MSO in Milan
About a week and a half ago, we received an e-mail from James’ dad with a message from a family friend (Rod). Rod had worked with the MSO and generously arranged tickets for us to see the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in the last of their European concerts in Milan. Incredibly surprised and excited, we organised ourselves to go and see the concert. We estimated that the 4.19 train from Genova on Friday afternoon should deliver us to Milan with 2 hours to spare. Once there we would go to our hotel room (the last train for Genova left too early), get ready and head out. Well, thanks yet again Trenitalia, we arrived an hour late. Managed to navigate the Milanese public transport system to our hotel, got dressed in a world record time of 5 minutes and were out the door and in a taxi on our way to the concert across town.
Our taxi driver appreciating our predicament (25 minutes to get to auditorium, find our contact for the tickets, and take our seats) navigated us there as well as anyone could. We arrived at the Auditorio di Milano with 5 minutes to spare 
We found Robyn who was lovely and gave us great seats, and then told us that the concert started at 8.30pm, not 8pm as we’d mistakenly thought! A quick aperitif for dinner, and a quick hello to a friend of Rod’s, Trevor, saw us sat in the theatre comfortably on time. As we sat in our seats waiting for the concert to start, James mentioned that one gentleman sitting behind us looked very familiar. I turned and said I think that’s John So (the Melbourne Lord Mayor). Well I wasn’t certain, but I went and said hello. His daughter is also doing a PhD at the Florey, so I thought “why not?” Sure enough it was him. It was a very surreal experience!
The orchestra played magnificently! They played Concerto n.1 in A minor by Sostakovic followed by Symphony n.1 in E major by Mahler. The hosts of the MSO, the Orchestra Simfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi are Sostakovic specialists, and the square where the auditorium sits is the Gustav Mahler square, hence (presumably) the choice of composers for the evening. The solo violinist (Sarah Chang) in Sostakovic’s concerto was very expressive physically, and you could really feel the music both in its own right, and through her physicality. At the end of both pieces the audience clapped for what seemed like an age in their appreciation, and were rewarded by two short encores. It was really fantastic!
I have not heard so much English spoken and with Australian accents in what seems like so long (ignoring for a moment that I teach English). After an examination of the programme, James realised that his brother’s old trombone teacher was one of the musicians, and so was able to say hello at the reception held at the end of the concert. The after concert reception hosted by the Australian Embassy put on some fantastic food and drinks, and proved for an interesting night. We said hi to the Australian Ambassador, and met some really interesting people from the Melbourne (or more broadly) Australian fashion industry. Up-and-coming artists trying to break in to the Italian market. I felt like quite the troglodyte when I was informed that Anna Piaggi, an Italian fashion writer for Vogue (amongst others) and style icon was in the audience and at the party. Of course I had noticed her, how could you not with her flamboyant dress sense! I just assumed she was an eccentric old lady 
We had a great time and were some of the last to leave. Thanks Rod!!!!!!!
In more general news of the week, we decided that being in Milan again would afford a great opportunity to go shopping for wedding shoes for me. We met up with Marco (who we’d spent New Years with) and hit the shops. Unfortunately we didn’t find anything, but we had a fun time, and found some Japanese for lunch to boot!
Well the clock is ticking down, and its exactly 3 months to go today till our wedding!!! More work and planning to go…
To finish with a useless bit of trivia for the week. Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM) have a new advertising campaign reading I (heart symbol) 6TIM. 6TIM is a new phone plan. Now as James cleverly pointed out, if you say 6 in Italian (pronounced say) is sounds more like … I love saytim (satan???) hmmmm… Confirms our previous thoughts that Telecom Italia are in bed with the devil