Oh, what joy to re-prepare Beethoven’s greatest, his G major Concerto. The writing of # 4 is like lace, making it the most exposed and lyrical of all 5. The 1 st movement contains such perfectly intricate set of dialogues that pace becomes a most important element, every phrase supposedly blending with the next. Follows the most sublime of Beethoven’s slow movements where the piano gradually tames the Orchestra’ sturdiness in short outbreaks from the soloist of themes of most soaring, sheer beauty!

Having arrived at the top of my musical maturity, I so felt ready to give it my best ever performance.

Knowing that Rumon (principal conductor of the Icelandic Orchestra for a few years, now) was to partner me in this venture, following our musically rewarding collaborations in Barcelona and Lugano only made me long the more for this date.

Believe it or not, since getting married there so many years ago, Reykjavik will always retain a special place in my heart; not only from the warmth and honesty of its people but because every time, from the moment I land in the country and breathe-in those uniquely strange landscapes, it feels as if roots take a grip on my make-up as an adult!

Then, it all happened as I expected.

“Thanks, Helga, for being there for me! What a pleasure to work with such responsive musicians: Rumon and the Icelanders are definitely a great match!”

Ahead of me lay a long stretch in my beloved ‘haven’ in the south of France, where I was to prepare for 4 gorgeous concerts in the vicinity. I so looked forward to being back there since I remembered well the discovery of unbelievable profusion of flowers at exactly the same time last year! What more could I ask but vibrant colours, perfumed alleys, plenty of birds busying about, sunny weather and a beckoning swimming-pool as a break from work on a very extensive list of repertoire?

I was scheduled to appear twice at the delightful “Orpheus & Bacchus” Festival. Firstly an appearance with the wonderful Chilingirians, my 1 st ever professional quartet — long gone were the days when, as a very green pianist I recorded that work with the even greener young Medici Quartet for EMI, with John Willan as the producer. The complex of ‘Le Faure’ being situated only at 20 minutes from my own place, it felt quite cosy going to-and-from rehearsals. César Franck’s massive F minor Piano Quintet was the work:

“What joy guys, I loved you so: will we ever work together again I wonder?”

The following evening, I was to play the programme I’d done in Modena (v.April). The invited audience comprises of semi-and-wealthy retired couples (mainly from the UK and Europe) taking a so-called luxurious and exclusive ‘dry-land cruise’: visiting wine châteaux and interesting towns in the French country side during the day; then in the evening they’re offered high quality musical entertainment being provided in a relaxed atmosphere. I could expect a few cherished friends in the region and I must confess, the occasion served as an excellent outlet for recent collection of pent-up emotions: a most moving experience in every way.

To explain the formula used by Ian Christians the enthusiastic host: drinks are provided to the guests before and during the interval of a full length concert; that is followed by a delicious cordon-bleu dinner prepared by a charismatic chef, Georges, brought-in for the length of 3 weeks or so; the lot is ‘washed-down’ by wonderful wines chosen by connaisseur Ian. Between the cheese and desert courses time comes to offer some ‘encores’- it cleverly helps with the catering... You can imagine how elated one is feeling by that time; surely, the guests will enjoy whatever comes their way!” But it has a very special feel to it all.

“Anytime Ian, just ask and I will come to play again!”

For a while now, François Querre from “Les Grandes Heures de Saint Émilion” had been trying to bring Antonio Meneses so that we could play what I so often refer to as my most enjoyable partnership imaginable. This year it finally was fixed and chosen as the place where our concert was to take place: Château Cheval Blanc, he-l-lo, the very first of the Grand-Crus!! Wow!

A week in which to regroup and finish learning the Chamber Music pieces of the calibre of Shostakovich’s and Rachmaninov’s Cello Sonatas plus some Villa-Lobos – was all I had ahead of me.

Playing that evening in the glassy “Orangerie” cum-concert-hall, it felt as if we were in a sauna, due to the intense heat that fell that day... We had to make our own excitement even more intense, so that the people couldn’t tell what was hottest, the air or us!

Earlier, while planning for the concert, François delighted with my choice of programme, mentioned en passant that “I shouldn’t be shy about suggesting any other wonderful colleagues that I could bring for a second evening of music...” I wouldn’t dream of losing the opportunity of Antonio’s presence and on the spot I couldn’t think of anything else but Brahms’ Clarinet Trio, around which I duly built up a programme. For a few years, I hadn’t been able to persuade Antonio to find time to learn the barely heard Poulenc’s Cello Sonata (upon working on it we realised that this must be due to a lack of initiative in the cello part: most pacing and strong beats are given to the pianist: “trust me” I’m proud to say!). So once Meneses agreed to giving a go, I grabbed the chance of combining that with the Clarinet Sonata as the 1 st half of the programme... And so it was that we asked Dimka Ashkenazy to join us for the concert, which would take place two days after that of the Duo, giving us plenty of time to rehearse!

Wonderful idea + wonderful players + great atmosphere = wonderful concert, in the well known/fabulous acoustics of the Salle des Dominicains, in St Émilion!

Meneses & Ashkenazy .

I have known Dimka since he was 2-3 years old, when I first arrived in Europe! He was a most sensitive and ‘wise’ child – I well remember his telling me how welcoming the view of Christ the Redemptor over Guanabara Bay, in Rio de Janeiro, felt to him everytimw he looked at it: this aged 3 or 4! He has turned into a gorgeous human being: besides being an accomplished and very focused musician, full of original opinions which are very helpful in rehearsals, he’s and a joy to be with and very charming.

Now Antonio, I’ve known since he won the Tchaikovsky Competition, in the early 80s. An astounding artist (he has no technical problems!), highly professional, he used to give the impression of being rather distant but I believe from shyness rather than from coldness. We have played often and always had good enough concerts but now, with the passing of the years , he has mellowed so much – haven’t we all?!- and has of lately completely changed for instance as a dinner companion; as to before, he couldn’t care very much about anyone present, simply sat down at table to enjoy his food; now he stills does that, for certain, but golly has he relaxed and loves telling jokes! Musically of course, it was always tops; now it is miles better and warmer than before and as a human-being so much more pleasant to be with: we laugh a lot together.

At St Émilion we had almost a week of great moments. We will repeat our Trio, this time adding Beethoven’s op 11 – which by the way, in order to play the slow movement as an encore, we had the music sent by fax which arrived late morning on the day of our concert. Sure, the two of them knew it>> not me, I don’t play chamber music that often, and surely not trios... Yes, it took courage to sit down to perform it, having read it through a couple of times together... but hey, I am completely mad and a sucker for challenges! Probably from having to cope with 5 brothers as a child – no better preparation for toughness, I assure you!

A word about the meals cooked by delightful Almuth -- François’ wife and a most generous and sensitive hostess -- were as usual sublime! We are all spoiled by the quality of the wines served but also by the unerring touch of a superb “chef”!

“No doubt Antonio, you would consider coming back another time, huh? And Dimka, let’s hope that you’ll get some deserved bike rides next time — at least I won’t have to lug the thing back and forth... for nothing! I might even go with you!”