We had a great trip to Brazil (via Madrid for a concert in lovely El Escorial and back to the airport in time for a night flight to Sao Paolo!) for a great week's teaching and performing with the students of the Campos de Jordao Festival. It's a truly astonishing achievement to have created such a diverse and thriving all-embracing festival - great to hear that it is COMPULSORY to study music in Brazilian schools. Couldn't the rest of the world learn something from that? And that amazing converted train station which houses a most beautiful new concert hall, seemingly dropped in by a genius architect to work in harmony with the majestic old marble building.
Adorable baby owl somehow found its way to the motorway services on way to Campos...
Then in August we had a similar 2-centre tour, though not over two continents this time. Oslo Chamber Music Festival was great - lovely people, working with the amazing David Hansen (countertenor extraordinaire) and the sun come to Oslo for the first time that summer - what views over the harbour watching a mega cruise liner leaving port for a trip up the fjords. Waking at 3.30 am to catch the early flight to northern Spain wasn't so much fun, but the lovely Santander Festival was as vibrant as ever. Shame to be there for such a short visit, but a great tapas bar with those incredibly soft-headed foamy cervesas made up for it. And the legendary Teresa Berganza was at our concert and took the trouble to come and see us back stage afterwards, full of lovely compliments and friendly banter. I wished I'd thought to tell her that our paths had crossed previously at Sutton Place in the '80s and at Granada Festival in '90. Both memorable performances by her.
September began with a return to the lovely Nourish Festival in Devon, where you are literally 'nourished' with food and music! Then we were immersed in Brahms for a few days, recording at Potton Hall again, this time the C Minor Quartet and the Piano Quintet with the fabulous Natasha Kudritskaya. That's a momentous thing to have in the catalogue finally - we've been playing both works since we were youngsters…
Finally, to round off the summer, we visited Dubrovnik - all of us for the very first time - and were blown away by its beauty. Having always heard about it, you are kind of ready for something special, but it's even more stunning than one can imagine. The light…the white stone … and it was especially great to be there to perform our Trees, Walls and Cities piece, this time with mezzo Clare McCaldin, who was simply brilliant. We had lots of fun out and about with Nigel Osborne, Ian Richie, Isadora Zebeljan (who celebrated her birthday on the concert night). Lovely festival, lovely people. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the Blood Moon that night as it was cloudy… Would've been a great place to see it. We'll have to try again in 30 years' time!!
September began with a return to the lovely Nourish Festival in Devon, where you are literally 'nourished' with food and music! Then we were immersed in Brahms for a few days, recording at Potton Hall again, this time the C Minor Quartet and the Piano Quintet with the fabulous Natasha Kudritskaya. That's a momentous thing to have in the catalogue finally - we've been playing both works since we were youngsters…
Bovey Tracey church and little gate-crasher outside the artists' door...
Recording at Potton Hall with Jeremy Hayes, producer.
Dubrovnik
Tip me for more alcohol - that's fab!
Cellfies...
Here's a snap of me taking a nap in the back-stage trolleys….joined by Paul. Jet-lag and too many miles covered.
A well-earned beer in departures. Cheers!
Back home again for a bit of a holiday.
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