Emmanuel, Frances, and I joined the Young German Symphony Orchestra for their U.S. concert tour. We performed as soloists for the Beethoven Triple Concerto. Concerts took place in Philadelphia, Gettysburg, Emmitsburg, Baltimore, and New York.
The concert went very well - YAY! Now I can disclose that I barely looked at the piano since my return from China (no time to do so) and was honestly worried about this performance... Ironically, the only piece I had a flash of doubt as to "what comes next" while playing was my own composition, "Northern Lights" which I played as an encore...
Let me explain the context of this concert: cellist Michael Flaksman organized a four-day course for young cellists (ages 8-16) here in Dilsberg, from May 1-4. He invited 8 young cellists (2 from Italy, 3 from Germany, 2 from Poland, 1 from Korea) to come here to have lessons with him and two other cellists, his wife (Jelena Ocic) and Wolfgang Lehner (a Swiss cellist... who happens to be a good friend of my family, though until this week we hadn't been in touch for some years). The cellists participated in masterclasses, rehearsed and performed works for cello ensemble, and performed solo recitals.
What a gifted group of kids! They performed the most difficult works (e.g. Lalo, Schumann, Haydn, Shostakovitch, and Saint-Saens Concertos, Schumann Fantasy Pieces, Shostakovitch Sonata, Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso, Popper Hungarian Rhapsody, among others) with finesse (clear interpretive ideas) and great technical prowess (fast and agile fingerwork, excellent intonation, excellent bow control). I volunteered to accompany two for works that I've played many times, the Tchaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso and the Popper Hungarian Rhapsody... But never have I heard either work played as fast as these boys did (at Ferrari test-course speed). I personally wouldn't choose to play (or listen to) either of these pieces at the tempi they chose, but it was impressive nonetheless. Probably a combination of ambition, adrenalin, competition with their peers, and purely being able to handle the pieces technically (showing off).
The 8-year-old (Riccardo Giovine) pulled off an impressive solo recital consisting of Bach's Arioso (accompanied by cello ensemble), Bach's Menuetto I and II from the G-major Suite, Vivaldi's 5th Sonata, Squire's Danza Rustica, and the finale of Goltermann's 4th Concerto.
I also attended a fantastic concert performed by Jelena Ocic (cello), Connie Shih (piano), and Phillip Roy (violin). Prior to the start of the concert, I accompanied the audience as we sang "Happy Birthday" to Michael Flaksman... The Trio performed Beethoven's Trio Op. 97 (Archduke) and Mendelssohn's Trio in d-minor Op. 49. A wonderful performance, performed with incredible passion (picture hair flying in all directions as they shook their heads to the music... a la rock stars). My Dad and I sat in the seats reserved for us... in the front row... an arm's distance from the cellist (I really could have reached out and touched her bow if I wanted to... wouldn't that have caused an outrage!).
Now, they've all gone home and Dilsberg feels a little empty... (except for all the birds, singing beautifully).