When the artists kept playing

The performance was beautiful.

Not because everything went perfectly, but because the artists kept playing, no matter what.

Fictional image generated using ChatGPT

The auditorium lights flickered. The sound cut off more than once. Some in the audience even walked away before the concert ended.

And yet, the artists didn’t stop. They didn’t pause, they didn’t complain. They just played, fully immersed into it.

It was their behind the scenes preparation. Maybe hours of practice and dedication that made the music live inside them. How beautifully they complemented each other.

I didn’t understand every piece they performed, but I felt it. Deeply.

And I stayed — phone forgotten for about 90 minutes, mind stilled, because their performance was stronger than the noise around them.

Sometimes, beauty isn’t about flawless conditions.

It’s about choosing to show up, again and again, with everything you have prepared for.

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P.S.: These are my reflections from a recent Carnatic instrumental concert that reminded me how true commitment in craft shines through. Also wrote a short post on collaboration among artists during concerts. Take a look here.