Austin is known as the “live music capital of the world,” and usually, the first things that come to mind are Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, Stubb’s, Antones, etc.  With that said, I would like to expand your minds to another great venue of live music, the Long Center for Performing Arts.  Last week, three of my classmates and I (all former orchestra members in a past life) went to the Long Center to see the Austin Symphony and guest performer Yo-Yo Ma. 

Dressed in our finest symphony attire, we enjoyed an evening filled with moving selections on the somber anniversary of 9/11.  The evening’s program included:

Dvorák – Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88
Carter – Elegy
Bach-Stokowski – Sheep May Safely Graze
Elgar – Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85

As expected, Yo-Yo Ma gave a superb performance and left the stage with a standing ovation.  As I missed the chance to see him perform while I was in college, I was thoroughly happy that my friends and I were on top of our game this time around and bought our tickets online the moment they went on sale.  We’re already planning our next Austin cultural excursion.  Who knows, maybe we’ll hit up the opera in the spring.