I consider myself a very lucky person. I'm by no means a music afficionado, but I grew up with good music, and enjoy and appreciate it - especially summer pops. Imagine my delight when my husband came home last week and asked me if I'd be interested in going with a business associate and his wife to the Pops in San Diego and dinner in Little Italy. After I got over the surprise that I didn't know San Diego had either Pops or a Little Italy, I said - "Yes." We've both been self employed long enough to miss these kinds of events that were common when we worked in Fortune 500 companies.
Back to being lucky...I've lived in places that have some of the best outdoor music and Pops programs in the country and have been able to enjoy Seji Ozawa conducting the Boston Pops at the hatch shell in Boston on the 4th of July, seasons tickets to Ravinia in Highland Park outside of Chicago, the Pacific Symphony at the Verizon Amphitheater (a lousy venue for Pops), and the wonderful LA Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl. I'd say I'm lucky indeed.
Friday night, I enjoyed fantastic grass seating with table service at the Navy Shipyard in San Diego, with views of the city and Coronado. The traffic was unusually bad with races at Del Mar and a Padres game at Petco Stadium, but it ended up to be worth the trip. Much like the children's progam by the Pacific Symphony at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, the San Diego pops entertained with beautiful music, but also with a feast for the eyes. That night the performance was called "Cirque du Symphonique" and I was dazzled with aerial performances, contortion, hula hoops, balancing acts, and juggling. Occasionally the acts detracted from the music, but more often the two worked together like a good wine and the right food.
It might not be Boston or Chicago or even LA, but oh - summer nights in San Diego - blissful!
The San Diego Pops have a few performances left this summer. Friday nights. 8 pm. Followed by fireworks. See Summer San Diego Pops
