First Concert!

Today was the first concert of three with the ESNCM symphony orchestra. We started with a late lunch at a restaurent close by (and then people had time to be late without missing the rehersal) before we went to YMCA in East Jerusalem.

Full hall and our conductor introducing the Piano and the Piano concerto.

We tried out the hall and our conductor had some last comments and corrections to how we should play the music. The hall filled with people, and we played a great concert! Our conductor introduced the pieces more to the Arabic audience than I assume he would to a European. We started with Mozart's Overture to Don Giovanni, then the Piano Concerto no.29 with our 15-year old Palestinian soloist, then Valse Triste preceded by the story from the opera of the old woman dreaming and waltzing in her dreams with her husband, and then suddenly she wakes up and remembers he has been dead for long time. Before the Dvorak suite, he introduced all the instrument(group)s of the orchestra with each instrument (group) playing a short frase so the audience could hear the sound. I was nervous for my solo in the third movement (Sousedska), but after it went well in the presentation all my nervousness was gone.

The concert finished with the fast and festive Finale, and I was high on music the rest of the evening. What a wonderful feeling!