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August 2007

Photos from Sion-Valais International Violin Competition 2006

August 25, 2007 18:52

Although the 2007 Sion-Valais International Violin Competition concluded yesterday, it has taken me one year to post the photos from the 2006 competition. But here they are:

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A cab ride to remember!

August 25, 2007 17:45

"Just close your eyes until we get there".

With those words, (spoken before the most death-defying cab ride to a hotel in my life)my wife, two sons, my manager, publicist and I embarked upon a truly fascinating week of concerts, a lecture and masterclass in China. My wife and I were scheduled to perform two concerts in Shangahi and Souzhou, with a class at the Shanghai Conservatory wedged between the concerts.

Our journey had begun two days prior, and was interrupted by an unexpectedly re-routed flight which required an overight stay in San Francisco (compliments of the airline). Finally arriving in Shanghai, we were met by a representative from the concert organizer who ushered us to the famous mag-lev train, which wizzed us to a stop within cab-ride distance of our hotel. (I swear the cab was traveling faster than the train!!)
Our destination within sight, we couldn't wait to get some decent sleep at the hotel (after many thankful prayers for deliverance from the cab ride!)

In the morning, things looked brighter and we scoped out the concert venue which was a very beautiful art gallery. We ate (carefully) some very exotic local cuisine and hit the ground running.

The days which followed were a wonderous blur of friendly people, great music, amazing scenery, exotic culture, and an amazing shopping excursion in Souzou (after the concert).

When we returned home one week later, jet-lag combined with culture shock made the whole experience seem like a dream. Its a good thing we took pictures, or we might have thought it a figment of our imaginations.

I hope you enjoy the photos: