California
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July 24, 2024
On Tuesday, students on the California High School Summer Program went from wondering at the beauty of geometry in the morning to marveling at the beauty of the fine arts that afternoon and evening.
A quick lunch followed the morning’s Euclid class, after which the programmers boarded buses for a trip to Los Angeles to experience the Getty Center and the Hollywood Bowl. At the Getty, they were free to explore the variety of exhibits on display, from paintings and sketches, sculptures and historic furnishings, to outdoor gardens and stunning views of the city. They looked at paintings from masters such as Van Gogh and Monet, while also discovering works from artists they had never heard of before.
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For many, it was an impactful experience to see such masterful art up close. “I had such a great time,” said student Francesca C. “In one exhibit, there was a magnifying glass that you could use to look at these small Dutch drawings. I held it up to some geese that looked like little specks on the paper, and then I could see they had wings! It was so cool.”
Unable to take in all that there was to see at the Getty in a single afternoon, the group left the museum for dinner at a park just outside the Hollywood Bowl. The students sat around picnic tables and shared boxes of sandwiches, talking and joking. During dinner, some reflected on the joys of their time on the Summer Program. “It’s been the highlight of my summer,” said Nora M.
Photos: The Hollywood Bowl
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After dinner, students went inside the Hollywood Bowl to hear the concert Mozart Under the Stars, finding their seats high in the huge outdoor amphitheater. From where they sat, the high schoolers could see the famous Hollywood Sign peeking out from behind the hills surrounding the Bowl.
The concert began with the Los Angeles Philharmonic playing Mozart’s overture to the opera The Abduction from the Seraglio. The orchestra was then joined by internationally renowned violinist Pinchas Zukerman for Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3. After his performance was met with thunderous applause, Mr. Zukerman played Brahms’ Lullaby as a goodnight to his audience before leaving the stage. The orchestra ended the evening with what many believe to be Mozart’s greatest symphony, Symphony No. 41, also known as “Jupiter.” The sounds of the instruments blended together and echoed throughout the theater, filling the open air with the magnificent beauty of live orchestral music.
When the final triumphant notes faded away, students returned to their buses to make the trip back to campus. On the way, they prayed the Rosary, then studied or drifted off to sleep. Tired out from a long day but grateful for all that they had seen and heard, the programmers went straight to bed upon arrival, ready for some rest before today’s Euclid demonstrations and second Boethius discussion.
For details about the students’ classes and discussions, come back to the Summer Program Blog later today!
