Summer Concert 2018 Chamber Music Circle Bischberg, Bavaria, Germany

July 23, 2018, 6:05 AM · It's been years since my last blog entry and I plan to post more frequently in the future.

When I learned to play the viola a few years back, the biggest obstacle to overcome was learning to read music in alto clef. The Chamber Music Circle in Bischberg was kind enough to let me participate as an apprentice violist.

To express my gratitude (and also because it is extremely fun), I sometimes fill up their small viola group for orchestral projects, such as the yearly summer concert (program; soloists and participants). In the last weeks before the concert, the rehearsal frequency was doubled (Friday afternoons in addition to the usual Monday nights), the "dress rehearsal" took place on Saturday and yesterday it was finally showtime.

What a pleasure to play in a formation that was also supported by one of the solo bassoons of the Bamberg Symphony, whose daughter played the Vanhal concerto in F major; other family members joined us on violin, flute and bassoon.

Chiara played the solo part beautifully and with great verve. Her dad provided a lively, precise and colorful bass line.

For the two concertos, I filled up the second violins, for the other pieces I used my viola. "Palladio" contained a delightful trio of sixteen beats, which I had the pleasure to play together with flute and bassoon. The concert hall was filled to capacity, we even had to carry in extra chairs.

Sweltering heat made it difficult to turn the tuning pegs and the audience sweated almost as much as the musicians, but nevertheless the applause was long and loud.