A Fever for Beauty
This weekend my wife and I went to Circulo de Bellas Artes to hear a string quartet. Surrounded by 500 glimmering candles, the members sat in a peaceful glow center stage. The candles are electric, but it creates a magnificent effect. I was settling my mind and my body when one of the members introduced their group.
I was startled to hear a name I knew - Midnight Plumbers, hosted by the company Fever. I had heard this quartet once before in a lovely hotel in Puerta del Sol. Four months ago my wife and I enjoyed their tribute to the Beatles. They interpreted the songs splendidly that day and we both left thrilled by the experience.
But this night in Circulo de Bellas Artes was singular! The instruments sang the melodies like goddesses. The players swam skillfully from note to beautiful note. What struck me the most was the sound of the violins, shrilling the high tones with perfect art.
Midnight Plumbers consists of two violins, a bass, and one viola. In this most recent concert they interpreted 15 love themes. The performance opened with “Unchained Melody” followed by two classical Disney pieces. “Your Song” and “City of Stars” rang out next. Shortly later Elvis’ ¨Can’t Help Falling in Love¨ transported me back to my wedding day in a beautiful tiny town in Honduras. There was a lighter moment as the crowd was invited to sing along to “All You Need is Love” and then we fell back into silence to enjoy Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years”. I felt like I had taken an emotional and delightful journey with the musicians, and they spoiled us with two additional songs: Lady Gaga’s “Shallow” and Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”.
Sharing this concert with my wife will be one of our favorite memories of the year. The elegant and thrilling music combined with the beauty of the ancient music hall. I discovered Midnight Plumbers accidentally through a concert app, but now I am seeking ways to hear more of them. I am eager for their next concert, becauseI am sure it will be spectacular!
