
Koussevitsky's Opening Speech from the first year of the
Berkshire Music Festival, later Tanglewood, hangs unassumingly in one
of the offices. It is as true today as it was then.
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So, the first time I visited Moscow we went on a partially
chaperoned tour of the Bolshoi Theatre. A few of us 'got lost' and came
upon their rehearsal stage, complete with a half-stocked pit. We
decided it was only appropriate to put on a performance of Swan Lake.
May 02
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But we weren't always causing trouble, and we cleaned up
pretty well for a joint concert with the Russian Army Conductor's
Academy in the big hall of the Moscow Conservatory. I'm directly under
the center trumpeter on the stage left side. May 02
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In 2004 I returned to Russia to study at the Conservatory
in Moscow. Here I'm photographed with the poster advertising the
concert which saw the world premier of Lyric Pieces (V66) and the Russian
premiere of Sonata583 (V53) May
04
(yes
I'm
wearing
a
winter
coat
in
May)
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Before our final performance, in St. Petersburg, in the
hall where (we were told) Shostakovich's 5th was premiered. By this
time I had assimilated the Russian 'look'. May 02
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After the aforementioned concert, with other visiting
American students Tricia Galvez, Carolyn Dachinger (dedicatee of Sonata583), Stephen Wu and Elona
Muca, and Russian harpist Simyon Kulkov. Rachmanninov Hall, Moscow
Consv June 04
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During my first trip to Russia, we trumpeters got the
royal treatment in Saratov where our contact was the renowned trumpet
teacher Anatoly Dmitrivich Selianin. Here we are with the Saratov
Conservatory trumpet section. Can you spot the Americans?
May 02
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Leading the orchestra at the Waterville Valley Conductors
Institute, NH. Aug 09.
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Leshowitz Hall
John J. Cali School of Music
Montclair University
January 2010
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Leading a concert with the Mihail Jora Philharmonic in
Bacau, Romania
June 2010
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Rehearsing with the Mihail Jora Philharmonic in Bacau at
Ateneu Hall
June 2010
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A view from the hall, conducting Tchaikovsky's Romeo and
Juliet
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Building decoration in Barcelona, Spain.
May 2010
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On my way to the Conducting Competition in Cadaques, this
sign was the first thing I saw when I stepped off the plane in
Barcelona - in Catalan and Spanish it was equally funny.
May 2010
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In the Parque del Retiro, Madrid, before traveling to the
Cadaques Competition.
May 2010
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The Organ in Almudena Cathedral in Madrid.
May 2010
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I almost got kicked out
of the Cathedral in Cadaques for snooping around the organ loft, until,
while being shuffled out by a gruff local, I commented on the beauty of
the organ, which led to a private tour of the entire building and more
history that I could hope to retain, given as it was in Catalan.
May 2010
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Our concert poster from Bacau, Romania.
June 2010
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Today's Eastern European glockenspiel is brought to you by
the letters Cis and H.
Bacau, June 2010
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Two-meter tall functional metronome, complete with
all-seeing eye, hiding around a corner in a hallway of the Reina Sofia
museum, Madrid.
May 2010
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Various shots of conducting in Bacau.
June 2010
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In Cadaques, about to visit Salvador Dalí's house.
June 2010
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Brasov, Romania, from the top of the Carpathian foothills.
In the summer they perform free open air operas each month.
June 2010
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In Berlin, I was privileged to see the World Cup finals
from a rooftop penthouse near the Brandenburg Gate and the Bundestag.
My camera's battery was dead, but leaving it off for the second half of
the match allowed to to snap this one shot after the game.
July 2010
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The Garden at the Bowerman's estate at Champs Hill, West
Sussex.
July 2010
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The Music and Art room, where our sessions were held, in
Champs Hill.
July 2010
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On the last night, we held an impromptu concert, and our
host David Bowerman treated us to improvisations on A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square and
the
first
theme
to
Brahms'
Symphony
2.
July 2010
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Champs Hill had many hidden treasures, including this
fascinating musical sculpture, which transformed with the breeze.
July 2010
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Conducting the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto at the Royal
Academy during the London Conducting Workshop.
July 2010
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Conducting the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto at the Royal
Academy during the London Conducting Workshop.
July 2010
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With some of the other conductors from the London Workshop
July 2010
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The Mariinsky Teatr, where the International Academy of
Advanced Conducting was held. The sign is for a new production of
Khovanshchina, which will open their 2010-2011 season.
August 2010
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We worked mainly in a rehearsal room with a huge tapestry,
and one lone chair.
August 2010
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Leading a rehearsal in Mariinsky.
August 2010
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And, the performance.
August 2010
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The participants of the International
Academy of Advanced Conducting.
August 2010
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At the Cathedral of our
Savior on Spilled Blood, site of the assassination of Alexander II.
August 2010
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Uncontrolled wildfires in Moscow had eventually blown
smoke all across Russia and into Eastern Europe; thus the eerie
lighting effect at Peter and Paul fortress.
August 2010
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Earlier the same day, in Alexandrovskii Gardens - a bust
of Glinka before the Admiralty.
August 2010
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In Vienna, Jessica and I stumbled upon what was
Beethoven's apartment for 7 years. Inside were many gems, including
this sketch of the 7th Symphony, which was composed in the same room in
which it was displayed.
August 2010
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At Karlsplatz in Vienna before visiting the Musikverein
and the Arnold Schoenberg Center.
August 2010
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