The unique chance of performing the greatest Concerto in the piano repertoire, Brahms' Second, three times round, does not happen every day. Invited as the star- soloist by the Orquesta de Balears which was appearing for the 1st time in Barcelona's L'Auditori under their chief conductor Edmond Colomer I had the time of my life! Apart from the initial 'hiccup' of arriving in charming Palma, to hear that the 1st Cellist had been rushed to hospital ...With that most famous of Orchestra solos to tackle the orchestra turned out trumps: they found not just one, but two worthy replacements for the dates! By the time the 3rd performance took place, I felt on top of the world! Gil Sharon, invited leader for such an occasion, was also great fun.
By the way, the 1st Cellist was fine: apparently it was simply a case of too much eating. Hear that, Gil...? No comments.

Then to Stavanger I went, where I was to perform Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue - a work long kept-off my repertoire list since I didn't think there was much to add to the 'usual' run. Funnily enough, it was not until I discovered Schulhoff's wonderful music (see My Journal's entry for January) that I tackled the Rhapsody with a much freer approach to its idiom. Only a year separates its creation from that of the Schulhoff Concerto - following my première of it in Prague I am to play it again in Hong Kong in July and although, geographically speaking, an Ocean lay between both composers, their common denominator of jazz's influences brings these two works unavoidably close! Back to Stavanger where the orchestra's chief conductor Ms. Mälkki, is a lady full of Finnish flair - great collaboration, Susanna!
One more engagement, a BBC lunchtime recital, turned out longer than it should - unlike some, one of the reasons being entirely of my fault: if you think it is not possible for anyone to get lost driving from London to Manchester, well - you're wrong, especially since it didn't involve going via Buckingham Palace (private joke). That was one score - the map, in this case, I didn't prepare well enough, shall we say? I finally made it to the Bridgewater Hall, with all of 20 minutes to spare; calming down from a big town's nightmarish one-way-system, balance-check, make-up, change of dress... HELP! Still, I heard from several listeners that the broadcast came out very beautifully, including Schumann's lighthearted Papillons and the most orchestral of young Brahms' works, his F minor Sonata). Anybody else heard that?
I wonder.Thanks, Paul (producer) for the concern and good work!