When Joseph Hayden composed his 94^th symphony, he threw in a chord, which was to be played loudly and vigorously (fortissimo) during a mostly quiet section. This lent to famously nicknaming the work, the Surprise Symphony.

Not in the audience for this classic, yet I happily received several musical surprises over the weekend.

A friend joined me for a program at Instituto Cervantes, during the Chicago Flamenco Festival.

The flying fingered guitarist, the clapping and stomping dancers wearing frilled and fringed skirts and shawls, the raspy-throated and passionate male singer, the crowd, which shouted “Ale!” with abandon more suitable for a bullfight or soccer match, brought me welcome relief from news of politics and pandemics.

After the wonderful set at the Spanish cultural center in the swank Gold Coast neighborhood, we opted for a more casual place for pizza and beer, Himmel’s, around Lincoln Square.  It was a packed house (apparently, a lot of people came together for dinner to celebrate Gunther’s birthday).

More surprises! They had a pretty good accordionist who played crooner classics like “Fly Me to the Moon,” familiar polkas along with tangos for an older clientele who didn’t need liquid courage (alcohol) to get up the nerve to dance.

When our conversation turned to our respective plans for the rest of the weekend, my friend asked me if I had plans for Sunday evening, whether I’d be interested in seeing Yo-Yo Ma play with the Civic Orchestra, the training orchestra for the Chicago Symphony. FOR FREE.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma was in Chicago last June as part of his Bach Project. Eager to bring some of the first pieces he mastered on his instrument to new audiences around the world, he announced his objectives simply.

36 concerts, 36 Days of Action, 6 continents.  Exploring how culture connects us.

On the project’s website, it explains that, especially at a time when civic conversation “is so often focused on division,” it is important to remember that “culture has the power to create positive change.”

Yo-Yo Ma has a long history of unusual collaborations and free concerts. I’ve seen him in concert with bluegrass performers. A few years ago, he played (for free) in Montreal’s subway. In Project Bach, he brought his sublime musicianship to Athens, Vienna, Beirut and other cities.

In all thirty-six cities, free concerts were performed along with special appearances coordinated by community organizations aimed at new conversations around the arts; our experience as individuals, as members of a neighborhood, and as brothers and sisters who share a planet.

Besides his appearance in Chicago as part of the Bach Project and his frequent stops here on his regular concert circuit, he is a creative consultant for the Civic Orchestra, which invited him to be their guest soloist at their centennial celebration concert.

Watching him play, as I just did last night, is incredible experience!

He, so obviously, is transported by the music. He so genuinely is energized by young artists and thrives on mentoring them in their craft, but even more so around the role of the artist in serving others. Artists, have the chance and responsibility to nurture the soul of the world (maybe one short recital at a retirement home or kindergarten at a time).

At the end of the concert, as everyone in the auditorium was on their feet, he was generous in bowing to the orchestra of young people, the very ones he was role model to.  His posture seemed to say, “I am one of you.”

I considered that the greatest surprise was not in my good fortune to score a free ticket and find a seat in the eighth row. The greatest surprise was that I was drawn to think about why he does what he does?

Why does Yo-Yo Ma visit schools on Chicago’s south side with Chance the Rapper?  Why does he add creative consultant duties for a training orchestra when his schedule is already so full?  Why does he give FREE concerts when he can pack houses at premium rates?

The only reason I can think of is LOVE. Love for music. Love for sharing what he’s best at in hopes of it making a difference in the lives of others.

So, yes, I was surprised and grateful for the opportunity to experience so many different types of music this weekend…

But, being reminded how important it is to share your gifts, whatever they are, is no small thing.