I guess I'm the first to answer this! I didn't want to think of something for the sake of it, I wanted
it to be that idea you were talking about -- that you feel something in the moment that always lingers
on when it comes to mind, and it just took only a few seconds to remember these two moments.
Lyle, they were both beautiful, and exactly what I hoped for. Endless thanks.
Here are a few things I've opicked up from the Internet about Som Sabadell.
It was a planned effort, produced by the Bank of Sabadell which (they say)
badly needed some good publicity at the time. It was a stroke of genius, I think.
The Orchestra Simphonica del Valles was local, but excellent. There were three choirs,
Amics de l'Opera de Sabadell, the Coral Belles Arts and Cor Lieder Camera, all from
local communities. The conductor is Ruben Gimeno, now famous across Europe and
an alumnus of the University of Maryland (Master in Orchestra Conducting).
Who chose Ode to Joy? I don't know, but it is the anthem of the European Union.
The photography amazes me: except at the very end after the music has stopped, I don't
see a single movie camera. But look at the amazing variety of people's faces -- old, young,
knowledgable, surprised, smiling, appreciative... The photographers had to be experts
(perfect framing and no jitters) and virtually invisible. Later, when the video was edited,
someone had to select just which clips to show and when. A superb job!
The little girl atop the street lamp? One of the commenters says she is the conductor's
daughter. I don't know for sure, but she certainly favors him.
When the final chorus bursts forth and the joyful man reacts "Oh wow!",
I'll bet
you did, too.I could go on, but I'll leave you with this thought:
Eighty years ago, a young radio announcer named Herb Morrison,
witnessed the Hindenburg catastrophe. His voice wavering and choked with angst,
he said to his radio listeners, "Oh, the humanity..."
Today, with my own voice wavering but inspired by love and hope
and Som Sabadell, I rejoice and say, "Oh, the humanity!"
~~~fia