“Music has charms to sooth a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” “Music is the voice that tells us that the human race is greater than it knows.” These quotes from William Congreve, Victor Hugo, and Napoleon Bonaparte, respectively, are from three very different people. However, all of these individuals had one thing in common — they all understood the power of music.
The power of music is something that we see on a day to day basis because music, as these three individuals suggested, has the power to soothe us, to express things that we don’t know how to say, and to demonstrate the strength of the human spirit. As a result, it’s important to remember that music is so much more than some simple words put to a pleasant tune, and if you’re looking for a way to soothe your mind and escape the trials and tribulations of the world around you, you may just want to know about some of the musical events that are taking place in the Boston area this weekend.
First, if you’re a fan of the opera or you want to be able to tell all of your friends that you have some serious “class”, you may want to check out the Boston Lyric Opera’s production of The Flying Dutchman. The Boston Lyric Opera, which is the largest and one of the most well-respected opera companies in the Northeast, is performing the original version of Richard Wagner’s tale of a cursed sea captain and the woman who loves him tonight at 7:30 P.M., Sunday afternoon at 3:00 P.M., Wednesday (5/1/2013) at 7:30 P.M., next Friday (5/3/2013) at 7:30 P.M., and next Sunday afternoon (5/5/2013) at 3:00 P.M. To find out more about the show and to purchase tickets, please visit the Boston Lyric Opera’s website.
Second, if you like musical theater, but the opera is not really your thing, you may want to look into attending the Berklee College of Music’s production of Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Students from the Berklee College of Music are performing James Rado and Gerome Ragni’s well-known stage show about peace, social injustice, rock and roll, and the hippie movement tonight at 7:30. For more information on the show and to purchase tickets, please visit the Berklee College of Music’s event page
Finally, if you’re looking for something a little more current than music from 1841 or 1967 and you don’t mind waiting until Wednesday, Radio may have what you’re looking for. Radio, which is a relatively new club in Somerville, is hosting a fundraiser for the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing called Radio Loves Boston at 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday (5/1/2013.) This show will feature 20 independent bands playing every type of rock known to man, and all of the proceeds from the show will go to the One Fund Boston. If you’re interested in finding out more about the show, visit Radio’s Facebook page.