April 2006
April 21, 2006 08:00
This is for those of you who THINK you know how to pronounce things. *grins at Linda and Colleen*
Bram = Brahm (not Brom)
Karin = Kare-in (not kuh-rin or kah-rin)
Zigeunerweisen = tsee-goi-ner-vye-zen
I'm so excited for Colleen! I'm sure she'll have more to post later....
17 replies | Archive link
April 17, 2006 09:15
It was a normal day...until the doorbell rang. My dad goes, "Sydney! Come here." I walk over and see a man standing in the doorway. My mind is racing 'It looks like....but it CAN'T be...' I get to the door and say "Hi!" and to my disbelief he goes "Hi, I'm Bram." It was Bram. The Bram we all know. The Bram who loves rare violin concerti and Janine Jansen.
!!!
17 replies | Archive link
April 15, 2006 07:45
PS - Lots of people's eyes (including mine and Colleen's and Natasha's and Brian's and Kelsey's and Laurie's and Emily's and Bram's and Jessica's) are here!
15 replies | Archive link
April 11, 2006 08:45
Okay, so I realize I haven't been talking much about me lately. Ummmm, that sounded really conceited, but it's the truth! So now, this entry will be about German happenings and such.
So, I went to the Janine Jansen concert and that was fantastic! Sorry about the unsatisfactory review; I had to write it at 12:30 at night before I forgot the important details and my parents didn't want me on the computer, so I had to write it in 5 minutes. I am going to a Heidelberg Philharmonic concert on Wednesday, so that should be interesting, especially because my teacher (here) is in the orchestra! The last time a teacher of mine was in an orchestra, I didn't get to observe because I was the soloist! That was really REALLY weird because she was the concertmaster...
I've been working on the Bruch and it's really refreshing and fun after doing Mozart's No. 5. No offense, but it got boring after a while. It's really a cool change of pace to have a different teacher too. My other teacher at home is fantastic and I've had her since I was 8, so it's interesting to get a different take on things. The other day, she told me I could definitely get into music school! I was really happy about that. Of course, I will not be going to any camps this summer because "We're in Europe for traveling, NOT to spend money on music camps." I understand it, but this would be the first time that I would be really serious about it! Ah, I guess there's always next year.
German drinking age is 16. Sydney turns 16 on July 12. Uh-oh, I'm starting to sound like Linda! Speaking of which, Linda how is it being literally stranded in Vienna? How are you going to get out?!
I've got some more weird dreams for you:
1) I was at some concert hall and there was a HUGE robbery going on. The soloists (Strad) violin was getting stolen, but I saved it and returned it to its owner.
2) I was on the O**** Show solo. No one was on there with me. But this time I was the one dressed up! Do you remember that profile picture I had a while back for a few days with me in that cow mask? I was in that mask getting interviewed on the show! Probably not as bad as a ham sandwich, but at least he could see.
The mask that freaked even Linda:
PS - To Stephen Mayhew (see below blog), it's totally the hair that creates the resemblence (especially in the first picture).
14 replies | Archive link
April 9, 2006 04:47
If you have something positive to say on this board (not something I have ever linked to before), please chime in. I believe this the next step.
4 replies | Archive link
April 6, 2006 15:02
The verdict is: Janine is not only pretty, but she also has substance.
She played the Prokofiev concerto with the German "youth" orchestra (which wasn't really a youth orchestra; most members looked to be in their twenties). Janine walked onto the stage with the conductor adorned in a bright red gown. The rest of the orchestra was clad in black. The concerto started out with the violin playing solo. She seemed to have some trouble projecting at first, but in the second and third movements, no such difficulties lingered. What I noticed most about Janine is her ability to have absolute control. Her bow arm was especially amazing. She could create a sad reminiscence or an obsessive battle-like fury. In the sensational third movement, there was some mad pizz-ing going on during which Janine stooped quite low; her head was barely over the 1st violin's stand and stared fiecely at them. If I were them, I would've been deathly afraid of "dream girl" Janine, but luckily, they remained composed. She had some very interesting stances while playing including: leaning way back (as if sitting), hunching way over (it looked like she was whispering to the conductor), and she also bobbed her head a lot while conquering tricky left-hand passages. The concerto ended very nicely and she had at least five curtain calls, but we couldn't coax her to play an encore. I wanted to say "Janine, NOOOOO!! Come back!"
All in all the concert was a success and I hope to see more of this virtuosic young violinist.
7 replies | Archive link
April 6, 2006 09:24
Hey all, I found a snail-mail address for Oprah! I'll be writing her a message after I return from the Janine Jansen concert tonight. If any of you want to write as well, that would be great. Here is the address:
Oprah Winfrey
HARPO Productions
P.O. Box 909715
Chicago, IL 60607
I think I'll be posting a review of the concert later...hehehe.
4 replies | Archive link
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