Friday, July 28, 2006

All things happen for a reason.

Carter is done. Congrats to the singers - I know there is no way I could have ever memorized my part. I am very in awe of them all.

Today was the first time ever I was drunk before 7 pm. I am sober now, but it was an interesting experience.

David has his MacBook. He is my first official Mac convert. I am very very proud.

Too much going through my head at the moment. Tomorrow will be better. The Gran Turismo concert is tomorrow night at 6pm in Ozawa. It promises to be very very good!

Thursday, July 27, 2006

3 days. Thank goodness.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

4 days. Happy thought.

Tomorrow night is the US premiere of Elliot Carter's opera, What Next?. The composer, age 98, will be there. I, plus a few others, will be playing and singing. James Levine is conducting.

Last night was so much fun! I love TOP. And - David and I both got our pictures taken with John Williams, who is a very very nice man. He asked me my name, what I play, etc. I should have brought one of my (several) Star Wars soundtracks. Alas, I did not know he would be here and I would be able to get a picture. Maybe next time.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Cool Weather, Gran Turismo, TOP

Last night I slept with a sheet AND a comforter. I loved it. I love blankets and curling up in them. Thank goodness this particular heat wave has come and gone. I'm sure it will not be the last before the end of the summer, but today was such a beautiful day without being hot - lots of sun but a nice breeze. I don't think I could ever move back to the south, even if I have already lived there for over a third of my life. I am officially a northern girl.

Currently I am working on Gran Turismo, "A Piece for Eight Virtuostic Violinists" by Andrew Norman. From the article, it would seem he already has a good career going, and this piece is the most fun I've had since the Schumann Quintet performance. Plus, something I have noticed but I doubt others have - 4 of the 8 violinists in this group are either alumni or a current (Ruby) Eastman student. Me, Boram Kang, Melissa Chung, and Ruby Chen (who was so sweet after my Mozart quintet performance yesterday - "Heather! I'm so proud you're in my studio!" - except unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, actually, no longer - anyway). That is making me very proud. David and I only have exactly three weeks left together - and we talk of CCE and Kim and Kitty every day - and I am starting to feel homesick already. Very silly. (sigh) I will miss Eastman.

Tomorrow is TOP (Tanglewood On Parade)! I always look forward to it, every year I have been here. It is such a fun day. And all finished off with 1812 Overture and John Williams! Tomorrow morning we shall have rehearsal with the maestro himself. Maybe I should ask him if David and I can have a picture with him???

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Mozart Weekend Review

Mozart this morning was actually fun, and people seemed to enjoy it.

Don Giovanni last night was very very very VERY good. I loved it. It was so long, but still - the final scene when the Commandor drags Giovanni down to hell always gives me chills, even when I watch it in the movie Amadeus (where it is filmed in the original theater where it was premiered).

Had a lovely lovely lunch this afternoon with David's sponsors. Very nice. Almost fell asleep during it. Mozart really took it out of me this weekend. I did not even go to the Requiem concert, which is a little sad since it is one of my favorite pieces. The last time I heard it live was here, actually, during my second summer at BUTI. I came back here and kinda regretted it, but then fell asleep so fast I guess I needed the rest. It will not be the last time I can go here Mozart Requiem. That also now puts an end to Mozart weekend. Yet the 250th year is far from over - I have a feeling there is still more Mozart in my future until 2007. Does anyone know who has a big year for 2007? Hopefully someone good.

Friday, July 21, 2006

The picture did not turn out as hoped. But it is staying. End of story.

And oh my goodness. This will be hilarious. As in, hilariously fun.

Yoga Wisdom

Since Kimberly is sharing what yoga wisdom she is learning in Oregon, I will share one that I actually did like yesterday night in the masteclass:

"Realize that sometimes the brain is inferior to the heart."

Take that for what you will. But I appreciated it quite a bit.

My sympathies to Mary and Daniel Keener, for the loss of their bird, Cecil. He (or her? I can't remember if that was ever figured out) was the source of many good stories after Mary's visits to Colorado back in C house. It is sad that Mary and Cecil were finally becoming friends, and he passed on.

Time to catch the bus for the main grounds.


Monday, July 17, 2006

Its hot.

Really really hot.

So hot, that 8 violinists decided to rehearse outside today instead of an old, fire-trap barn.

I think TMC needs to seriously invest in air conditioning for Miss Hall's.

Oh - and I got REALLY annoyed by something else today, which will remain nameless. If you ask me personally, though, I will tell you.

Sunday, July 16, 2006

Elektra Is Done

So, as the title suggests: Elektra is done. It was incredibly hot up on stage, and the guys were allowed to take off their white dinner jackets and black bowties. So what does James Levine do? Comes out onto the stage wearing black dress shoes, black tuxedo pants and: a blue polo shirt, the same one that he wears every day (I'm not positive that he wears the same one everyday; it is quite possible - and very hopeful - that he has several blue polo shirts and rotates them). All the while, the poor MET men singers wore jackets and ties. I don't get Levine sometimes. He is brilliant, etc etc etc, but he just does not look the part of brilliance. It is true - you can't judge a book by its cover.

The concert did go well, and of course, people went crazy the minute we played the last two sixteenth notes (b-flat, c natural for the violins). Felicity Palmer was by far my favorite as Elektra's mother. She was absolutely fantastic. Alan Head was Orestes, and also amazing. Afterwards there was a nice party thrown by the BSO for us at the Highwood Manor. Now - I have been here many many years, and have never been in this house. It is a small mansion on the walk between the Shed and Ozawa Hall. I have always wanted to go in there but its usually only for the big fancy parties for all the rich donors. So that was fun. Then we came back here. The End.

This morning was the usual 10 am Sunday concert. On it was Elliot Carter's A Mirror On Which to Dwell. They played well, and we clapped, and low and behold - there was Elliot Carter himself, 98 years old, walking upstage. He is the most adorable little old man, and seemed so happy to be up there. He's narrarating Stravinsky's History of a Solider (can't spell the French title) with Milton Babbitt and John Harbinson for TOP. Very nice.

Time for a shower. I've been in two different lakes in less than 10 hours.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

NOTHING TILL 7:30 PM

That is all I have to say for today.

Thank you.

(PS - The roommate alarm situation was fixed last night and this morning. The roommate however is still sleeping half nude. I've decided to compromise - I'd rather she sleep half nude with no 5:30 alarm than vice versa. If there is no alarm at 5:30, I won't see her naked. Period.)

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Rain Rain Rain

It has been so hot and humid for the past few days, and while it rained a bit yesterday, that only made things worse instead of cooling off. THEN it rained today - ALL afternoon - and is STILL raining, and I have a feeling tomorrow will be much cooler as anticipated. Certain roommates have begun sleeping half naked because of the heat, so hopefully with a cool down the bedtime shirts will seem much more inviting. It doesn't bother me, its just a little strange when I have to get up at 5:30 am to turn off said roommate's alarm because she won't wake up (Kitty, she reminds me of you - although I doubt you'd set it for 5:30 every morning with the intention of getting up to practice but never actually doing it. So nevermind. I take it back), and the said roommate has sheets everywhere and is not always properly covered up. I'm sure any of the piano boys would enjoy being Zhenya's roommate.

Quintet is not really going all that much better. We are getting the hang of the musical side a bit more, but we still CANNOT play the whole first movement without someone getting lost. I'm getting pretty frustrated, and am at the end of creative ideas and problem-solving solutions. I have no idea how to solve it anymore. It is pretty much a disaster, and if we don't get our act together soon, Fischer will cancel the Sessions and we will be playing Dvorak E-flat quintet instead. Ummm.......yuck.

Elektra, however, is getting better. This morning at rehearsal I was starting to get the hang of things much better. I am still not able to get through a page without playing one of the hundreds of notes on that ONE page wrong, but its only Wednesday, right? With the concert on Saturday night. No problem. Heidi, Whit and Adelaide may be coming to it, too, which would make me very very happy. I have not seen Heidi and Adelaide since my recital, and Whit since my BU/NEC audition in February. Plus they can bring me Indian food. Yum.

Practice time. I have to learn Gran Turismo by Norman Andrew by Friday, July 14th at 1:30 pm. Grr.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Yesterday was the day off, and thank goodness. We went to the beach, the outlets, and then saw The Devil Wears Prada. I know that David liked this movie, but I was slightly disappointed. Lets see if the book shall be better. Books usually are.

Today was double rehearsal for Elektra. This piece is ridiculous. We had rehearsal with the singers for the first time today, and they are all these HUGE MET stars, including Siegfried Jerusalem as Aggememnon (I have NO idea if I spelled that right). Its pretty impressive to be working with professionals from the MET opera, but I can't help but think that its all a little, if not a lot, selfish on Levine's part , who kept his MET job while accepting the BSO one. This is suppose to be the big TMC orchestra concert, held in the Shed where the BSO play every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, filled with tradition and memories and sentimental ideals. And then Levine brings in MET people who shine over the whole TMC orchestra. We sound fine, but come on: these are MET singers, and I can't help but feel that it is because we have MET singers that we have a huge audience for this concert. Last year, Deborah Voigt came and did Brunnhilde for the third act of Gotterdamerung (again - have NO idea if I spelled that right - I think there is suppose to be an umlautt somewhere) and it was the first time ever she had sung Brunnhilde. So everyone was focused on that instead of TMC. Now I'll stop with the complaining. They do sound amazing, especially the woman singing the part of Klytimanestra. I LOVED her.

Today is my parents' 36th wedding anniversary. I called my mother this morning and forgot to say anything, called later this evening and she sounded all happy and excited about their night ahead. If only I could be so blessed someday. My parents are ridiculous. I have never seen two people so in love.

Time for Gil Shaham, Truls Mork, and Bronfman (forget his first name). They are doing a concert of all Schubert trios tonight. Should be VERY good.


Monday, July 10, 2006

Elektra

My life this week:

Even though its the cello part and not the violin 2 part, it pretty much sums it up. Mulitply that page times 42. Thanks, Richard Strauss.

Friday, July 07, 2006

So the first week of Elektra did not go too badly. I LOVE my standpartner, Cece. She's hilarious and we get along well, which means I can relax and just have a good time. James Levine's beat is STILL the smallest thing EVER. I think its gotten smaller than last year, even. Tonight is the opening night for the BSO, and they're doing Schoenberg Chamber Symphony No. 1 and Beethoven 9. I think I'll sit in the audience for the Schoenberg and then out on the lawn for Beethoven. That is, if it doesn't rain first.

In other news, last night there was a birthday party for a singer. He even convinced the kitchen staff to make him a HUGE bday cake and bring it out to the porch where the party was and where we hang out every night. About an hour into the party I was told that Joshua Bell, who is doing Sibelius with the BSO on Saturday night, was going to show up and party with us. About an hour later, low and behold - there was Joshua Bell. This was slightly weird for me. I know he's just a guy, blah blah blah, and a normal person like everyone else, blah blah blah, but the 1st cd I EVER bought was him doing Bruch and Mendelssohn when I started learning Bruch the winter I turned 14. I listened to it all the time (sorry - Suzuki habits die hard). And last night I met him, shook his hand, and talked to him for about 5 minutes. I don't even remember what we talked about. I know that he makes appearances at parties at Aspen, Marlboro, etc, but still. I had to remind myself about it this morning when I woke up. And now I'll stop blabbing on and on about Joshua Bell. His Sibelius better be good or else.

My quintet almost had a breakdown yesterday. I can't believe we still have to keep going through this till Aug. 6th. WHY can't things be fixed after we rehearse them AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN???????? I know I am not perfect, and I know I probably have the easiest part of the five, but come on. I miss CCE. When we had ta-ing rehearsals, they helped enourmously. When we have them here, they are a complete failure. (sigh) The cellist and I had a heart to heart about it. I'm afraid to say something to the group as a whole, though, especially since once I get my big mouth open, I have a hard time closing it. And then I hurt people and regret it. A lot. Now I'm digressing....

I got sunburned at the beach today. But it was a very good time. Time for laundry!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Concert was a success.

Party also sucess.

Elektra - not so bad.

Yes Mary, this is still my favorite picture.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Opening Day

This afternoon was opening exercises at Ozawa Hall for Tanglewood. We (being the TMC Fellows) sang Randall Thompson's Alleluia. This is the fourth time now I have sung this piece for the opening of TMC (twice as a BUTI student). The first time I heard this piece was in 1999, for a Christmas concert at my dad's school. Today, I ALMOST cried. :-) Almost. This place is incredible. There may be a lot of crap at times, but Alleluia has been sung every summer here since 1940 (I believe I told someone earlier today it was 1938. My mistake). The tradition is ridiculous. And now I need to be done with my sentimental mood. So I'll talk about how I'm a bad violinist instead.

I'm having a slight problem in the third movement of the Shosty 10. There are all these rests and I usually pay attention to the bassoon solo (because this guy is incredible) instead of counting rests. I think the entire 2nd violin section is having this problem, because about half of us are always slightly late. I complained of this to Tahlia, and she said: "When in doubt while playing Shostakovich, just play D-S-C-H." Problem solved. There is a LOT - REPEAT - LOT of D-S-C-H in this one. Its like the 8th string quartet all over the place.

I HAVE NEVER LOOKED AT MY ELEKTRA PART AND WE HAVE REHEARSAL TOMORROW AT 10 AND AGAIN AT 2. And its quite easily the hardest orchestra part ever. James Levine, what the hell are you thinking???????

Tonight is the opening concert. Since I don't have aim here, I will post here what my usual away message would be:

Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra
Music of Mozart, Strauss, and Shostakovich.
8:30 PM, Ozawa Hall, Main Grounds, Tanglewood.

Thank you.

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Yesterday I recieved a beautiful package in the mail! Seriously - the package itself was beautiful. Upon opening, I find a card and present from Kimberly and Kitty, that Kim had sent from Oregon when she got back home from Hong Kong. The present is a beautiful white top, which, upon putting on, I realized is slightly scandalous (tsk tsk, girls!! not quite as scandalous as the recital top, though) and it fits perfectly. I love it so much, Kim and Kitty - thank you!! I promise to wear it for a party here sometime soon, and when we see each other next. Which will be soon, I know it will be. The card almost made me cry.

Today is technically a day off for me, but my quintet scheduled a Sessions rehearsal anyway. We need it.

This morning I was extremely irritated in the shower. I do NOT take long showers, so after being in there for 5 minutes, I hear a voice say: "Not to rush you, but I really need to get to the 10 am concert (it was 9:15 at the time). Just to let you know." First of all, if she didn't want to rush me, she wouldn't have said that. Of COURSE she wanted to rush me. So I was rushed and was out of there within the next 30 seconds. Second of all, I looked for her at the 10 am concert, and never saw her. Good grief.

This is somewhat sad - from the home page for mail.rochester.edu:
Attention: Class of 2006 Students
Your UR email accounts will be expiring on November 1, 2006. Please make sure to remove any material you wish to keep. Also, you may wish to send a notification of an email address change prior to the expiration date to the reciprients that you correspond with.