D'un certain age

I had tickets to the sold-out all-ages show of King Princess at The Danforth Music Hall for Tuesday. But upon further reflection, though her music was catchy, I decided to leave this new queer pop icon to the young people and go do what old people do, listen to classical music at The Lula Lounge.

The title was intriguing: Mendelssohn and Chill. But was this an accurate and winking take on the slang meaning of "Netflix and chill" (as opposed to what old people think it means)? Pianist Sarah Hagen explained succinctly Debussy's 12 préludes (Book 1) before playing them in order on a baby grand. I was pleasantly surprised one was available here. There was little of the delicacy of his most famous work (Clair de lune); it was modern, violent, and in some passages almost atonal. I enjoyed it but it would take quite a connoisseur to use this music to get in the mood.

After a short intermission, she was joined by Drew Comstock (cello) and Aaron Schwebel (violin) for Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in C Minor. This was definitely sexy music. Each of the four movement had sex appeal from sweeping grandeur to furious speed to deep emotion. Tonight was the first collaboration for this trio. It came about through luck; Hagen was the aide/chauffeur driving Comstock and Schwebel around at a festival in B.C. It was only at the end of the week that they realized she was an accomplished pianist who has played Carnegie Hall. Hopefully, there will be more shows in the future.