Today we had a little bit more relaxed day than usual - and boy we needed that! The master class has been so intensive that there practically has been no free time. Professor Simonov is so demanding that after hearing the works to be conducted at the next session, everyone disappears to their rooms to nicely make sure they do a decent job next day on the podium...

The repertoire for today was the same as yesterday: Schone Melusine by Mendelssohn, Der Schauspieldirektor overture of Mozart, Coriolan by Beethoven, Il Matrimonio Segreta by Cimarosa, and some Rossini and Schubert overtures too. I noticed an interesting thing which happens when you have to listen to the same repertoire performed over and over again: The Coriolan overture just becomes more and more interesting by each and every listening! It is such a marvellously constructed piece that every time you hear new things and appreciate the old things more. Cimarosa also stays really charming even after sixth hearing. I cannot say the same about the Schubert Italian Overture in D - unfortunately!

Anyway, I think it is enough to say about my time on the podium that everything went quite smoothly and I had great time with Mendelssohn whose music I love a lot. I also heard that my technique has changed to the direction that maestro Simonov wants. It is really nice to know, since you really do not see yourself on the podium. You practiced at home (or in the hotel room) with your mirror, and then all that is left is just hope that those things are there even when you are really involved in music!

Christian, Huba and Heikki getting inspired by a dead fish

Me_and_Ludwig.jpg
Me and Ludwig

The rest of the day was just great! We went out of town to a nearbly lake - the students, the pianists, professor and all the staff! The day was really warm and beautiful and the temperature of the lake was perfect for swimming! Well, some Mediterranean people actually made scandalous claims that it is too cold and refused to swim. They do not know what they missed!

Coming_from_the_swim.jpg Returning from the swim

After swimming we went to a wineyard and were served a wonderful treat: We had a light dinner and tasted three kinds of wine that was coming from that very place! Everyone was having a wonderful time and the neighborhood was just ringing with loud laughter coming from our bunch! It was already really dark when we left back to the hotel, and in the bus we had a great time telling each others jokes - including the professor who knew some of the most hilarious ones!

Wine tasting...

Maestro Simonov performing a joke