Today

Blehh... I'm too sleepy to post photos. Anyway, I did 3 things today. Walk, spend money and listen to music. Two things, if you consider my listening to music spending money, since it cost $42. (Not actually my money) Oh. Eat oso. Ate a lot...

Yes, yes, I'll elaborate. I woke up this morning, and Aunty Lay Cheng took me to do laundry. That cost $1.50. Money spent. Came back, checked e-mail then did a spot of practising for about an hour. Stupid e-string peg got loose then I had to keep retuning e- and g-strings. After that, at about 11 we headed off to the Lincoln Center by the subway. 1st stop: spend money buying tickets for concert. I'll tell you what when I come to it. Next stop, spend money at Juilliard School. YES THAT'S RIGHT, I"M PROCLAIMING TO THE WORLD THAT I WENT TO THE JUILLIARD SCHOOL bookstore :P Bought copies of Flesch scales and Bruch Concerto to replace the photocopies at home. Also bought practice mute. Also forgot to buy 4 Seasons, that I meant to buy. Scanned the NY library for the performing arts. Interesting but it'd only be worthwhile if I spent a full day there. Finally left for lunch.

Lunch was at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. No, I didn't buy anything. Books I mean. Had grilled chicken foccaccia (like Dave's Deli wan. I think it was better, only it was cold), half of Aunty Lay Cheng's honey wrap turkey & cheese (pretty good n cos it was microwaved it was hotter than mine). Oh, and Starbucks Caramel frappucino. They cost more than at home if u convert but if not it's like $3.70. No wonder so popular. Was darned sweet. Think the Mint Choc Chip one I had later was better (Yes, 2 Starbucks in 1 day!)

Now we come to the walking part. I mean, I was already walking the whole morning but the afternoon was SERIOUS walking. 4 hours of walking in Central Park. Went by Belvedere Castle, lots of ppl sunbathing on the Great Lawn and the Sheeps Meadow. Took ages... an hour plus? 2? to walk around the reservoir... maybe less cos I din look at watch b4 that but anyway were done walking at 4.40, at which point we started walking to Rosa Mexicana. Excellent Mexican food! We all had seafood, Uncle SG met us there n had grilled shrimp w. rice, Aunty LC had some spiced fried fish (very lightly fried) and I had fish with pineapple, passion fruit and something else sauce. We passed food around and it was all fabulous! Only I didn't quite like the texture of their rice. A bit funny. Ended up stuffed, for about the 3rd time. Was not especially stuffed after lunch, the mint choc chip frap thing get me full in the afternoon and then after dinner I was like a soft toy. At last, back to Lincoln Center.

The show began at 7. Not the real show, the pre-concert recital. A 23 yr old cellist whose degree from Columbia is in Russian History. I remember all that but I forgot her name, it's Polish or something. Too lazy to open program book n check. Sorry (to her). She played Bach Cello Suite No. 5. Very nice sound. Some bits senza vib, worked very well. Interesting to compare with the solo violin stuff, his writing is quite different for violin and cello. Naturally. Smart guy.

REAL show at 8. Mostly Mozart Festival. Began with... Mendelssohn :D Fingal's Cave Overture. Played very well by smallish orch. Only 4-5 desks of 2nd n 1st vlns respectively. Actually 1st could have been 6, I couldn't see whole stage cos was in 2nd tier box on the left side. Stage setup was Russian style, like what we're doing in PESSOC now. Only 1 afro-american player that I remember - co-principal cellist. He sat on a stool. 2 unique things about him. The cello section was good, I liked them. Violas were good with their solis, other than that not really heard. Good 1st flautist too. I recalled how much I like watching clarinet (technically that comes later but I'm already talking about the orch) players. Think they're the funnest winds to watch. Maybe cos that clarinettist was one of the few young players. LOL. Both violin principals were a lot more enthusiastic players. One last-desk violist looked like a tired old lady. Looked like she played like one too, although the reality of the playing may have been different.

Highlight of the concert was GIL SHAHAM! He was the reason I wanted to catch this one. Played Mozart Vn Concerto No. 4. Loved his tone, the clarity of the notes, the brilliance of the trills, everything! Especially in the 3rd movement he really looked like he was enjoying himself. Backed up well by the orch too. His violin and his playing sure have power la! I'm sure the small orch helped too. Oh yes, should say something about Thomas Dargaud - the conductor. Conducted 1st n last pieces w/o score, concerto with. Weird style, I don't like it. No baton, no constant beat... but I think I'm a bit conservative with conducting. Back to Gil Shaham. His cadenzas were great, especially 1st mvt. I can't get over his trills... :D He was really something! No encore, sadly.

Finale: Bach Pastoral Symphony. Also well played by the same smallish group. 1st mvt very good, all the details and everything. 2nd mvt I enjoyed also but I got sleepy. 3rd mvt I love cos it really woke me up :D I sooo love the oboe solo followed by clarinet and horn. The syncopation is just so nice! The dance motif is exhilarating! :D You can tell I enjoyed it, eh? 4th mvt impressive, I got shivers (highest form of praise... except maybe tears). Piccoloist did good job. Also had good job. Imagine, you get paid same as the others (I think, and hope!) to play a few notes in 1 mvt. Shiok man! 5th mvt very enjoyable also. I think the whole symphony fits together nicely. Maybe I'm a bit bubbly cos I haven't gone to a concert in quite some time. Wanna take out my practice mute n play right now!! (i.e. midnight) But really am sleepy so I won't. I'll be good. Wow, actually blogged for an hour... OK CIAO!