Czech Philharmonic

A flute colleague told me that that Czech Philharmonic "is the most beautiful string sound in the world."  We attended their concert on Sept. 5 and they did not disappoint.  The program was Mahler's Second Symphony complete with soprano, alto, and the Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno.  The Dvorak Hall in the Rudolphinium was gorgeous, "one of the finest creations of 19th-century Czech architecture."   The house was full and Fritz and I had seats in the balcony, but close enough to the musicians to see their faces, particularly the conductor, the principal flutist, the oboes and the double-bass section.  The music was exquisite and the audience attentive.   Their was no rustling of programs or candy wrappers, people moving about, etc.  At the end of the concert, the audience gave a ten-minute standing ovation.  It was an amazing evening.  Like Anne of Green Gables, after her first visit to the theater in the city, "How can I return to common life after this?"