The past few weeks...
11 March, 2010
*It has been a very hectic month and I am enjoying some quality rest at home catching up with various things. *
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of conducting Orchestra Verdi in Milan. The big piece in the programme was Sibelius 2nd Symphony. This is a Symphony I have been wanting to conduct for some time and it was a real triumph. I really enjoyed working with the Orchestra on various details and the audience was very enthusiastic. There was something special when after the first performance we left the Auditorium to find the streets covered in snow.
I then travelled to the Cayman Islands to visit my fiancee where she organises the Cayman Arts Festival (www.caymanartsfestival.com). It was great being in warmer temperatures. We stayed in this wonderful house on the sea and also met some lovely people. I performed in a concert which the Festival called 2+2=8. We were four pianists playing on two pianos. John McLaughlin Williams, one of the pianists (who is also a fantastic violinist and conductor) found these fabulous transcriptions including Overture to 1812 and Chabrier’s Espana. I must say this was a real thrill to perform these pieces. We loved every minute of this evening. I am really looking forward to performing this concert once again, hopefully sometime next year somewhere in Europe.
After sadly leaving the Cayman Islands I arrived in Rome and was greeted by torrents of rain and grey skies. But there was not much to complain about since the Santa Cecilia Orchestra is a treat to work with. We did a Bernstein Gala concert and the Santa Cecilia Chorus was also invloved. Two of the concerts were televised to be shown on RAI Television later on this year.
I have finally returned home and have been enjoying some quality time with friends and family.