The Classical Mystery Tour concert was sold out by the time the lights went down at 7:30 p.m. Every seat was taken. Automobiles clogged every available parking space in the environs of Grand Junction High School. Musicians exchanged tuxes for the basic black of accompanists. Maestro left off the tails and tie.
Early in the concert, John Lennon asked, “How many of you remember the 60s?” Hands went up all over the auditorium. “Then you are in your sixties,” he quipped. This is not entirely accurate. There are yet trailing baby boomers in their mid fifties who remember the 60s. Beatle mania is rather hard to forget.
One could wager that the average age of symphony concert goer dipped last night. Entire families attended together. Fresh juvenile faces flanked those of regular concert goers and Gen Xers who would not normally attend for the classical, but could not resist "Mystery Tour.” One lucky young woman was celebrating her 18th birthday.
The cell phones came out at "Hey Jude," the first encore, and the roaring crowd persisted in demanding one more. Concert goers did not start dancing in the aisles until after the talented George Harrison- make that David John - pulled the heart strings with, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
As the fab four mentioned, whilst pugging their CDs; the Beatles never had a website, or got to play with a live orchestra. Likewise, you can bet there were never lighted cellphones waving as the crowd coalesced. Technology is such a plus. Though no cameras or phones were known to be confiscated Saturday night; cigarette lighters in Grand Junction High School Auditorium would have been sure to draw the ire from the fire department.
The Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra has become very polished on Brahms, Beethoven and other masters; but it is good, so good for Grand Junction when they take that annual foray into classic rock. There we get to hear music teacher Judd Berry (or was that Calvin Hofer? Trumpets are hard to see in the back row) rip off the trumpet solo on "Penny Lane"; college prof Darin Kamstra function as Ringo Starr’s other two hands; and see jazz icon emeritus Paul Schneider once again take a seat in the orchestra to sit on those sonorous saxophone notes in Ob-la-di.
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