Last Night in Leipzig

Perfect view of conductor!

How fitting that my last night in Leipzig was the most fun I've had so far, sending us off with a bang. We went back to the Gewandhaus and saw the orchestra preform; a spectacular display of musicality and and professionalism the likes of which I haven't seen in a very long time. There wasn't a single bow that didn't move as one, nor a single entrance that wasn't played at precisely the right moment. 

I am truly blessed to be surrounded by all kinds of music on this trip. 

Music after hours

After the concert I ventured out on my own to a nearby bar that had a live band, and despite it being very crowded, managed to get a seat right in front of the musicians. A small ragtag ensemble of four (a drummer, a bass guitarist, and an acoustic guitarist who did vocals, while the forth sang backup) was playing a wide range of old songs from the 90s with their own modern twists, changing the instrumentation to add things like harmonia, harmonica, and washboard, even adding occasional phrases in German despite most of the songs being in English.

At one point, one of the singers took her harmonia and microphone right up to where I was sitting, and used my knee to play runs up and down the keys of the instrument, before asking my name and then incorporating "Torsen" into the song as well.

Leipzig has some of the most friendly people I've ever met, (maybe because they were all as intoxicated as I was, if not more so) and I would gladly return again for nights of stunning performances by professional musicians, as well as the occasional tavern songs that continue throughout the night.