When asked to learn Villa-Lobos’ Choros # 11, the only information I had was its length, all of 65 minutes! But the moment I read two or three of the most beautiful themes he ever wrote, my decision was made and I never flinched: the pleasure I would get from playing them, carried me all the way!

By the time I was off to Brazil, I had mentally prepared to cope with anything that came my way, knowing the people and circumstances I was to face. Upon arrival I soon realised that I was the only one having put in enough work in this most complex score of a Piano Concerto I’ve ever come across…It simply meant an awful lot of unnecessary hassle again! The whole experience was more like going through a grinding-machine, emotionally! You will understand how one could consider it a ‘pilgrimage’ of sorts! On the other hand, being back in my home country, I can top up my batteries with the love, tenderness and appreciation of the family and friends I left behind. That gave me extra strength and I’m glad to say the end result was enough of a success – v. article in Press Review; sorry, only if you read Portuguese! I am so looking forward to having this Choros # 11 ‘in the can’; pity that BIS didn’t record it the following week: we will almost have to start over, next February.

Never mind: “cin-cin, Heitor: here is to posterity”!

Back in Europe, and almost straight to Norrköping, where I had to face, reluctantly, a conductor who had never done Brahms Concerto # 2 -- what, again? I must be getting lazy with age, and can’t bear the idea of going through all of that hassle, sometimes to no avail; and for one performance! When my girls were teenagers, I nicknamed each in turn: Ms Can’t-be-bothered … Funnily enough now, the cap fits me!

But I am glad to say that the young Catalan conductor Caballé-Domenech, was most patient and by considering all my comments and suggestions, an intensive transformation of the orchestra took place and the concert was most satisfying : well done, Josep! I enjoyed every minute of it! Maybe your next soloist won’t know this war-horse as well as I … Good luck!

A loud snag (oh my God, when I think of it): 2 minutes into the 1 st movement, a hearing-aid started to buzz …and buzzzzzz it did until the last few bars of the movement, greatly disturbing my concentration, destroying the clarity of my hearing and spoiling very badly what I felt could have been my best performance of the work. I was so near stopping! Before we continued, at my request, the principal 2 nd violin stepped up to make an announcement from the stage explaining the problem to the audience (were they all deaf?) and asked “please, could that nice person, very kindly… TURN THE THING OFF?!” After that, of course everything was perfect: now relaxed, I could play my heart out: sadly it was to be my last Brahms 2, in 2005!

To wrap up the month the inauguration of Cripps Court, a new building and concert hall at Magdalene College Cambridge. They have acquired for the venue, a reconditioned – brown-- Steinway which belonged to Eileen Joyce, the lady-pianist who was famous for changing dresses during intervals! Does any of you know what she was like? Or how she played?

Prior to the recital, the Duke of Gloucester was asked to unveil a celebratory plaque having himself attended Magdalene; he did also stay for the meal, which was brilliantly catered for, I must say.

There’s no better relaxation following a performance, than to eat and drink with old friends … or make new ones, right, Mark?
PS: No, I didn’t change outfits, not even for the meal: half an hour’s music hardly works up a sweat! Nothing to compare with the marathon-like proportions of a Villa-Lobos’ Choros # 11, Brahms 2 or Rach 3!