Since 22nd of July, I have been reunited with my dear MCO-colleagues in Krems. Actually in Stein to be more precise, a small village in the shadow of Krems at the Danube, not far from Vienna.
It has been a long time ago that I felt so incredibly happy and good being on tour, a combination of many aspects coming together I guess. There is the wonderful surrounding, beautiful open air concert hall in Grafenegg, smiling faces, a luxurious hotel with everything available including good masseurs and good vegetable rich food, the relaxed atmosphere AND:
Marillen! Being an apricot lover it is paradise here! Trees are full of ripe apricots!! Everywhere! Thanks to the apricot I even start to like the famous Austrian Knoedel J They make yummy Marillenknoedel, served sweet as a desert with an entire Marille inside. The apricot abundance is so overwhelming; restaurant chefs use it in their kitchen in combination with anything. I had fish with apricot-rice, very lekker apricot-ice, Marillenlikoer, marillen vinegar, and of course gorgeous marillen marmalade, a.o.
Beside the apricots I also love our conductor Robin Ticiatti who’s personality and musicianship guide our music making to wonderful heights and inspire me greatly. The atmosphere is very good, and I feel so invited to play and look for the most exquisite sound I could possibly let come out off my violin and listen to my colleagues! His sympathetic, kind, gentle and humble personality, his honesty and pure music making are definitely of a big influence I think.
And next to the Marille and Robin Ticiatti the biggest joy of this project for me is to play chamber music!! With Jaan (clarinet), Mette (violin), Alexandre (viola) and Julia (cello) we play the Brahms clarinet quintet. Brahms composed this piece not far from where we are residing now. Maybe everything sounds too enthusiastic, but it is really a very special kind of joy to find out that playing chamber music together with your orchestra colleagues goes so well, inspiring and harmoniously! I have had many other experiences, which really makes me appreciate this combination now. They are so great musicians and players! I feel so grateful to play with them… And the nice thing is: many things we work on come back later in the day during the Brahms symphony nr 1 rehearsal, and also vice versa of course: the things Robin says about sound and phrasing in Brahms help me to look differently at the quintet.
The best sentence describing the mood and atmosphere of this project for me comes from Diet, a Dutch extra player who plays regularly with us, she said:
“Music really makes people love each other even more.”
I agree. And for all who read this and are not musicians nor professionals: even if you whistle or sing a song, it has the same effect. Especially if you play or sing, or listen together.
