This morning in the grey predawn light, the members of the Cleveland Orchestra slid into bus seats for a trip across the island of Tenerife. Their destination: an airport, and a flight to the Spanish capital.

They were leaving behind summer for winter. When they departed Santa Cruz the temperature was 17 celsius (63 Fahrenheit). They were greeted by Madrid's 3 celsius (37 Fahrenheit) weather.

They were also leaving behind a medium sized city for a major metropolis. Just how big it is was clear when the hotel's "Guestlink" television information system warned about increasing crime in some of the popular areas.

Madrid has plenty to offer, but the performers won't have time for much of it. When they arrived many fell immediately to practicing, but some tried to take in the Prado Museum.

The Prado is famous for its extraordinary collections of 12th to 19th century paintings. No one could have hoped to see it all in the few hours before the bus left for rehearsal, but some tried. One person who went, a spouse of an orchestra member, told me she now understood why it's important for American art students to travel to Europe to see the originals. Reproductions, she says, just aren't the same.

Tonight the orchestra plays Schnittke, Bartok, and Schubert at the National Auditorium. See the tour itinerary for more information.

David Roden
WKSU Assistant Program Director