When my good friend Werner Herbers and his wife Leonie came to spend New Year’s Day with us in the south of France, we talked over an idea I’d been mulling over of a mini-festival of chamber music but one with a twist: appended to the concert there was to be a surprise-section where the musicians who wanted to participate in a relaxed jazz-section, showing that serious artists can enjoy and make music in different ways!

This of course came about because as well as being a great oboe player-- having been 1 st oboist of the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam for all of 35 years -- Werner happens to play a ‘mean’ Jazz not only on his instrument but also on the piano ... and the bass! Although I am crazy about Jazz, I can’t play it at all!

Noticing that local friends of mine who share my passion for Music and even started attending some of my concerts, have recently seemed to want to participate more and more closely; I made a proposal and things simply went very fast! Most of them own beautiful properties in the area so very quickly three concerts materialized, on consecutive nights: not taking too much time off any of the musicians’ busy schedule and making the best use of their visit.

I knew that I could not get by ‘improvising’ as during both of my previous Workshops “with a little help from the friends” who took it in terms by contributing to the evening’s cooking: the formula was an easy-going light “baguette-lunch” with cold cuts, cheese and salads, conducive to good constructive work during the day; then the main meal in the evening was watered down by plenty of Bordeaux wine, perfect for unwinding!

It worked rather well then, but this time I was dealing with professional colleagues, and having so much on my plate (excuse the pun), helping hands were in order: as it happened I had the great idea of securing the services of Fernanda and her husband Manuel, a Portuguese couple who had looked after us and our baby girls, many years ago. Over the years I have tried to keep in touch with these gentlest of people! Due to the lack of employment in Portugal, extra financial retribution will always come in handy to them. I was so pleased when they accepted: seconded by her energetic husband, gentle Fernanda would guarantee the cleaning and smooth running of the large house but most importantly, delight us with delicious cooking! This meant that I could totally concentrate on ... everything else!

Actually I’m forever thinking of having them around me. If only I’d find the way...

Colleagues and guests.

Dimka – (clarinet) came from Switzerland but unfortunately was to play only in the opening concert,
Mei Yi – talented young pianist who would share my work; her room-mate
Maggie – supporter (+ pianist) who proved a most resourceful page-turner, and
Nigel – indispensable piano-technician friend, always so helpful and nice to have around, all cameon the same flight from London.Then
Werner – was driving south that same day, from near Limoges; his wife
Leonie – would join us later, for the concerts; and finally
Vladimíra ( French horn) and
Pavel ( bassoon) who together drove from Prague, arriving just in time to partake of our 1 st delicious alfresco supper -- by the way, I’m glad to say that the weather was sensational throughout their visit!

“Cristina Ortiz & ses amis”, 1st Edition. 

Serious work started the next morning: I had opted for quite a varied repertoire for the sake of many friends attending more than one performance therefore preparing 3 programmes in one and a half days was more of a race-against-the-clock!
I was half-expecting to rely on Werner to help in the handling of anything that came our way, from tips about lighting to... you-name-it... Indeed there was no end to his prowess! Also being a freak-cyclist he quickly sussed out the best bike routes around us for the delight of Dimka, another enthusiast of the sport! So as you see, “when there’s a will...”
They found time for that, while some like Maggie and Nigel, cooled off by the pool ... Pavel and Vladimíra enjoyed reading in the hammocks ... while we pianists, were forever learning notes ...

At an earlier time, we had got stuck looking for a willing bass-player, in stepped François, another reliable friend, who found someone at a moment’s notice. Imagine the immediate transformation in atmosphere when, following the heavenly perfection of Mozart’s Piano Quintet, a bass was to be brought onto the stage!
When young Thierry arrived to meet Werner on the first day he seemed frozen with worries but with some gentle coaching, he came up trumps! Years of playing in the Netherlands Wind Ensemble has added expert flexibility to Werner’s make-up as an artist: that gang was forever throwing-in innovating gags. Recently at the head of his Ebony Band, he has added an even more relaxed approach to music.

L’Abbaye de St Ferme , 1st concert.

Once the late dignitaries were finally sat, we started proceedings with a surprisingly cohesive (short rehearsal time) performance of Beethoven’s youthful Quintet; then Dimka and Mei-Yi starred in a very effective Sonata by Horovitz (not Vladimir). After the break, three of Brahms’ Hungarian Dances (4-hands) provided a change of pace before the evening concluded with Mozart’s gorgeous Piano Quintet – in my opinion, a mouth watering programme!
Then started the real unknown-quantity of the evening; but knowing Werner’s genius I knew I could relax. And quite proud of having been the organizer -- hard to believe -- I joined the public and enjoyed every second of it!
Taking over the stage once the main concert was over, Werner charmed the audience half in French, half in English and told the listeners that he would understand if, on such a hot evening, they preferred to head off to the cocktail ... to no avail: the audience were all ears, happy to sit through a second concert, for as long as it took!
In a extra-short time he prepared players who had never done jazz in their lives by writing down guiding-keys for them so that they could happily read their parts from scores. We heard among others, an unforgettable arrangement of Miles Davis’ “All Blues” for piano, wind quartet + bass: just magical! He then played “Misty” with Mei Yi at the piano; Thierry improvised a whole number on the bass for the delight of his present friends. Then, reluctantly but so that I wasn’t the only non-participant, I gave in to Werner’s coaxing and sort-of-tried to sing Jobim’s famous “Girl from Ipanema” ... Help: the venue being rather large, quite full with people and there being no microphone in sight – thatwasscary!! Everyone seemed to enjoy it, though!

Valérie and Arnaud de Raignac, our hosts of the evening, offered a cosy supper among a few close friends. I could have partied away for a long time; but after a while, being the dutiful hostess I had to take my exhausted Czech colleagues to bed -- after their long drive the day before, all the rehearsing plus the concert... they well deserved their rest!

That night I went to sleep, thrilled with the realization that my crazy idea of Concert + “Jazz-4-Fun”, had worked!

“Werner, you are great. I couldn’t have done any of this without you! My warmest thanks!”

Château de Pitray, 2nd concert.

My good friend Nicolas -- his Château is surreally reminiscent of that of Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”-- had set-up the stage with impeccable taste for the concert on Sunday afternoon. In the programme there were bassoon (Pavel), oboe (Werner) and French-horn (Vladimíra) solo pieces with Mei-Yi at the piano; Kahn’s jolly Serenade for oboe, horn and (me at the) piano brought us to the interval. In the 2 nd half, the pianists’ 4-hands managed Fauré’s ever-lovely Dolly Suite, and the concert closed with my favourite Poulenc piece: his Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano, oh, that yummy slow movement!

The thought of playing outdoors unfailingly brings me for one, a great feeling of freedom! Although it was a hot and very sunny day, strong winds came up just before we started and nearly spoilt our fun. Enters Maggie to save the day: page-turner ‘par excellence’, she seemed to be everywhere, moving sinuously like a cat... At one point she had to sprawl herself over two music-stands!

“Great effort, Mags”!

Although from the time we agreed to the festival, I told Werner he should play Jazz on all three instruments, until then he had refused to approach the bass. While everyone was enjoying the ongoing cocktail which followed the concert, I sat at the piano to ‘fake through my own feeble version of Jobim’s ‘Girl from Ipanema’. Surreptitiously Werner sneaked by, waited for me to get through the theme then silently moved me off the piano-stool, lowered the key from G to his own preferred one of F major and off he went! Having noticed the microphone used for the initial welcome-message still lying about, I grabbed it and in that husky, colourless, Astrud Gilberto-voice brought a slightly better result than the night before.
After chatting with the public and a few drinks later, Werner finally got hold of the bass, lying on the stage, not being a show-off, mind you: he was having fun but also wanted to comply with my request: wow did he have a go! Later, Thierry told me that he’d been ‘bawled over’ by the guy’s gorgeous touch and fluid technique!
Again we were well wined–and-dined alongside our host’s delightful family and closest friends. “Thanks, Nicolas, the occasion was a stunner.”
(PS: to end a day of wild experiences, changing into someone’s swimwear, I ended up diving into the beckoning pool, in need of some cooling! Leonie, who thought of joining me didn’t find enough courage ... nor a second bikini!)

Jardins de Sardy , the final concert.

The splendid house has an idyllic Italianate garden plus a beautifully managed pond with gracious water-jets. O ur resourceful host Frédéric, had the great idea of setting up an upright piano on a natural stage near the pond; of course without batting un eye-lid (with the start of a rotten cold) Werner accepted to play with Thierry and provide background-music to the cocktail which preceded the classical concert! Again the evening was another scorcher, making it tough to play but the enthusiastic local audience is most appreciative!
The reception took place on the beautiful terrace, a great food-spread and gorgeous wine. Just as we got to the end of dessert, a real storm came up from nowhere and started blowing everything on sight. With the first spits of rain F. remembered to run with 2 helpers to collect the poor stranded upright, from down below, before heavens opened and fatally soaked it! While back up on the terrace, under effective electric lightnings, people were running everywhere, carrying glasses or taking in lamps, plates and table-cloths... quite dramatic scene which could have been mistaken for the set of a Hitchcock film... without the murder, this time!

The Double-Pleyel, treasured ‘resident’ relic.

It is always a treat to play on that amazing piano: a double-harped two-keyboarded beautiful piece of furniture from the beginning of the 20 th century. With Mei Yi’s help I had planned to delight our host with Walton’s fun Charade then perform Scaramouche by Milhaud, which he likes. On the spur of the moment, Frédéric was shown some basic chords and proceeded to accompany Werner on a tune... It was hilarious: on-and-on it went, round-and-round, until F. called out: “Je ne sais pas comment m’en sortir!

“Frédo, tu es unique! Un grand merci pour tout.”

Back home Fernanda, so appreciated by everyone for her culinary and many qualities, was delighted to be part of it all attending all 3 concerts and at one moment, dreamingly exclaimed: “ah, the privilege of feeding such wonderful artists...”

With the end of “Les amis”, it was sad to see them all leave. When I look back I can hardly believe it all went so well, beyond any fantastical dream I might have had! Well, it won’t be long: I must start planning something else for next time!