As January 2017 draws to a close, the reality of the direction of humanity and our world really leaves me at a loss. I'm trying to retain that hope from the spring and summer of 2016.
I would just like to share a few moments that happened to me this past month; which give me inspiration, motivation and determination to continue to strive for the "greater good." As a musician, my role is to try to contribute and communicate music to the world. If I am honest with my work, hopefully I can touch someone and brighten their day. This gift has a lot of meaning, is sensitive and at times fragile. It truly is a gift!
1. Seeing Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo in Gounod's Romeo and Juliette at the Met in New York.
Diana Damrau. A beautiful artist. She has it all: unparalleled vocal nuance and colors, acting, sincerity, purity. I have been SO lucky to see her four times, and each time she has made magic on stage. I am so grateful that the Met is so close to Boston!! Her partnership with Vittorio Grigolo is sublime. I saw them in Manon last year, and now this performance.
2. Musical projects.
a) Philip Glass, Chase Spruill and Serge Rachmaninoff. A week of inspiration through rehearsing. Striving to present the pieces to our audience at the highest level on the performance date. Collaborating with sincere individuals. Fantastic repertoire. My first time playing Philip Glass. Chase Spruill's composition: a simple gem.
b) Schubert and Beethoven. Working together with an old friend Christina Wright-Ivanovna. She put together a wonderful program of lieder and Schubert's Fantasy in F minor, for 4 hands. A great team, and the performance was very rewarding.
c) Beethoven 109. Taking on a big project to continue growing as a musician. Beethoven's last 3 piano sonatas are works which I hope to play for the rest of my "pianistic" life. Performing Op. 109, starting to comprehend it's challenges. Realizing how long it will take for this music to mature. As a musician, this is how I should be spending my time!
3. An email from Canada, reflecting on "Miroirs."
Hope you enjoyed reading. This is a small window into the light that I found this past month!
photo: Lake Champlain, VT. Charlotte-Essex ferry. August 2016
I would just like to share a few moments that happened to me this past month; which give me inspiration, motivation and determination to continue to strive for the "greater good." As a musician, my role is to try to contribute and communicate music to the world. If I am honest with my work, hopefully I can touch someone and brighten their day. This gift has a lot of meaning, is sensitive and at times fragile. It truly is a gift!
1. Seeing Diana Damrau and Vittorio Grigolo in Gounod's Romeo and Juliette at the Met in New York.
Diana Damrau. A beautiful artist. She has it all: unparalleled vocal nuance and colors, acting, sincerity, purity. I have been SO lucky to see her four times, and each time she has made magic on stage. I am so grateful that the Met is so close to Boston!! Her partnership with Vittorio Grigolo is sublime. I saw them in Manon last year, and now this performance.
2. Musical projects.
a) Philip Glass, Chase Spruill and Serge Rachmaninoff. A week of inspiration through rehearsing. Striving to present the pieces to our audience at the highest level on the performance date. Collaborating with sincere individuals. Fantastic repertoire. My first time playing Philip Glass. Chase Spruill's composition: a simple gem.
b) Schubert and Beethoven. Working together with an old friend Christina Wright-Ivanovna. She put together a wonderful program of lieder and Schubert's Fantasy in F minor, for 4 hands. A great team, and the performance was very rewarding.
c) Beethoven 109. Taking on a big project to continue growing as a musician. Beethoven's last 3 piano sonatas are works which I hope to play for the rest of my "pianistic" life. Performing Op. 109, starting to comprehend it's challenges. Realizing how long it will take for this music to mature. As a musician, this is how I should be spending my time!
3. An email from Canada, reflecting on "Miroirs."
Hope you enjoyed reading. This is a small window into the light that I found this past month!
photo: Lake Champlain, VT. Charlotte-Essex ferry. August 2016
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