montegabbione

well, this was probably my favorite weekend here in Italy. We had friday and saturday off, I played Bach cello Suites in the streets. Sunday we went to Montegabbione (1,000 pop.) and played a concert there. Originally we were scheduled to play in this crazy amphitheatre way up in the mountains but the concert was rained out. They bussed us back down to the town where we were treated as royalty......... after the concert We were cooked a home made meal from the older widows in the town (they were so sweet and after the meal everyone applauded for them.) I sat across from a guy named Corrado (roll the r's). There was this really cool thing that happened that I can't put down in words, because words don't express. I definitely felt like cultural boundaries were crossed (surprise surprise...) over the dinner table. Originally all of the musicians had sat down together except for Lauren and Byron and me (Brahms trio group) who decided to give our Italian lessons a test-spin. We sat down with the locals and conversation slowly started to progress. After a few minutes we were getting the other students to get out of their little cliques and sit with the locals. It was amazing everyone was laughing as the cross-cultural musical chairs began. We drank wine from the vineyard across the street and ate pizza and salami piccante! MOLTO BUONO!

here are pictures from the original concert location.

half full!

Last night's performance of the Shostakovich Piano Trio felt so good, i had a few slips but for the most part I held my own. It's pretty intimidating performing with people who have performed and worked professionally. I have included a picture from our performance (Teatro Mancinelli). The hall was beautiful (talk about vaulted ceilings) and the opening passage of the first movement felt so resonant. And best of all, the crowd loved it!!!

I spent last weekend in Florence visiting cathedrals and Michelangelo's David. It was a really great time. The train ride there was almost as enjoyable as the city. I went with both Elinor and Lauren (violinist in the picture) and my roommate here, Trenton.




I am also posting a picture of the best pizza ever. Capriciossa: con olives, artichokes, and mushrooms. The olives were amazing!!!

Cello time!

Over the last couple of days I have had several wonderful moments of introspection. It has been really intense. Elinor Frey (our chamber coach) has taken a very serious approach to running the string chamber program, as well as my personal lessons. I have the opportunity to work with some really outstanding players.


I am playing the Shostakovich Piano Trio at Teatro Mancinelli on Tuesday with two women. The violinist has worked professionally with several chamber groups (touring Europe and the States) and has studied this piece inside and out. She has been very encouraging. The pianist is the director of the festival, she is an incredible musician. At first I was intimidated by playing with people who were much more experienced with playing chamber music and have performed the Shostakovich Piano Trio some 20-30 times. Both Lauren and Nyhila have been really patient with me and I have learned so much from them in such a short amount of time. Because of our expected proficiency level our group has been re-allotted extra time for a concert next Tuesday. I had prepared the 1st movement before coming to Italy.

Elinor has asked us to play all 4 mvts. on Tuesday.

As my chamber coach she has been giving me an hour lesson every day (she's only required to give me one a week). We have been working of course on the Trio stuff but we have also been diving into Baroque cello sonatas (pre-Bach composers). She has taught me how to use a baroque bow, which has it's own learning "curve" as well as how to play without the endpin. This is the traditional style and can also be used when playing the Bach Cello Suites. Elinor is from Montreal but she actually spends quite a bit of time in Ithaca teaching, so we have already been talking about studying and getting together to play Baroque cello duets. They're really fun. I am kind of nerding out over here!

A doppo,
Daniel