I have to admit that our meeting with the artistic director of Carnegie Hall was not quite what I had hoped it would be. He didn't really give much insight as to what his role is at Carnegie Hall, and I felt like he spent more time promoting the venue than he did expressing his love for his job or his appreciation for the arts. It was interesting to hear about the amount of planning that goes into creating events like the Chinese Festival, but I think I would've liked a more personal perspective on what it is like to have a career in the art world.

When night came, though, and it was time for the performance, I was not so disappointed. Walking in, I was surprised at the small space, but still impressed by its elegance. I felt like this space was just so beautiful, and unlike any place I had visited before. I was excited to see what would unfold during the program. I think because of the term "festival" I had expected a more elaborate set for the performances, but the music proved that all the frills and themed decorations I had pictured in my mind would not be necessary. The music itself was much different than what I had expected. I hadn't really ever heard sounds like this, and like we discussed in class, I noticed the cinematic qualities of the sounds. I definitely tied together some of the sounds with those I have heard in horror movies.

I though that the music was interesting, but I also felt like I needed to have a better understanding of music to fully appreciate it. Some people were so moved by the performance, but I didn't really feel the same way. I certainly could appreciate the dedication and passion of the performers, but I don't have a great deal of knowledge about music, so I didn't really get the full impact. Perhaps even if I did "understand" music I might have still not been entirely moved by the experience, because I know that all art has some subjective elements to it. Overall, I felt that viewing this performance at Carnegie Hall was a good experience, and I once again saw something that I may not have attempted to see on my own.