Just a month ago, I’d told an audience that one of my delights in playing Ullmann’s Fourth Sonata was turning to its opening page and finding the little note Alice wrote me next to the dedication to her. I often think of the afternoon I spent with Alice Herz-Sommer, then a mere 107 yrs old. [ Read More ]
This morning watching NY1’s On Stage, I was delighted to see my friend and neighbor David Garrison singled out for his fun, funny, poignant portrayal of Fagan in Papermill Playhouse’s production of Oliver! To think that for his next role, David will be joining me in January at Roulette as the Speaker in Ullmann’s one [ Read More ]
New York City in the summer – this one particularly pungent with heat and humidity, found that my vintage refrigerator, a Hotpoint, had finally decided to live up to its name. Ice cream turned to soup in no time while the inside of the freezer looked like an arctic panorama. Yet in replacing it, I [ Read More ]
January 1 – largely celebrated as New Years Day with all intention of newness and fresh starts, largely dreaded as 2013’s fiscal deadline which as it turns out is still in play, and generally overlooked as Viktor Ullmann’s birthday. Based on what friends born on major holidays say, I can only imagine how Viktor perceived [ Read More ]
This entry may seem a departure of sorts, but then, this autumn has been full of such departures from the norm; throughout, I’ve been impressed by people’s capacity for generosity and fortitude in the face of severe and unforeseen hardship. My time in Skokie playing the complete Ullmann – at times, seemed daunting as I [ Read More ]
Had a big break-through this week! In the ever-shifting balance to stay within one’s artistic process while navigating the larger world, such occurrences rarely come in the form of life-changing epiphany. Rather, during a work-a-day practice session, or driving between home and school, or running errands, a thought occurs. As the thought then takes hold, [ Read More ]
Album of the Week at WQXR (with streaming availability for Aug 20-7!) and at Ariama too! Fascinating to see how various radio hosts, reviewers and writers consider this material; links below so you can peruse as well. Only want to add that in getting to this moment, working with ArkivMusic and Steinway who have shown [ Read More ]
My doctoral thesis advisor Robert Bailey died last month. When I think of him, I think of elided cadences, seeming phrase ends that simultaneously dovetail with beginnings, a way of continuing a musical conversation that either has utmost flow or surprise, depending on how the composer handles it. I took every course he offered, and [ Read More ]
When one lives in a compact Manhattan apartment, big renovations come in small packages. For me, it was reupholstering the few pieces of padded furniture I have. Kitchen chairs from my parents’ house – plastic yellow on black metal frames that speak of the 50’s and provide the most comfortable seating I’ve ever had at [ Read More ]
Simmer mode – the creative juices are churning but not yet fully seasoned. I’ve been quiet here in these last few weeks. When I started this blog, a friend jokingly offered a recipe for how often to post- laundry day. Now several rounds of laundry since my last entry (one would hope so!), there are [ Read More ]