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We had 3 successive days of 95 degree weather here in Seattle, which is unusual and not something we're prepared for. However, I got lucky.

July and the first half of August is the Seartle Chamber Music Festival, 3 concerts a week for 6 weeks. For 2 of those 3 unbearable evenings I was in air-conditioned Benaroya Hall hearing some of the best performances in years. One afternoon there was an open rehearsal at Benaroya, which permitted me to leave my hot apartment for several air-conditioned hours watching the performers shape the performance for that evening.

Last night a group of engineers came in from Abbey Road Studios in London to record the live performance of Mendelssohn's Octet in E-flat for CD release next year. It was absolute perfection. The nice thing about that Mendelssohn piece is that you don't have to understand chamber music or even like it. It's a heart-on-the-sleeve piece that is supremely entertaining even for rock-n-rollers. After the first few bars, you just smile, close your eyes and let it wash over you.

I enjoy hearing fine music, even when surrounded by my Leftie colleagues. I've been ribbing them about how all that hopie-changie stuff is working out for them.