“A esperança é a última que morre” = Hope, is last to die

This common Brazilian saying comes to mind. One would think that concerts shouldn’t be hard to come my way, given that the 50th anniversary of death of Villa-Lobos happens in 2009. Consider my agents hadn’t succeeded and I certainly have no idea of how to reach people who might want to engage me…So I can only hope that good things might happen unexpectedly.

“If any of you have any suggestions to make, don’t hesitate to write in: every bit helps!!

More than ever my haven was a welcome retreat. Keep busy, is a good motto I think, when things aren’t going too well. This summer I was due to travel extensively anyway, to Uruguay, Brazil, Mexico and Bulgaria. As usual: come summer and I base myself in the south of France. My beautiful house is ideally placed in peaceful surroundings and of a good size for accommodating large numbers of people… Unless one decides to do something active, very little goes on in the village where I ‘hide’ from the world.
Five years ago I had a workshop of piano-concertos – there are two pianos in the music-room-5 young pianists came. A year later, I planned a week-long workshop of chamber music: three of us professionals (cello, viola and piano) would work alongside some young players: a violinist, a violist, a cellist and a pianist; at the end of which we’d perform sonatas and duos plus a trio and/or a quartet, sharing our music with local friends and music lovers. Unfortunately that time, things didn’t work too well: we ‘lost’ the two violists mid-course (v.Aug 2003) therefore we could only get up to a trio formation. The expression ‘live and learn” comes to mind so next time I try I will succeed!

The first “C* O* et ses amis” (v. Sep 2006) came next: a series of chamber-music concerts; the idea came from a visit by Werner Herbers, talented Dutch oboe player and friend who also plays Jazz: that our chamber music concerts should end with a Jazz session lightening up the seriousness of classical concerts for the benefit of the locals. All performances took place in properties belonging to generous friends of mine: it was a success by all accounts!

Then this year it surfaced that some of my more assiduous students needed lessons during summer plus the fact that quite a few pianists write in for advice and ask whether I can listen to them… Discussing the possibility with a dear student of mine, sweet Manon immediately accepted to help with the logistics of it all, so I fixed a 3rd workshop in August and 6 pianists from different countries enrolled. I also had confirmation of 4 concerts in mid-September: so a 2nd edition of “Les amis” was in the cards as well! Keep busy, I certainly would!

A first visit to Uruguay. Back to the present: in late July I went to Montevideo to perform Prokofiev # 3 twice, under the baton of a Brazilian friend and conductor, Tibiriçá. Playing with Roberto is always musically most enjoyable; in this occasion I had the added pleasure of meeting in person Maria Julia, the orchestra manager – whose contact was made totally through the Internet. Then her dear assistant Augusto plus Hugo, an actor friend of Roberto’s who was also most talented for languages… he-he (private joke). Together we had some famous meals, great times and laughed a lot! I hope all problems within that orchestra have been resolved by now.
“Remember: ' nêga do cabe-lo du-ro, qual é o pen-te que te pente-ia ...' beijos.”