November 8, 2004 at 12:36 PM

Yoohoo! Today I was able to play through Konigliches Thema in a way that the piece actually sounded like a piece of music and not some boxing fight I am having with the violin. Strangely enough it seems that hard practice does pay, hmmm, maybe I need to do it more often.
No jokes, I am starting to feel comfortable with the Yun piece of the first round. It is about time, because in 5 days the first round will take place. I have not spend the time I want on Bach and Paganini yet, but I know it will get there. More trouble is in the second round. I now know Ysaye V almost by heart, but Yun's Gasa still has not recieved any attention. But after Konigliches Thema I am thinking it will not be so hard anymore.
Whatever happens in Korea, I think I already got something very good out of the preperations. My left hand feels much more solid than it has in the past years. Because of all the jumps and weird chords, I feel much more at home with the violin and I can notice some real progression.
Yesterday I performed with Ton Hartsuiker, the former president of the conservatories of Utrecht and Amsterdam, the 1st sonata by Pijper. It was fun. It was in a little monastery in the middle of the red light district in Amsterdam. In fact, when I would open the blinds in the green room I would be looking straight at two ladies sitting in front of a window, offering their services. Weird, even I am sometimes still shocked at things in Amsterdam, especially when they are in your face like that. The hall in the monastery where we played was small, but a perfect space for intimate chambermusic concerts. Afterwards I went for dinner with one of the pianists that played in a very fancy hotel / restaurant. One of the things I really like about playing concerts etc. is that I really get to live the good life. I feel so fortunate to be travelling as much as I am, and to really be able to spend time with people in nice places and enjoy good food and wine over a discussion about art (and currently ofcourse always a little bit of politics). I mean, how many people really get to do stuff like that on a regular base.
Ofcourse sometimes it is hard. A couple years ago, I flew every 2 weeks from the US to Europe, and after a couple months I was completely exhausted. But in general I love my life as a musician.
I think one of the things that makes it possible for me to enjoy so much at this point is the fact that I have been living in my home country for almost a year now. I had been living in other countries for the past 7 years and had lost the sense of what "home" was. But now it is great to travel and afterwards to come home and sleep in my own bed. It really has provided me with a balance. Not for long though, because I am hoping to return to New York in January, but that is for later worries. Well, I am going to practice some more and finish reading Helene Grimaud's biography.
Tomorrow I am on for 36 hours of travelling. Anybody know where I could practice during my 6 hour lay over at Heathrow or 4 hour lay over in Seoul? I guess I'll have lots of opportunities to give some try outs for waiting passengers of my competition program. I hope they have good in flight movies!!!

Next entry will be probably from Korea. Till then!
Carla

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November 8, 2004 at 12:36 PM

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