A good summer
Posted by Judith - 31/08/09 at 04:08:37 pmI can’t believe it’s 31st August already. Everything has gone by so fast that I haven’t even had time to sit down and write. The past two months have been filled with all sorts of emotions, all coming at the same time. Let me start at the beginning.
When I returned from Granada I took a flight to Germany, spending almost 20 days in my ‘second country’ (I lived there for almost 4 years not that long ago). Munich in the summer is fabulous. After the long, cold winter the sun makes the people lift their eyes from the pavement again and look ahead, smile, and enjoy life in the street.
I went there to play for Suchanov, who was my piano teacher when I lived in Munich. I think it’s vital that my teachers continue to listen to my playing, to give me advice, and observe me from the outside, as sometimes we ourselves are not aware of everything. As usual, Suchanov surprised me his ideas, his complete dedication, his infinite generosity. I’ll never find the words to thank him enough for everything he has done for me over the years, the hours of effort and concentration. While I was in Germany, I took a train to Freiburg to see the Margulis’ in their annual master-class. It was interesting to listen to advice from someone who is not so close to you, and is therefore more objective.
When I returned to Spain, I had a recording to do with Radio Nacional. Two days’ work for half an hour of music. It was very intensive but very gratifying. To be able to listen to yourself and keep going over everything until you’re satisfied is not something you usually get the opportunity to do. Imperfection is one of the most difficult things for musicians to accept. Perfection is demanded of us during our training, but still there is always something we’re not 100% happy with… Thinking about it, it’s a difficult contradiction to come to terms with.
The first festival in August was Peralada, Girona, where I played Schumann’s Piano Quintet with the Ardeo Quartet, made up of four French girls, very different but each of them charming. It was one of the nicest highlights of the summer. I missed sharing the stage, so it was a luxury to be able to perform with them. We got on well right from the beginning and, during the concert, despite the acoustics in the venue not being the best for the Quintet, I really enjoyed myself. I certainly hope that this was the first meeting of many!
Then it was straight from Girona to Granada, to attend Fiapmse in Nigüelas, a young festival that’s getting bigger every year. The small village on the lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains was completely given over to music for a few days. It was great to breathe in the pure air of the mountains.
From there it was off to the La Roque d’Anthéron Festival, in the heart of Provence, France. This festival is a legend in European piano circles. It was my second year there but my first time in the park, at night. It was a superb treat to play in a Nuit de Piano, with a Chopin-based programme. You can just imagine what it feels like before going out into a park with 2,400 people watching and waiting for your first note. You take some deep breaths, drink some water, walk around a bit… And then out you go, with the best of intentions, eager to start playing, to enjoy it, to have a good time yourself and hope others have a good time. I managed this; I had a great time, and took away some lovely memories of the evening.
A few days later I was in San Sebastian, my home, the land of my dreams. I played in the Quincena Musical, also for the second year running. This time I played in the Chillida-Leku Season, in a beautiful park with Chillida sculptures and a little country house that they use for concerts during the Quincena. The concert consisted of music from composers who spent time between San Sebastian and Biarritz during the period 1900-1936. I chose to play Aita Donostia, Albéniz, Bartok and Granados. Here too I shared the stage, this time with the writer Kirmen Uribe. The concert was interspersed with music and poetry. I played, and then he recited some texts from authors who were around during this time in the same places as the composers. What can I say about the concert…..I looked into the audience and saw familiar faces, my family, my friends, people I hadn’t seen for years. It was very moving. As always, playing on home ground was a pleasure. And being next to Kirmen, yet another pleasure.
Next Saturday, the summer season concludes for me with the Santa Cristina d’Aro Festival. If everything goes well, it will have been a summer that has given me many special moments.