Hello Hello!

Welcome back from what I hope was an adventure-filled summer for all of you! I’ve just settled myself back into reality as well as a new apartment and am gearing up for another season in the city.  Although I’m grasping at the last warm days of summer, the alluring traits of autumn have begun to charm me: crisp air, apple cider, falling leaves and a general feeling of starting over.

To recap, I had a rather chill summer, most of it spent looking for a place to live. However, in August I stayed two glorious weeks playing concerts in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Gallery Inn ( www.thegalleryinn.com ), a little slice of paradise overflowing with artistic inspiration! It’s owner, artist Jan D’Esopo created a magnificent hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The hallways, rooms and gardens are full of her beautiful sculptures and everywhere you go, music follows.  There is, in fact, a music room where our concerts were held—a very intimate, candle-lit salon housing a beautiful Steinway Grand and a view of the ocean that is to die for! Places such as this one are a rare find and they’re truly what “chamber music” is all about.

After that delicious get-away I topped my summer off  with a visit home to Saratoga. The Philly Orchestra was still fabulous, the Race Track took all my money and I watched entirely too much reality television, by the way.  After that, it was off to New Haven to record Martin Bresnick’s Ballade for cello and piano with the fabulous pianist, Lisa Moore. (another petite blonde who packs a punch!) I had the best time working with both of them on this piece. —-Stay tuned for more info! and go here… http://www.martinbresnick.com and here… http://www.lisamoore.org/

So here we are in September. There’s a lot happening and a lot coming up. First of all, I have finally started uploading some new audio/video files from this past year’s performances, the first of which include my trio’s debut concert at Yale University. Go check it out on my Audio/Video page!!! Secondly, I just had an amazing musical experience with the Metropolis Ensemble (http://metropolisensemble.org/) directed by Andrew Cyr. We gave a concert at Le Poisson Rouge the other night featuring the music of composer Jakub Ciupinski (http://www.ciupinski.pl/) One of the pieces on the program was an interactive composition/improvisation involving 3 celli, 3 flutes, bassoon, piano and an iPhone. Walking from table to table, Ciupinski and Cyr showed audience members how they could choose from several different themes, dynamics, melodies and instrumentations in order to create their own composition. Those selections were then transmitted to our Macs on stage, via Ciupinski’s program and the iPhone, where we were able to perform each table’s “work” without so much as batting an eye. The program was so solid and easy to understand, plus the possibilities are endless! Riding the wave of the future folks…

Coming up next weekend (September 26th) is Dvorak’s Cello Concerto and Bruch’s Kol Nidrei with the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. The following day, I will be playing Kol Nidrei again at the  Temple Beth Jacob in Newburgh. As many of you know, this weekend is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year and next Sunday (Sept 27th) is Yom Kippur, known as a “Day of Atonement” and also one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar. Kol Nidrei is an Aramaic declaration made at the beginning of the evening service of Yom Kippur. The name is taken from the opening words and translates as “All Vows”. While not technically a prayer, it is prayer-like which is evident in Bruch’s composition. The phrases are structured in a kind of “call and response” manner between cello and orchestra, not unlike that of the Yom Kippur liturgy.  In addition, the orchestration allows the solo cello a certain amount of flexibility with rhythm, dynamics, rubato, etc. This gives the entire work a “speaking” quality which, in my opinion, humanizes the music and conveys the solemn message of Yom Kippur. On this day we account for our transgressions against God and against others. We repent for those sins, seek absolution and ask God to annul any personal vows, meaning those made for personal gain, heretoforth.

heretoforth….I really wanted to use that.  And, in other words and other news, FROM HERE FORWARD is going to be…..

a lot of Bang on a Can!!!

Yes it’s true, I am going to be doing many many more things with this awesome group, including a series of concerts in Beijing and Shanghai this October,  tours throughout Europe and the U.S. as well as some very special concerts right here in NYC.  On November 21st we will be performing with Trio Mediaeval (http://www.triomediaeval.no/) at Zankel Hall in Carnegie, premiering Julia Wolfe’s newest work: Steel Hammer. Don’t miss this one!

OK. I think I’ve given you enough to digest for the time being so I will leave you now to go check out all the cool websites I listed in this blog…

xoxoxoxo…x…o.