize how a an element has moved from the woodwinds to the horns. WOW. I am hooked. And you see how the conductor interacts with the orchestra.

When I listen to the Fifth now I have a whole new perspective that has added tremendous depth to my appreciation. Whenever you have the chance, see music performed!