Some updates and Concert Reviews...

Here's some bits since last update (in my "drunken" by PP state)

Fell ill on Fri... stomach got really queasy - but had to stay through... actually even pulled myself for NIE prac and supper after tht. (Maybe i should blame the supper late thurs night for the uneasy stomach on fri, but hey... it's been a long time since i met Chok) Of course, it's no wonder tht on Sat, I came down with such terrible stomach flu that I had to cancel piano lessons. Naturally, i slept my whole day away. Managed to get to church and WW on Sunday, but down again on Monday... it felt terrible. By the time i actually got to the doctor's it was already 3 plus...

Realised by Thurs (1st wk of school) tht e newbie taking over my class for form-teacher-ship is also going to be the t-i-c for Band! - ah... and one of the teachers called him my "prodigy". Almost fainted upon hearing tht! Anyways, prodigy and I got to talking and well... our boredom during the first half hour of school was changed to a more interesting chat of some sort... finally... someone tht can understand my lang... and what happens? - i leave... gah.

Headed for Crystal's baby's 1st month thingy and then for a screening of happy feet @ botanic gardens. Funny how things start to look better after i tendered - cuz suddenly it seems like everyone's really kind - i even got a ride frm Crystal's place to CL's place. literally frm door step to door step. hmm...

Headed for P's place for a gathering of sorts early today. Very few of us but it was a cosy affair. (Got a call frm T one aftnn with re to some email sent - i'm frankly still kinda appalled by some pple's reactions to certain things and how things can turn pretty bad - i can't say for sure tht i wouldn't react the same way if it were me- but i probably won't be too extreme abt things - and hey, T, how come u always claim that u have the same thoughts too? Similarities in change of diet too - can't eat so much after came back from PP, as well!? fishy... anyways, glad to be of help) Result of the gathering was that i had no time to head home before concert. This brings me to this next part... drumroll...


Concert Reviews

Piano Fest Day 1: Nettle and Markham
Entertaining programme - though 1st half was a little heavy.
amazing nuances and totally wowed at their ability to play without scores and also to create everything so wonderfully orchestrated! - It really felt like an orchestra performance at certain points. 2 encores
Post concert talk was interesting too!

Piano Fest Day 2: Cyprien Katsaris
Heavy 1st half again.
I want his fingers! - No, i ain't greedy.
Amazing fingerwork, delicate touch and absolutely wonderful voicing ability!
Totally loved his interpretation of Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu.
This is really Art of Performing - u've really gotta watch him to know what i'm talking about here.

Piano Fest Day 4: Valentina Lisitsa
WOW WOW WOW...
This lady has a dynamic range of pppp all the way up to ffff!
gosh - amazing octave work, each chord pounced with character and excellent voicing control
Almost every single work she did required pouncing on chords, running chromatics and octave work for both hands. I won't say tht interpretation is flawless, but there's just so many good things going on - distracted as i was, by all the jumping movements, there was hardly time to realise any flaw!
5 encore pieces - and they were: Standchen (the liszt transcription of the schubert lieder), La Campanella (I tot pple played this as Concert Repertoire... not encore?), Chopin Waltz in A minor, Chopin's Grande Polonaise (another concert standard!?!!?), and Schumann's Traumerei.
[Side-note: the prodigy also went for this concert... with a cousin... hmmm. i should ask him for a review of it some time this week.]

Time to start prac-ing properly... will i ever get even half-way there?