Alto flute

It's not common for there to be an alto flute part in orchestral pieces.  It has a lovely mellow tone, but is not very penetrating, so it's pretty much inaudible when the rest of the orchestra is playing.  Stravinsky made use of its particular tone in parts of "The Rite of Spring", one of the few mainstream pieces where the alto is featured.  This evening we watched a concert by the Berlin Phil from 2014, in Baden Baden, where the programme included "The Rite of Spring".  

It had up to then already been a great flute day.  I had an afternoon session playing duets with a friend, and then went on to spend another hour or more practicing and playing for my own personal enjoyment.