March 2nd, 2010
An extraordinary week… part 2
An extraordinary week in the life of Susan Rivers, Chief Executive, BBT.
Part Two. Saturday 20th – Monday 22nd February 2010. Utrecht – Mora – London
March 1st, 2010
On Gavin Bryars’ “Solway Canal”
On February 19th, 2010, the moment had finally come, to which the Borletti-Buitoni Trust and I had looked foward for four years: the première of Gavin Bryars’ Piano Concerto ‘The Solway Canal’, a co-commission of the BBT and the Dutch radio. I clearly remember the very first visit to Gavin’s place in Leicester almost half a decade ago, together with David Hoskins and Graham Johnston, in which we laid out our very first ideas. Already at that time, I definitely felt a pleasant artistic and personal ‘click’ with Gavin. Now, four years later, that feeling proved to be correct.
February 26th, 2010
An extraordinary week… part 1
An extraordinary week in the life of Susan Rivers, Chief Executive, BBT.
Part One. Monday 15th – Saturday 20th February 2010. London – Aldeburgh – Utrecht
February 24th, 2010
Still on Cloud Nine
My trip starts one evening in mid-September 2007:
There we were three young oboists at Herkulessaal in Munich, after having played Strauss Concerto with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra at ARD´s competition finals. The Jury came to stage, we were down where the audience sits, waiting for the result.
December 1st, 2009
“El Duende”
In Spain people speak constantly about “Duende” and recognize it with unfailing instinct when it appears. Federico Garcia Lorca gave a famous lecture on “La Teoria y Juego del Duende”. So in honour to Lorca’s creative force they have taken the name Duende which challenges us to keep our ears open to the ‘dark sounds’, to keep in touch with the ghosts of those who have come before, to never refuse the struggle which is needed to keep the spirits working on the side of truth!
November 9th, 2009
Reflections in Amsterdam
I’m just getting ready to leave Amsterdam in a few hours to get back to London. I’ve been here for sessions with the respected photographer Marco Borggreve to produce a set of ‘publicity shots’ appropriate for programmes, album covers and inserts, and other uses. It is a rather poignant experience to be writing this blog entry for the Borletti-Buitoni Trust in the city on the Amstel, a place that over the years I have visited throughout various stages of my life.
November 9th, 2009
How lucky am I?
I was walking by the sea, the wind and rain was almost unbearable, and I tried to listen to the answer machine on my mobile. The distance between the rehearsal venue and my hotel was not very long, but in this weather it was not very pleasant. The message on my mobile was from Susan Rivers; had I heard about the Borletti Buitoni Trust?
October 30th, 2009
The Prison Break Tour
Being a part of a performing ensemble is more than just showing up for concerts. It’s first and foremost about enjoying what one does, IMHO, something that depends, generally speaking, on whom you’re doing it with. Our key to sustaining that joy, which is later transcended to our audience, is the connection that we have between us not only as musicians but also as people, as friends. When we are on tour our Trio becomes a family.
October 10th, 2009
Olga Neuwirth and me: premiere night
October 10th
Tonight was the world premiere from the Neuwirth Viola Concerto in Graz, Austria, and I come out of it with an overwhelming feeling. Finally this happened and the piece was born “for real” with an audience, a hall, an atmosphere…
Continue reading this entry »
October 8th, 2009
Making Waves
A week to go till our BBT gig at Wilton’s Music Hall, and to be honest I’m looking forward to it! It’s a really cool venue, like venues I’ve played in Berlin, Prague, etc, but never thought London had a venue like it, let alone the place allowing a percussion duo to play in it! We are a bit of an unknown package to those people who have never seen us, and it can be a battle getting audiences – but everywhere we’ve played since we began, we’ve been invited back – and when we’ve gone back the audience is always bigger, so i suppose we must be doing something right!!