Holidays 2009 - Where Has This Year Gone?!

December 15, 2009 at 5:50 PM

It's that time of year again - we are checking our Christmas lists, stuffing ourselves with food, and having a brief respite from the fall's hectic schedule. 2009 was a busy year, and it feels strange not needing to pack my bags and hop on a plane while hurriedly relearning something from the standard repertoire. It's hard for me to enjoy being in one place, but I think I can manage - especially with food, family, and friends all around!

Early 2010, I will be in Reno, Tahoe, northern California, Austin, Twin Falls, central Ohio, Dallas, Kansas, and Cleveland for concerts, playing a smorgasbord of old and new repertoire (including Bach concerti, a 20th century recital program, and others). I also have upped the number of concerts I willing attend (it's sometimes hard to enjoy seeing many different concerts when you are constantly in an auditorium). In fact, seeing Mr. Perlman play Schindler's List in Avery Fisher Hall last week was unforgettable. Talk about charisma and melting tone. Wow.

This week and next, I have holiday-oriented concerts in Ohio. For some reason, I never tire of the feel-good melodies and good cheer shared by everyone. I do, however, have to curb my appetite. I've been eating and eating, and my time on the treadmill should increase proportionately!

So, a musical resolution for next season is to add more unfamiliar repertoire to the schedule - Bruch 2 (listening to James Ehnes play this now), Schumann concerto and Fantasy, Elgar, the Red Violin Chaconne, and Shostakovich. Hopefully orchestras will agree with me on this. Obviously, the Mendelssohn's and Beethoven's of the world aren't going anywhere, but I believe a week of Joan Tower's concerto would be thrilling! I'm doing my first 20th century recital program EVER this coming spring, and even that repertoire (Ravel/Stravinsky/Ysaye/others) is relatively tame. Any ideas?

I hope everyone is staying warm, wherever you may be, and making the most of the season. Us musicians are so lucky, and we have so much to be thankful for. As Confucius stated: "Find what you love, and you will never work a day in your life." Well, I'm here to tell you that there are many many "work" days, but there is a lot of truth to that statement. Oh, speaking of work...look out for a new recording arriving soon...details to come later...I'm allowed to tease, right?

Anyways, enough rambling, and I promise it won't be another eight weeks before the next blog update...

Hope everyone is enjoying the new website!

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on December 15, 2009 at 8:01 PM

Greetings,

>(Ravel/Stravinsky/Ysaye/others) is relatively tame. Any ideas?

The Reger unaccompanied works are superb Also Martinu is well worth exploring.

Cheers,

Buri

From Michelle Ippolito
Posted on December 16, 2009 at 6:28 PM

Andrew -- where and when in the Reno/Tahoe area will you be performing?

From Andrew Sords
Posted on December 17, 2009 at 6:14 PM

Hi Michelle,

I am doing a mini-tour with Toccata (the new chamber orchestra in Reno) with Bach concerti...January 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th. Hope to see you there!

Andrew

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Holidays 2009 - Where Has This Year Gone?!

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