A time for every experience

On Sunday we had hoped to go see the new 4K digital print of Woody Allen’s 1979 film, “Manhattan,” which was playing at The Film Forum in SOHO. But then we heard on the news that his beloved island was hosting a half marathon that day, and we have lived here long enough to know better than to venture into the City when such City-wide events are taking place. Even if the route does not go through the specific neighborhood you plan to visit, it throws off traffic all over the City and is just not fun.

So instead we went to see a movie at a small theater up in Westchester, “The Sense of an Ending.” The movie travels back and forth in time, emphasizing the stark contrast that can exist between the events we remember and the events that actually occurred. The life being examined is that of a fellow named Tony Webster, and you are never really quite sure which is the real version of the events that shaped much of his adult life. To be honest, I felt lost during much of it. I had a very hard time figuring out who was whom then and now.

In our music class this week we studied Mozart’s Piano Concerto #23 in A major. Barry and I had never heard this one, but the instructor, Louis Rosen, is quite fond of this particular concerto, particularly the second movement. This fact led to an interesting discussion about proper behavior at the symphony: to clap, or not to clap, between movements. Should applause be viewed as a dictum from Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), in which Solomon wrote

A season is set for everything, a time for every experience under the heaven:

Should we add to the list of experiences:

A time to applaud, a time to refrain from applauding

The rules of etiquette at concerts have long dictated that applause is reserved for the end of an entire piece, although there is much evidence this was not always the case. Louis said he never thought about this much until he took his teen-age son, not a particular fan of classical music, to a concert, and the young man began to applaud after the first movement. I have to admit that, before this discussion, when I would see someone clapping before the completion of a piece, I would just assume that the person had never been to a concert before. Perhaps it is a “rule” worth reconsidering. Or perhaps not. Call me old fashioned, but the rules of decorum at classical music concerts add a reverence that is a valuable part of the experience. For now, I choose to continue to value the tradition.

After a routine medical appointment in the City yesterday, we decided to head downtown to catch the final day of “Manhattan.” Woody Allen’s alter-ego in this movie is Isaac, a twice-divorced television writer. When the movie begins, Isaac, a man around 40 years old, is dating Tracy (Mariel Hemingway) a 17-year-old senior at the prestigious Dalton School. Then he meets Mary (Diane Keaton) and the two become romantically involved. Meryl Streep has a small role as Isaac’s ex-wife.  We have seen this movie a number of times but it is always a special experience to see Woody Allen movies in the neighborhoods so often featured in his New York films.

Take care, all.

Love,

Rebecca