Tag: Atlanta Ballet

Posted in Travel

2023 Escape from St. Patrick’s Day #6

Posted on by Neal Saye

My daily snapshot of Robert’s and my 2023 trip to get away from Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebrations.

Today’s the final day of our escape. It was 32 degrees (with a real feel of 21) here in Atlanta this morning, so we hibernated inside for a while.

UPDATE on whether we were “transported” by last night’s encounter with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. YES! The opening piece, the Overture to Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber, really was fabulous. With its huge orchestra swells, the overture made me realize what I love about classical music. (TIB: I sometimes go into a bit of a daze when the orchestra gets really quiet and slow. I have had to pinch myself savagely more than once to keep from putting my head on the HR’s shoulder.)

But back to TODAY—after our very lazy morn, HR and I pirouetted over to the spectacular Cobb Energy Center …

… to see men in tights—I MEAN TO SEE THE ATLANTA BALLET’S PRODUCTION OF DON QUIXOTE!

Oh my gosh. It was terrific. I just might become a ballet dancer! Granted, I have a few balance issues from time to time, but still, how hard could it be?

What a joyfully fun time we have had on our 2023 Escape from Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Craziness. We head back to the SAV in the morn. And truth be told, I always look forward to home after being away for a week or so.

I hope you have found in your St. Patrick’s Day weekend a place of rest and peace.

Posted in Life Experiences

Seeing Ukraine in Atlanta

Posted on by Neal Saye

If you read my last Five Friday Happy Bringers post (and why on earth would you not?), you may remember that Robert and I left Savannah to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day on its own and journeyed up to our favorite city, Atlanta, for a long weekend.

I don’t know about you, but when I travel, I tend to pay much less attention to the news (usually a blessing). And of course the headlines now are all about the horrors going on in Ukraine.

Robert is retired military, Army (thank you for your service) and gets wonderful free veteran tickets to The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, The Alliance Theatre, The Atlanta Ballet, The Atlanta Opera, The High Museum of Art, and midtown Atlanta parking—to name some of the biggies. We very often take advantage of this blessing. (Again, why on earth would you not?)

For this St. Patrick’s trip, we were able to get terrific seats for three performances with the symphony orchestra, theatre and ballet.

What I did not expect was the Ukraine connection in Atlanta.

As I mentioned In Friday ‘s post, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus sang the very moving national anthem of Ukraine. And dedicated the evening to the war torn nation. Several members of the orchestra were Ukrainian.

What was even more surprising was the Ukrainian connection the next night at the Alliance Theatre’s production of Bina’s Six Apples. In the play, “a family must abruptly flee for safety as bombings and battles encroach upon their home. It’s an all too familiar sight right now, as daily images of Russia’s onslaught of Ukraine dominate global news, showing refugees fleeing towns under siege every day … The theme of senseless violence is a powerful and sadly eternal one, given the shattering conflicts that have continually riddled the world and the impact these clashes have on regular people with no direct stake in the conflict.” ArtsATL.

And the matinee of Atlanta Ballet’s Giselle was bittersweet, with the incredibly talented male lead, Denys Needak, being from Odessa, Ukraine.

He was remarkable.

Thank you, Atlanta, for helping me to see. And reminding me to pray.

“Peace. Peace. Peace. Please Peace.”

“Lord in Your mercy, hear our prayer.”