Enjoyed the chance today, in the first place, to return to the Opera House.  Lovely hall, as seen from the orchestra level this time.  Incredible acoustics.

Excited even more by the finale of the piano competition, this time in concert (so to speak) with the Spoleto Orchestra.  (More about that later.)

But first there was the familiar “pony tail” guy, who tuned the piano for at least a half an hour, at times it seemed with the intent to solicit a confession of some sort about something.  (Hey, that’s about the extent of my Italian.)

Then there was the other “hair” guy, one of the judges we’ve been following, who turns out to be the Orchestra Director.  Quite young, and an entertaining presence on stage, with the fingers of his free hand forever taming the mane.

Eventually, the competition arrived: two males, each playing the same piece: “Rhapsody in Blue.”  Wonderful, wonderful, just wonderful, is all I can say.

Then the (younger?) ladies played something else.  Sounded vaguely familiar to me, especially at first, but I could never place it.

Amazing way, in any case, to spend a free afternoon in a pretty hilltown.