The Butterfly Effect or the Concert that Changed My Life

Hi there dear @Freewrites at Hive. That is my first ever post at Hive and I would like to share something special with you, hope you will enjoy the reading :)

I’m sure you all have heard about the butterfly effect, where a tiny movement of butterfly wings in one place can lead to a significant event on the other side of the planet. But do you experience the butterfly effect in your daily life? I do. Often. Sometimes a very small coincidence brings me so far that I wouldn’t even dare to dream it in my wildest dreams.

Never Be Shy to Ask

This story begins on an ordinary February evening when I went to get my hair done at a beauty studio after work. It was quite cold outside, I was exhausted after a long day, and a bit irritated by the loud pop music blaring from the TV screen. Since I was the last visitor, I dared to ask for something calmer. “Could you turn on any classical music, please?” I whispered. My stylist did. Hardly had I heard the first notes when I felt that the reality was transforming into something out of this world. That is how I first met Stephan Hauser – also known as the barefoot cello master of our times. He was playing “Where do I begin” with an orchestra in a beautiful venue reminiscent of Italian coliseums.

Everything in that moment was breathtakingly beautiful. I saw a man who wasn’t just playing the cello but becoming one with his instrument. I heard music that wasn’t merely created by fingers and strings but came directly from the artist’s heart. In a few moments, I was transported to that coliseum, completely forgetting about the cold, the tiring day, and the beauty studio where I actually was.

That same evening, I fell asleep with only one thought – once I wake up tomorrow, I will continue listening to Hauser’s incredible cello. And I did. I also shared my favorite pieces with several of my close friends, and together we became fans and admirers of his talent.

How Far Passion Can Take You

Several months later, I came across an announcement of Hauser’s world tour ‘Rebel with a Cello’ that was taking place across the USA, Australia, Japan, and Europe. However, my summer was fully planned, so I soon forgot about it. Until one day, my friend called me and said – 'maybe we can arrange a weekend in Europe and attend Hauser’s concert? It would be such a recharge for us!' It’s worth mentioning that I live in Tbilisi, Georgia, and my friend lives in Ukraine, we have had a distance friendship for many years. Additionally, our having kids and jobs makes it almost impossible to find suitable date and destination for both of us.

Cello Magic at Villa Manin

It is now a warm July evening, and my friend and I are standing in front of a stage with just six big letters on the LED screen. These six letters spell HAUSER. We are in the center of a very beautiful historical place in Northern Italy called Villa Manin. The show is about to start. We admire everything around us – the gorgeous Villa (a heritage from the 16th century, @rosanna-brava made a beautiful post about it), the shining stage under the sky, and the elegant people with whom we obviously share the same musical aspirations. We share the same thought immediately – ‘We would never EVER be here if several months ago I hadn’t asked to turn on random classical music in that beauty studio…’

Making Love with Music

The show begins, Hauser appears on the stage with his electronic cello and makes the first sounds… At that moment, it felt as if everyone around me had breathed in forgetting to breath out.

The whole world seemed to pause, not wanting to disturb the crystal-clear sound of his cello. Hauser started the concert with slow and romantic melodies but promised ‘to go crazy’ together with us very soon.

And so we all did. Together with his band and invited violinist, he performed well-known hits from Pirates of the Caribbean, The Godfather, Caruso, Medley in Love, and many other unforgettable pieces of music, including, of course, Italian hits.

During the two-hour concert, we danced, laughed, sang, and yes, we cried… mostly from the unbearable beauty of the moment, from admiring such a gifted musician, from being one with that incredible music and from experiencing unconditional love.

Instead of P.S.

I’m sure those of you who have attended concerts of your favorite musicians at least once in life would understand me – that evening changed me, and I came home a slightly different person. Whatever might happen in life, deep inside I know - I have my ‘Rebel with a Cello’ and that’s already enough to keep going.

P.S.S.

By the way, the World Tour of Stephan Hauser ‘Rebel with a Cello’ is still going on with a final concert scheduled in Athens on September 13, 2024 and you have a chance to experience the magic I described above by yourself!