This week at the 70th Cheltenham Festivals has been deeply gratifying so far. Cheltenham Town Hall is a dream to play, the staff and volunteers of the festival truly saint-like, taking care of our every need. But it is the amount and quality of music that is overwhelmingly gratifying. We have already played Beethoven Triple Concerto, Brahms Piano Quartet in G min, the UK premiere “Butterflies Remember A Mountain” by Arlene Sierra and Shostakovichs only Piano Quintet. Still to come is Shostakovich Chamber Symphony Op.110 (8th quartet), Holst St Pauls Suite, and a recital programme of Mozart E minor Sonata, Prokofiev 1st Sonata and Elgar Sonata. During the Beethoven Triple Concerto, a relatively new piece for me, my skin began to literally shiver. The fullness and richness of the composition and its seeming relevance to me and all my current emotions and thoughts became physically overwhelming. I think possibly, just possibly, this Triple Concerto could be my new favourite work. This morning I embark on two packed days of rehearsals with 150 young students. It will look something like the photo attached. Last night practicing Holsts St Pauls Suite, just down the road from where Holst was born, I returned to my very first orchestral experiences with this piece. I called my sister and we started singing it down the phone to one another - what a beautiful, genuine and sweet piece it is. Im greatly looking forward to hearing and meeting the young musicians of Gloucestershire. Have a beautiful weekend everyone, Nicky
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 07:54:49 +0000
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