Just played a concert with the community college. I mentor the french horn section, which really means that they pay me to play in their orchestra, since they are short brass players.
Tonight's concert was Brahms' 1st symphony and Saint-Saens' 2nd piano concerto. The piano soloist, Jon Nakamatsu won the Van Cliburn award in 1997. The concerto went great, but I loved his encore piece even more. I had been kicking around just yesterday the idea of starting to practice again Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu, which I had half learned at one point. It turns out that that was the encore piece. This happened to be the best interpretation of it I have ever heard. I was...astounded. Even though I know the piece inside and out, it was fresh and lively, transporting me to my happy place.
My random thoughts during the concert:
Brahms - I really should learn more of his piano pieces than the waltzes and Hungarian dances. Few composers have the range from intense and dramatic to light an delicate that he does...and often in the same piece or movement...Oops! The clarinets are a measure ahead in the third movement and half the orchestra followed them. When I come back in, do I follow them as well? Looks like the conductor did. I guess that answers my question...I'm so glad I didn't accidentally swallow a piece of hair like the concert last year...uh oh! The second horn player is falling off of his riser. Do I grab him or continue playing my solo? Play the solo. Priorities. Good. The fourth player saved him.
Saint-Saens - I should have played that note with more articulation....great, while I was over-analyzing that, I lost count...Oh! He's cuing me! That's where we are! How did we get there already? I'll trust that his cue is correct. Oh gosh! The measure I have that exposed part that I never get right! Hey, that wasn't bad. Maybe I should miscount more often...
a fun night!
