Sigh....

May 2, 2006 at 5:53 AM

It is incredibly difficult to sit in a courtroom all day, spend time with my two little girls in the evening, catch up on my "day" job at night, and still manage to find time for practicing. It's a good thing I don't mind jury duty, since this is my third trial (eighth summons, and I've only lived in California for 11 years!), but I don't know how much longer I can keep up this routine. With the trial expected to last several more weeks, something's going to have to go, and I fear it may just have to be the violin.

At least my last orchestra concert of the season is this coming weekend, and I've decided for sure that this is the end of my participation with the group. It certainly made the decision easier when my friend (whom I recruited for the second violin section) informed me that the director had given everyone a lecture on attendance. I've NEVER missed a rehearsal---I've even scheduled my vacations around them---until last week when I was so sick I couldn't even get out of bed, and to be chastised for that is more than I feel like putting up with in a life that is already too stressful right now. I want to focus on solo work for a while, and if I do join a group again, it will be one that is more professionally run.

On a happier note, I saw Joshua Bell in concert leading the San Francisco Symphony orchestra last Thursday, and it was MAGNIFICENT. I'm now familiarizing myself with the Glazunov concerto in preparation for hearing him play it in July at the Festival del Sole in Napa. I've just acquired Maxim Vengerov's recording of this beautiful work, and am thoroughly enjoying both it and his rendition of the Tchaikovsky that's on the same CD.

I did finally get rid of my aging Dominants and try the first set of new strings, the Pirastro Eudoxas. I've decided for sure that I don't like them; they do have a warmer tone which one expects, but I think my instrument does better with something more brilliant. Now I've got to decide whether to leave these on long enough to break them in and experience them fully, or just toss them and go on to the Infeld Blues.

From Stephen Brivati
Posted on May 2, 2006 at 6:12 AM

Greetings,
conducters sure can be a pain in the botty. Its really worth checking out Milstein`s recording of the Glazunov. He played it with Glazunov himself. I belive that CD has the Dvorak concerto on it. That is Milstein at his most lunatic brilliant. Its very scary.
Cheers,
Buri

From Sydney Menees
Posted on May 2, 2006 at 8:14 AM

Oh goodness, Karin. I know what you mean (kind of). I had to ditch practicing because I'm totally cramming for AP Euro (on Friday)!!!! Great that you saw JB, though :-)

From Colleen Russo
Posted on May 2, 2006 at 12:17 PM

Sydney and I are so jealous- you see josh all the time!!!

From Karin Lin
Posted on May 2, 2006 at 11:35 PM

Buri, thanks for the recommendation, I may check out the Milstein recording.

Sydney, you can take the AP Euro exam while you're in Germany?

Colleen...yes, I get to see him in concert all the time, but I don't get personal emails and private backstage meetings with him. I'd say YOU two are the lucky ones!

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