Now, I'm not a stander, generally. At the end of a concert, I may be smiling broadly and clapping energetically, but I tend to remain seated, even if those around me are standing.
But then I was in Orchestra Hall yesterday morning and heard cellist Steven Isserlis and the Minnesota Orchestra strings perform John Tavener's The Protecting Veil. I was spellbound. I was near tears on several occasions.
When the piece ended, I smiled broadly and clapped energetically. But I felt this inner tension, too, like that wasn't enough to communicate to Mr. Isserlis how much his performance had touched me. That's when I realized, "Oh! I could stand! This is why people stand!" And by golly, I did.
The Orchestra has one more performance of The Protecting Veil tonight at the Cathedral of St. Paul. If you can't get there, listen to it live on Classical Minnesota Public radio, tonight at 8.
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