Unexpected Costa Rica
On Jan. 2nd I finally boarded my plane for my highly anticipated trek to Costa Rica excited that I was going to have at least 6 months to really soak up and experience what the locals call “Pura Vida”. In my mind I pictured beautiful, uncrowded beaches with never ending perfect waves, cool rainforests at higher altitude with astounding views of volcanoes littered by hidden hot springs, colorful exotic birds singing pure melodious tunes, and loud boisterous howler monkeys letting you know in the most inconspicuous way that they are watching you.
Then on February 13th, the beautiful Darlene Alaric picks me up in a beefy 4×4 and takes me up a series of bumpy and windy turns uphill through the jungle. After several rights and lefts we parked in what I thought was the middle of a jungle with an elevation much higher than that of the beach. We were surrounded by many beautiful sounds including that of birds singing away, a howler monkey welcoming us, the cooling breeze rustling the trees, and the heavenly sounds of a piano in the middle of a jungle?
My spirit was filled with excitement as I walked to one of the two tree houses drawing closer to the music. There was a slight breeze in the air that gave much appreciated relief to the sun’s heat of the day. Darlene, the gracious host she is, welcomed everyone who arrived with a glass of wine. The few minutes before the concert began, a very pleasant mixer would ensue as expats from different countries were able to meet all sharing the common thread of enjoying the “Pura Vida”.
The piano sat in the middle of a very large covered deck with very comfortable chairs and couches surrounding it in a semicircle. Each night averaged about 20 to 25 guests who all had the best seat in the house. The sky would start to resemble a painting as the sun would begin to yawn. This was Darlene’s cue to introduce Seth to the eager crowd.
Pianist, composer, and the founder of the San Francisco Concerto Orchestra, Seth Montfort found Pura Jungla two years ago when he googled piano and tree house. Thank God! This was his second time he has traveled to Pura Jungla to bless us with his gift of music. Gift is merely an understatement.
A very humble and soft spoken man, he would welcome us and then he would dazzle us.
Seth’s love and talent for music is truly remarkable and evident in whom he is. He has memorized over 100 works of music from all the great composers of history and plays them as if the music was his own.
Mozart, Liszt, Satie, Montfort, Chopin, Granados, Gershwin, Gottschalk, Lecuona, Villa-Lobos, were among some of the composers Seth played during the four nights.
Before each piece of music was played, he would enlighten the crowd by sharing a bit of the mood and the history behind what inspired that particular work.
The second he would sit in front of the piano the energy in the air would change. The different reactions of the people listening were true evidence that Seth was to the audience as the magic Piper was to the children. Some would just stare in amazement as Seth’s hands would slip the listeners into a magic trance. Others, would bob their heads and move their hands as if they were playing right beside Seth on the piano. I saw a lady sit in a perfect yoga pose and close her eyes as the inspired notes would take her into a tranquil state of peace. On the couch, a daughter laid her head on her mother’s lap in one of those bonding moments that no doubt, mom will remember for years to come. The spirit and energy in the air was that of peace, inspiration, enjoyment, amazement, and appreciation.
I had never thought that part of my experience in Costa Rica would include a magnificent piano concert, hidden away on top of the tree line in a tree house with views of the sun setting into the ocean each night. I kept pinching myself to make sure I was not dreaming.
Many thanks to you Seth Montfort for all that you are and share. You have blessed us all.
Pura Vida!
