Tag Archives: Spain
Arranging Carmen for piano and guitar
At first, I split up a quatre-main (4-hands, one piano) duet into separate parts for a single guitar and piano. Then I noticed that the piano duet left out many wonderful melodies. To do Carmen justice, I opened the orchestra score, found those beloved themes and allocated them as I saw fit. What shall I call my arrangement? How about Carmen Potpourri for piano and guitar? Continue reading
Filed under arrangement, composition, guitar, piano, planning, research, sheet music
A Mediterranean Summer on 12 September
The “Mediterranean Summer” programme is part of the larger traditional programme we’ve performed throughout the Netherlands and three times in Spain. This Saturday we will give it away for free in a 600-year old building in central Utrecht: the Academiegebouw at 13:00. Continue reading
Wanted: venues with grand piano and great acoustics in Leiden, Amsterdam, around Utrecht, Crete, and Taiwan
I am floating between the past and future (concerts) this June, a month for practising new repertoire, forever working on our first CD, getting coaching from great masters, and doing market research. That is, I’m waiting for video and audio clips of our concerts in Spain and simultaneously looking for venues with (grand) piano and (great) acoustics for future concerts. Continue reading
Rewind to unwind in Galicia
It was an achingly beautiful day. The sun warmed our skins, and the Atlantic Ocean roared loud and clear. Robert watched the distant surfers with envy and declared that he would hunt for a wet suit to join them. I was content just being outside and near the water. Continue reading
Beach, concert, dinner in Ferrol and La Coruña, Spain
I’ve been mulling over what an eye-opener this trip has been. Did having no or near-negative expectations make everything a welcoming surprise? After the concert in Ferrol, we drove back to La Coruña to join the others for dinner in the crowded but popular pulpeira at Pita Maria Square. Continue reading
Filed under travel
A stage with a view — in Ferrol, Spain
The drive to Ferrol in Christina’s orange and grey car crossed over rolling hills, plush valleys, and panoramic ocean views. Ferrol is a coastal city east of La Coruña, where we had been staying the past few days. She asked if we wanted to see the conservatory before the beach. I had heard Miguel say that it was a special concert hall with a beautiful view. Continue reading
Sunset in La Coruña, Spain
I am writing these stories in Utrecht, nearly a week after our Spanish concert tour. First, the sunset — as recorded and narrated by Robert Bekkers, below. While he was making this video, I chatted with Christina and Miguel. Continue reading
“Break a leg!”
It’s customary to wish a successful performance by saying “break a leg!”
This does not literally mean that you wish the performers to break their legs but that you wish them to perform so well that it wouldn’t be surprising if they actually broke their legs. One hour before the “cinco de mayo” concert in central La Coruña, our second concert in this coastal city and our third in Spain, I witnessed a most dramatic event. Continue reading
Risk management in concert productions
Producing a concert involves managing the uncertainties and risks associated with the unexpected. The implicit contract to participate and deliver a performance rested on their integrity as fellow musicians. Continue reading
Filed under articles
