Nai-Yuan Hu takes a rest.

I recently won a pair of tickets from WRR Classical 101.1 to attend the Chamber Music International’s last concert of the season. Their final performance this past weekend at Caruth Auditorium was,  in short, a serenade for the soul.

The two violinists, two violists, two cellist and a pianist lit the stage mid-afternoon for a beautiful Sunday on SMU campus.

The play list included:

String Trio – Jean Fan?aix

Nai-Yuan Hu – Violin

Atar Arad – Viola

Anthony Elliot – Cello

Piano Trio in G Minor, Op.3 – Ernest Chausson

Nai-Yuan Hu – Violin

Jungshin Lim Lewis – Cello

Alexander Moutouzkine – Piano

Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70 – P.I. Tchaikovsky

NaiYuan Hu, Philip Lewis – Violins

Atar Arad, Susan Dubois – Violas

Anthony Elliot, Jungshin Lim Lewis

Going backstage and meeting these artists was truly humbling. There were musicians everywhere talking about their passions, past performances and adoration for the love of classical music.

As mentioned earlier, unfortunately, this was Chamber Music International’s last performance of this concert season. However, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra still has some summer performances left if you want to take a lady friend and show off your knowledge of Brahms: Symphony No. 4 or flatter her with lame music lingo.

If not, please don’t clutter the phone lines at WRR Classical 101.1 during “caller number ___” giveaways. I like free music.

From left to right: Nai-Yuan Hu, Philip Lewis, Susan Dubois, Jungshin Lim Lewis, Anthony Elliot, Atar Arad

Starting today and lasting for seven days, or until products dissipate completely, various department stores will be giving away one complimentary cosmetic piece to those eligible. Who are these lucky few? Well, apparently, everyone. If you’ve purchased at least one product from this list of merchants between May 29, 1994 and July 16, 2003, you can pick one up. But since it’s based on the honor system, there will be no proof-of-purchase requirements.

Products range from perfume to body wash to mascara with a value of up to $25. The complete list of products can be found at the above link.

Here are a list of locations participating nearby:

Dillard’s – North Park Center, Collin Creek Mall, Firewheel Town Center, Shops at Willow Bend, Town East Center, Stonebriar Centre

Macy’s – North Park Center, Galleria, Collin Creek Mall, FIrewheel Town Center, Shops at Willow Bend, Town East Center, Stonebriar Centre

Neiman Marcus – Downtown Dallas (Main St.), North Park Center, Shops at Willow Bend

Nordstrom - North Park Center, Galleria, Stonebriar Centre

Saks Fifth Avenue - Galleria, Shops at Willow Bend