BARRY COURTER: Lisa, just as we sometimes need to put on a pair of work boots and maybe a John Deere cap and get a little wild at a WWE or monster truck show, the well-rounded person will occasionally put on a pair of heels and something frilly and take in some classical music. But maybe that's just me.
LISA DENTON: No, I like frilly almost as much as you do. I especially liked the ruffled little number you wore the other day, though I did question the sensible shoes with it.
BARRY: I kid about the heels. They pinch my toes.
LISA: We'll have several opportunities to dress in such finery over the next few days with three concerts of classical music. First is the String Theory concert at the Hunter Museum of American Art on Thursday. Then the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will present Verdi's "Requiem" on Saturday at the Tivoli Theatre. The following week, on March 19, Trio Con Brio will be at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Fine Arts Center as part of the Patten Performances series. That's a stellar lineup.
BARRY: That's high cotton for sure, and it has a definite international flavor to it. The Hunter show will feature Shmuel Ashkenasi and Gloria Chien and his resume includes stints in Germany. And the Trio Con Brio, which is known around the world as one of the best chamber orchestras anywhere, is based out of Copenhagen. For my monster-truck brethren, that's in Denmark and not where snuff is made.
LISA: Good advice.
BARRY: I looked it up.
LISA: As long as we're talking international flavor, we should mention that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will be at McKenzie Arena for six shows Thursday through Sunday. In addition to animals from all the world, this "Fully Charged" Gold Edition show features performers from Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, Mexico and the United States.
This could be our chance to run away with the circus. Maybe you could wear one of your frilly ensembles on the high wire.
BARRY: Now, you're just being silly. You know I don't like heights.
Seriously, that is some good stuff coming our way. Suitable for just about any wardrobe.
By the way, I attended two of the discussions at the first-ever Chattanooga Film Music Symposium two weekends ago and highly recommend it for next year to anyone who likes movies. It was well attended and very enlightening to see how the composers come up with the music they do and the impact their work has on the films.
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