Leonardo

I think my favorite person in the orchestra is Leonardo who plays second clarinet. He’s very soft-spoken, unassuming, laughs easily and seems very peaceful – as if he has some sort of secret that allows him to be so content. He’s Chilean, probably in his 50’s or early 60’s and I want him to be my buddy in a serious way.

It all started with the fact that he invited us over to his house in Nuñoa, (a neighborhood in Santiago) for a woodwind party. It turns out that in Chile, often times if you invite someone over for a party that starts before midnight you also feed them. Everyone was to give him the equivalent of $8 and bring a bottle of wine (about $4 will get you a good bottle of red, more on that later…)

Carlos, Julia, Zöe, Luke and I arrive in a cab to Leonardo’s house and are escorted past his large Shepherd-type dogs to his back patio, which is enormous compared to my hotel room, and has a beautiful tree, GRASS, lovely stonework and twinkle-lights hung in the branches. There are two tables set up and we don’t really know what to do, as Leonardo just kind of shows around and tells us to sit.

Enter Ximena, Leonardo’s wife. (Could be spelled with a J instead of an X… will get back to you on this one.) Ximena has got to be around the same age as Leo, and she used to be a dancer before she retired – think ballet… She has a huge laugh and big smile and has got to be the polar opposite of Leonardo. I soon find out that she has more energy than anyone I know and is always looking to have a great time and to make sure everyone else is as well. Perfect hostess.

She is completely delightful and makes us a round of Pisco Sours (Pisco is Chile’s national drink, honest!) As more people arrived, Leonardo gradually started speaking more, and I met the rest of the woodwind section that hadn’t been playing the Spanish concert, as well as a conductor names Santiago, who conducts a chamber orchestra in town.

An hour later, out comes paella - homemade, gigantic, everything in it paella. Chicken, chorizo, mussels, shrimp, squid, mushrooms, peppers, etc. The pan it was in was cast-iron and literally the same size as the top of a stove – MASSIVE. And she hadn’t cooked just one. She had cooked TWO. Incredible, and delicious to boot. And after paella, fresh fruit… HEAVEN!

The wine flowed, the tummies filled and then Ximena decided it was time for a dance party. The music got turned up and she danced salsa with Jorge (Principal Clarinet). Leonardo does not dance. Ever.

However, Ximena was incredible to watch and pretty soon, people were up and moving to the music, dancing under the Chilean night sky.