Rock Me Amadeus!

For the 31st year, the Islip Arts Council brought the NY Philharmonic to Heckscher State Park to present a free concert under the stars followed by fireworks by Grucci. This concert is such a treat and I enjoyed every minute of it. The weather was perfect Saturday night, the crowd of at least 50,000 was well behaved and the ladies rocked. It was a pleasure to see a female conductor, Xian Zhang, the Philharmonic’s Associate Conductor and two female soloists, Michelle Kim and Sheryl Staples, performing Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor. The concert was lively and reflective - beginning with Mozart's Divertimento in D major and finishing with Elgar’s 14-movement Enigma Variations (played without pause) - the notes wafting through the bay breeze stirring up the magical quality that let's you quickly forget the world and become one with the universe.

Of course, the stars of the party are the magnificent spreads that people bring. Some of these picnics are incredible, the thought and planning that go into them make you promise yourself each year to improve your own or be put to shame. And of course, the wine flows freely all around. No event like this Is complete without the fireworks and this year they were spectacular; the sky was clear and the fireworks were right above you in the sky which you don’t always get to experience. We watched in awe as the fireworks completely filled the sky and appeared to rain down upon us. It was glorious. Ah yes, it was definitely worth the trip.