When I heard the girls could perform at the iconic Sydney Operahouse for their Suzuki Graduation, I pretty much knew we had to do it. They worked hard to prepare and we made it happen (by the skin of our teeth - it ain't no picnic trying to keep a baby and toddler engaged or quiet without food for 2.5 hours in a packed, dark acoustic hall!)
We made a weekend out of it so as to visit the temple as well - the girls sleeping with some good friends who just moved up there and Will spending some QT with us and the littlies. He even got a sushi night out of it, lucky duck!
After dropping Kenna off at rehearsals we spent the morning enjoying the Quay. She joined us for lunch and some much needed "burn off the nervous energy" time. Always grateful for a sunny Sydney day - that place is sorta magical.
The lines of the Operahouse are extraordinary (eccentric bubblers and fancy toilets, to boot) and there are always a few brides getting pictures around the building.
It's worth paying for the tour to hear how many sparkly tiles are on the roof(s) and see all the inside stages and architecture. I remember learning the curves were reminiscent of a boat and its sails rather than shells as I'd always thought.
(Think she's excited?)
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| what would these two do without each other? |
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| or these two? |
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| or these two for that matter?? |
Which brings us to the main event... we listened to many levels of graduates play Suzuki guitar, viola, violin and even a few young brilliant piano soloists before seeing Kenna come on to that world-renowned stage. I must say -
what a thrill. I grew up playing Suzuki violin and hearing each song brought memories flooding back of the many hours dedicated to learning each new technically challenging piece. I was surprised to find myself breathless with tears rolling down my face.
Annie sat with us until the final song when all the non-graduating "Twinklers" were invited up on stage to play the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star variations that Suzuki students worldwide cut their teeth on.
Back in reality on the flipside, we had this going on...
The babies slept like angels the first half hour, then I fed them all my secret snacks. (And if you're wondering, no, pictures aren't allowed inside the Operahouse but when I saw an audience full of iPhones recording and the ushers ask a guy next to us to move his tripod over a bit, I figured they were letting it slide on this one.) I had to get creative with Des if I was to hear any of the beautiful performances so we played with the camera and wandered the aisles way at the back.
Despite restless babies and the whole thing costing an arm and a leg, sharing such a memory with my girls - a moment and experience much
grander than even they could appreciate at this time - was very moving. And totally worth it. With those hundreds of violins playing simultaneously, the notes absolutely filled every particle of air in that full house. Darren concurs, it was Magic, I tell ya!
Of course such an occasion could only be capped off with taking our circus show to McDonalds on the drive home! (Our kids perform at the Operahouse, so we're fancy like that.)
That was a long time in coming and she was sooo patient.
