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Encores, and Incredible Moments

April 7, 2008 at 6:27 AM

Well...the double-hitter is officially done, and I'm finding myself both grateful for having had the opportunity as well as remembering the value of being overprepared - overtrained, as some sports psychologists say.

This has been a great week, filled with wonderful surprises from both the musicians in the orchestra as well as from Rich and Debbie Simons. Going home will be a good thing, as I do feel satisfied in many ways.

At the end of the concert - what can I say? It's still wonderful and heartwarming to receive flowers from children (as I did) as well as have an audience call you back to the stage. While I was not prepared to play an encore we asked the audience if they wanted to hear something else. They said yes - and I played Bach.

YES - the G Minor Adagio, on no warning - AGAIN....not since 1997 has something gone that smoothly, and not since June 2006 have I actually felt that vibartory link between a performer and an audience. Speaking of "myself", I have to say that it went quite well, and this was probably the best performance of the G Minor Adagio that I have ever given.

Speaking of "the moment", however (taking "little me" out of the picture and observing), there was magic made in Croton-on-Hudson on the night of April 5, 2008, when an audience sat with open ears, eagerness, and open hearts to receive...

The first time that I felt that link between an audience and a performer was in 1994 when, while making my graduate school decisions, I went to Houston for a violin lesson (and, of course, had one of those happy life accidents - a chance meeting - that changed the course of my life) and had an opportunity to hear Christian Tetzlaff with the Houston Symphony. He played the Dvorak Concerto - and the audience brought him back FOUR times! On his fourth trip back to the stage he played the Andante from the A Minor Sonata and one could definitely feel the intense connection between that man and a room filled with grateful concertgoers....

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on April 7, 2008 at 6:38 AM

I'm glad you had such a warm and exciting experience. I hope the good feelings last for a long time. ;-)

From Drew Lecher
Posted on April 8, 2008 at 4:25 AM

Sam,
Wonderful and congratulations!
Drew

From Kim Vawter
Posted on April 8, 2008 at 1:38 PM

"vibratory link' beautifully said. I will remember it.

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