Recording of the Week

Romance of the Violin--Joshua Bell, Violin

Acadamy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Ok, not to sound like a giddy high-school girl, but I LOVE this recording. I LOVE Joshua Bell on this recording. I have been criticised for that statment, but I don't care. I once had a teacher who told me, "if you want to be a great violinist, listen to the great singers and try to sound like them." In my opinion, no one (at least in this generation) makes the violin sing like Bell. If you want a cd that is chalk-full of gorgeous music that is easy to listen to, this is the one. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Looking back...

Check out this picture of me! I think I was around six years old. Classic. Hard to believe I have been doing this for nearly 25 years!

I'm a sap

This week in my class I taught about romantic symphony, concerto, and opera. My class is probably so sick of me emoting on Brahms but I can't help myself. I need a whole semester to just talk about Brahms's symphonies alone. Oh, and don't even get me started on the Violin Concerto. My mom came to lecture on romantic opera. I think I got a little weepy when she discussed Madame Butterfly. I loved it. Thanks mom!

Recording of the Week

This week I chose Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola. It's a classic. Everyone should listen to this piece at least once (or a hundred times) in your life. You won't be sorry you did! I think next year I will take on learning the viola part.

Composer: W.A. Mozart
Title: Sinfonia Concertante K. 364 (for violin, viola, and orchestra)
Performed by: Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta.

Success

I just returned from Kansas City yesterday after a long weekend of practicing, rehearsals, lessons, and concerts. A friend of mine sent me a link to the concert review in the Kansas City Star. It's a pretty good review; feel free to follow this link to read it!

http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/story/347428.html

It was a great experience to play the Brahms Double Concerto with Martin and Kanako. I felt honored to be a part of it and I'm so glad to have them as friends and teachers. It was so good to see all of my friends from ICM. I'll see y'all again in a month!

I am trying to upload a video of me playing but unfortunately, I am way too stupid to do that myself so I will have to get my brother to help me. Hopefully you will be able to hear and see me play soon.