A Dream Comes True - and Then So Much More! 29. August 2025
Whenever I watched the Promenade Concerts from the Royal Albert Hall in England on television, I had this deep longing to be there someday - right in the middle of that indescribable atmosphere.
I eventually did some research about it. But of course, it's booked out for years in advance and the concert tickets aren't exactly cheap either. Still, it remained this wonderful little dream of mine.
Last year, I then discovered - as if by miracle - that here in Aalborg we have a Promenade Concert every year on the last Thursday in August. My heart skipped a beat!
We immediately bought tickets and went. There were just two seats left in row nine, right in the middle. And it was an absolutely captivating concert! The conductor was so charismatic and shared such contagious joy with the audience in the front rows that I immediately knew: this year we're sitting in the front - no matter what it costs!
So on the day when tickets could be purchased, I was literally on tenterhooks and as soon as ordering was possible, I chose exactly the middle seats in row three. Dreamlike seats!
However, the conductor this time wasn't quite as warmly connected with the audience as the one from last year. But he was still a wonderful conductor. No, I really shouldn't complain - the concert was breathtakingly beautiful.
Although - if I'm being honest - I must confess that the first violinist's clothing bothered me a bit. Of course, I know they can wear whatever they want on this day, and most members of the symphony orchestra looked truly elegant. But the first violinist in her short, somewhat faded-looking dress - that unfortunately took away something from the solemnity.
But fortunately I could quickly get past that, because the concert was simply enchanting. We had such a wonderful time, you could be completely carried away by the magnificent melodies.
And then came the highlight! As Henry J. Wood's Fantasy on British Sea Songs rang out toward the end, the atmosphere simply became electrifying. It built and built, and with Rule Britannia - it happened! Nobody was sitting in their seats anymore. We all waved our flags, celebrated wildly and sang at the top of our lungs. And especially with Pomp and Circumstance!
The audience was completely beside itself! I love these moments so much, when we all stand there, singing fervently and enthusiastically waving our flags. The audience simply couldn't be calmed down. And here it showed again what a brilliant conductor he was. He kept firing us up, and we got to sing again and again, the orchestra played over and over. One wonderful encore followed another.
He conducted us all, and it was simply magnificent!
Really, we should have driven straight home afterward to let this wonderful experience resonate in our minds for a long time.
But when we arrived here at midday, we were delighted to discover that the regatta this year falls on exactly the same date. So several magnificent ships lay in the harbor, and there was a cheerful festival with rousing live music.
Since we hadn't attended such events in a long time and I - after I'd cut off my long hair this morning and dared a complete image change - really felt like getting out among people again, we seized the opportunity. It turned out to be a wonderful event with great musicians, really impressive ships to admire, and delicious food stalls where you could eat and drink splendidly.
This wonderful regatta continues all weekend, and we've firmly decided to go back once more if we have the time. What a fulfilling day!
