Traveling, Brahmsing and Recording

Greetings from a rather cold Bremen! This week has seen quite a lot of time on the train. 32 hours to be precise... The past weekend was spent recording a couple of tracks with Eigelstein Brass in Köln as well as a brief photoshoot with our new horn player. The group is working very hard at the moment and it is great to be involved with something where there is so much direction and energy and such a feeling of pride in the product. On Saturday I returned to Innsbruck for a few days, however by Tuesday I was on the train once more to Bremen to play Brahms 2nd Symphony with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie and Paavo Järvi. Although we have played this piece several times it never ceases to amaze me how many different ways there are to perform it. One night there can be a moment which can, in the following evening's concert, evolve into something entirely different. I really enjoy playing here as this way of working keeps you on your toes. You never really know what is going to happen next! It makes for a very enjoyable and exciting concert for not only the audience but the musicians too. This week Lang Lang is playing the Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 24 in c-Moll with the orchestra and there is an amazing buzz around the rehearsals. Tomorrow we have the first concert in Bremen followed by a concert in Duisburg on Saturday evening at the Klavier-Festival Ruhr. After a rather early finish of todays rehearsal I am now back in the hotel arranging some music for a new quintet project. More news soon. F