Well, this time i came up even more empty handed in one sense - no autograph, no picture from my conductor rehearsal with violin superstar Midori. This was all i could come up with as a souvenir:

The concerto this time was by Benjamin Britten. To be honest, i wasn't familiar with the work and wasn't all that impressed when i heard Maxim Vengerov's recording (not to blame Vengerov, who plays it wonderfully - i just found the work way too long and overextended thematically). i suppose one evidence of great artistry is its ability to change opinions - once we ran through the piece with Maestro Eschenbach, i found myself falling in love with the piece, all thanks to Midori's exquisite rendition. Suddenly those meandering lines didn't feel nearly so long, and the lush passagework and extended passacaglia of the last movement gave a complete transport to another world.

One curious moment: as i checked in with the personnel office, i met Midori face to face as she was looking for an extra towel and introduced myself as the pianist for the rehearsal. She smiled and said yes, she had already seen me. Hm?

Earlier today i had a conductor rehearsal with Maestro Eschenbach and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter on the Brahms Violin Concerto in preparation for the Philadelphia Orchestra's Opening Night extravaganza for their 2007-2008 concert season. Several Philly Orchestra colleagues' eyebrows went up in puzzlement when they passed me waiting in front of the Maestro's studio - "Why in the world would she need to rehearse that piece? She already knows that one backwards and forwards!" All i could do was shrug my shoulders and smile - what did it matter? i was looking forward to working with one of the world's most renowned classical musicians!

Backwards and forwards indeed! The Brahms sounded nothing short of exquisite under Ms. Mutter's hands. Such power and comfortable command of that fearsome piece! And yet, she managed to find extraordinary moments to weave supple rubatos and highly personal statements that wonderfully complimented the towering artifices of the concerto.

i think Maestro Eschenbach likes to show off my Tablet PC whenever i show up for these conductor rehearsals - he seems to carry such a twinkle in his eye whenever guest artists ogle at my digital music setup, and Ms. Mutter was no exception to that reaction. Best moment during the rehearsal: Ms. Mutter leaning over during the exposition to ask me, "How do you turn the pages?" i replied, "With my left foot!"

We didn't get to go through the entire work, just key spots for tempi and transitions. What was worse, the Maestro and Ms. Mutter were in such a hurry at the end to get back to the main orchestra rehearsal that i didn't get a chance to snag a tourist picture with Ms. Mutter. Oh well...at least she was kind enough to give me her digital autograph...

...and i'll have to settle for this picture as proof of my short, yet extraordinary rehearsal with such a magnificent musician!

Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com Hugh Sung www.hughsung.com http://hughsung.com www.hughsung.com/blog http://hughsung.com/blog

Technorati : Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brahms, Christoph Eschenbach, Hugh, Hugh Sung, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sung, concerto, conductor, hugh sung, rehearsal, tablet pc, violin, violin concerto, violinist, www.hughsung.com, www.hughsung.com/blog
Del.icio.us : Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brahms, Christoph Eschenbach, Hugh, Hugh Sung, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sung, concerto, conductor, hugh sung, rehearsal, tablet pc, violin, violin concerto, violinist, www.hughsung.com, www.hughsung.com/blog
Ice Rocket : Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brahms, Christoph Eschenbach, Hugh, Hugh Sung, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sung, concerto, conductor, hugh sung, rehearsal, tablet pc, violin, violin concerto, violinist, www.hughsung.com, www.hughsung.com/blog
Flickr : Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brahms, Christoph Eschenbach, Hugh, Hugh Sung, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sung, concerto, conductor, hugh sung, rehearsal, tablet pc, violin, violin concerto, violinist, www.hughsung.com, www.hughsung.com/blog
Zooomr : Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brahms, Christoph Eschenbach, Hugh, Hugh Sung, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sung, concerto, conductor, hugh sung, rehearsal, tablet pc, violin, violin concerto, violinist, www.hughsung.com, www.hughsung.com/blog
Buzznet : Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brahms, Christoph Eschenbach, Hugh, Hugh Sung, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sung, concerto, conductor, hugh sung, rehearsal, tablet pc, violin, violin concerto, violinist, www.hughsung.com, www.hughsung.com/blog
Riya : Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brahms, Christoph Eschenbach, Hugh, Hugh Sung, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sung, concerto, conductor, hugh sung, rehearsal, tablet pc, violin, violin concerto, violinist, www.hughsung.com, www.hughsung.com/blog
43 Things : Anne-Sophie Mutter, Brahms, Christoph Eschenbach, Hugh, Hugh Sung, Philadelphia Orchestra, Sung, concerto, conductor, hugh sung, rehearsal, tablet pc, violin, violin concerto, violinist, www.hughsung.com, www.hughsung.com/blog

Hugh Sung
Hugh Sung
Hugh Sung
Hugh Sung
Hugh Sung
Hugh Sung

hugh sung
hugh sung
hugh sung
hugh sung
hugh sung
hugh sung