Like a boss.

Last night after work, the significant other and I went to a concert at the Minnesota Orchestra.  We saw the violin soloist Nadja Solerno-Sonnenberg, and I cannot say enough good things about her.

When she walked out onstage, I leaned over to Cliff and whispered, "What a badass."  Girlfriend was wearing RED VELVET PANTS and a black sequined tank top.  She had this air about her - like the honey badger, she didn't give a shiiiit.  When the conductor started the Piazzolla piece, "The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires," she looked at him intently and then gave him this flip little smile, as if she were issuing a challenge.  Bring it on.  And the orchestra certainly did.  I can't remember the last time I enjoyed listening to the orchestra as much as I did last night.  That Piazzolla piece is SO freaking cool!  It's got a lot of tango elements and definitely gives you a sense of place.  Maybe the best part is that the arranger put a few direct quotes from Vivaldi's Four Seasons right into the music, and he put the quote from "Winter" into Buenos Aires' "Summer," since Buenos Aires is in the southern hemisphere.  Loved it.

The way this woman played her violin was unreal.  Every note was perfectly tuned.  She moved her hips and stomped her feet.  She laughed while she played.  When she wasn't playing, she practically danced along to the orchestra, tapping her toes and moving to the music.  When the key was minor and the music felt a bit sadder, she looked as if she might start to cry.  Her low notes were as velvety as the pants.  Her high notes were perfect - she could even dash off cute little harmonics without bothering to look at where she was placing her finger.  We were in the third row, so I could see her fingers dancing across the fingerboard - and it was crazy how fast she was playing.  My eye couldn't keep up with my ear - my brain needed to catch up with her.

Suffice it to say, it was a very memorable night. 

And now, in case you didn't get the honey badger reference...