Thessaloniki: Playing in Paradise
Offering their first ever concert in Greece, The Cleveland Orchestra was welcomed by sunshine and a sea breeze.
In Thessaloniki, music began before the first note was played.
As The Cleveland Orchestra arrived for its first-ever concert in Greece, the city offered its own welcome. Along the waterfront, with the Thermaic Gulf stretching into the distance, musicians made their way to Thessaloniki Concert Hall. Yet there was no rush to get inside. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, many paused to take in the view, capturing photographs of the glowing October sky. A line of musicians fixated on the horizon.
Then, with phones tucked away and the light fading, they continued into the concert hall for an acoustic rehearsal.
Beyond the significance of the performance, the evening’s memory lives in these small details: the sea breeze, the golden sky, the quick photographs, and the anticipation of music to come.
In Thessaloniki, a historic concert began with a sunset.