Don't know why I mentioned Portsmouth... Had a good long day there having a few hours of my piano lesson, cooked for her and her family, and we saw the University production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Theatre Royal. Well organised and pretty impressive student production - some are really good. I was then taken around the evening tour of historic Portsmouth seeing some historic ships, sights and the spots where some of the earliest migrants to Australia and USA left... And the Isle of Wight ferry... I might go there myself with my Primera and a dog or something...

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Posted by shiraiso at 11:13 AM GMT

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Am looking forward to my next recital on March 13 in Stockholm with the following programme: Chopin (2 Nocturnes); Chopin (Waltzs); Rachmaninov (2 pieces from Moment Musicaux); Janacek (In the Mists); and Chopin (Fantasie).

Meanwhile I'll be in Poland again in 2 wks time on long weekend - few people are asking why my obsession with Poland? Too long to explain - and I'm on another personal mission there :) All be revealed in good time.

Posted by shiraiso at 3:57 PM GMT

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After a long absence I'm back on track - well, not quite as it's been quite a hectic last few months with handing my notice at work and looking for new challenge. Hope to tie up the loose end with the job hunting process within the next few weeks before the long summer break - well, I'll look forward to the weekend in Geneva soon and maybe I should book another long weekend somewhere... Krakow, Warsaw, Poznan - somewhere in Poland, or perhaps Prague or Budapest... Otherwise - anyone fancy coming to Wien with me in Autumn?

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Posted by shiraiso at 8:01 PM BST

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Mood:  a-ok

Hi all

Apology for my absence from the site - my bronchitis returned to haunt me again and have been in sick bed all week...

Hope to resume my blog entry soon.

Kazu 

Posted by shiraiso at 10:41 AM GMT

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Stravinsky - King of the Stars, Cantata (with male voices from LSO Chorus)
Prokofiev - Scythian Suite
Stravinsky - Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments
Stravinsky - L'Oiseau de feu (original 1910 complete ballet)

We welcome Tsar Valery the Great to London. The night began with a mini Cantata by Stravinsky - tense moment but very rich texture and voices were magnificent. Scythian Suite was absolutely terrifying - later found out that Valery likes Prokofiev most. Magnificent control throughout - and LSO at its menacing best. Concerto was rather quirky in neoclassical fashion - Alexander Toradze in his usual form on the piano.

Then came L'Oiseau de feu - this was the second time I heard Valery conducting live on stage (first time at the Festival Hall with his own Kirov Orchestra during 1997-1998 season). As ever - it was great but somehow it made less impact than when I heard it the first time (he mellowed down somewhat - I guess with his age) - but it was magical nevertheless. Telegraph review was very uncompromising dismissing the concert as very unremarkable. Guardian review was also somehow cautious for the first half, but said:

"After the interval, however, came Stravinsky's Firebird, and scepticism was promptly brushed aside. Gergiev never lost sight of the score's epoch-making radicalism, ushering us into a soundscape in which beauty and savagery were frighteningly entwined. The playing was spine-tingling, and the orchestral colours whirred and fused with kaleidoscopic brilliance. A great performance: "magic" is, for once, an entirely appropriate word with which to describe it."

At the end of the day, I booked the ticket months in advance just to hear L'oiseau de feu and was worth every penny.

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Posted by shiraiso at 3:31 PM GMT

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Day 1: 25 Nov 2006

Arrived in Boston before 1pm. After a brief rest I went off to copley areas for shopping and brief sight-seeing before concert tonight.

Brief tour around Old street church, boston public library, trinity church and then went up to the top of the prudential center to take the sky view of the Boston city - super weather and magnificent view.

Went to Symphony hall for concert with the boston symphony orchestra. Rafael fruehbeck de burgos at the helm - Schumann's 3rd symphony "rhenish", rachmaninov's 4th piano concerto with yefim bronfman and stravinsky's 1919 version of the firebird suite. Genial throughout - and sure it was consistently good. Prefer the complete ballet for the firebird - and rachmaninov 4th concerto isn't one of the greatest concertos. 1st would be much better. I tell you one thing - Symphony hall is absolutely magnificent. Bostonians are truly magnificent players - and makes NY phil sound lazy and in danger of being out of top 5 best US orchestras. What an evening - and the interval gin & tonic was so strong it nearly knocked me out :)


Day 2: 26 Nov 2006

Began the freedom trail from the old north church. Followed the red-line path and surprisingly managed to complete the route in less than 2 hours - enough to have time to shower and come back to meet my friend C for the rest ofthe day. Met at faneuil hall ? but I didn?t realize that I walk passed her ? what a nut case I was? Anyway, after a brief coffee break we continued the freedom trail - walked along to the acquarium to catch ferry to charlestown. Decent weather and calm water.

After the trail we went to harvard square and my dear friend C took me around the tour of the Harvard Uni campus ? enormous place. Something LSE can?t compete on? And my friend introduced me to something called the Boba tea - fabulous. I couldn?t instantly remember that the tea originated from the Far East ? and it took me a while to realize what it is. Never mind, they were fabulous! We then had an early dinner at borders tex-mex dinner ? very substantial meal and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

Gosh ? day just went so quickly?


Day 3: 27th Nov 2006

Dunkin's donut bagel for breakfast at bostoncommon later ? I took a brief tour of Fenway park for quick visit to the red sox stadium. Quite a site and I know how Japanese people are excited about Boston Red Sox signing a young talented pitcher for record money?

Brief visit to Union oyster house for 6 oysters and cherry stones (giant clams looksalike) and clam chowder - very nice, and fresh shellfish. No qualms - nice staffs. For $27 not bad at all ? maybe I should start my shellfish farm for my own consumption?

Travelled to Wellesley College to catch up with my friend C. She took me on a brief tour of what is one of america's top-ranking liberal arts colleges. It has a campus size equivalent of say reading university with 2300 students. Totally forgot that it's so difficult to find a male restroom - and when we reached the girls-only dorm man I had to use the nearest restroom and suddenly the girl walks in - oh, excuse me...

Dorm is so much more grandeur than any of the student accommodations I?ve seen in the UK and campus facilities are incredible - student union lounge is like a top-rated west end night club bars with art deco sofas.. Met some of C's friends over dinner and they seem incredibly talented and bright...

Anyway I was glad to have played some of the pieces I played at the October recital for my friend C. Then spent rest of the time catching up on things. I know i'll definitely b back.


Day 4: 28th Nov 2006

Can't believe i'm flying back today... At lease the flight doesn't leave until 7.40pm so I have a full day to explore the museums I haven't visited. My friend C couldn?t join me due to her punishing schedule at Wellesley College but suggested the isabella stewart gardnermuseum so i'm making myself down there. Again - Dunkin donut again for breakfast - egg, cheese and sausage in bagel - good stuff, with dunkaccino - nice breakie. Another calorie rich one but I need one given the cold weather...

Isabella stewart gardner museum was quite amazing - one truly bizarre and wonderful italianite palacio with collections of fine italian painting ? don?t know how long I spent myself there but it was truly magnificent experience. Thanks C for wonderful suggestion :)

The a brief lunch at legal seafood in Prudential Center - champagne, lobster bisque and crab cake ? can?t go wrong, really. But I know when I return to Boston again I?ll have a thoroughly grand meal there with C and others who?d like to join ? no qualm about me buying a bottle or two of champagne next time :)

Left Logan Airport for London on time ? I wish I stayed here a little longer?

I?d just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the magnificent hospitality and I shall never forget the experience for the rest of my life.

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Posted by shiraiso at 5:16 PM GMT

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Hi all,

Merry Xmas to you all - hope you've all had a big feast. Why cooking turkey for Xmas I still don't know but I like sharing the big bird with family members and friends :) So much leftover for the usual Boxing Day sandwiches....

2006 is almost finishing - looking back, I simply don't know where to start in terms of many highlights I've experienced this year. The big trip and few other long weekends (Dublin, Whitstable, Dorset, Sussex coastlines, Perth Scotland, etc), many choir concerts (LSE, Thames Chamber Choir & London Docklands Singers),  meeting so many new friends as well as reuniting with quite a few, progress at work (appointed Commercial Analyst this month), many dining experiences in London, etc. etc. etc.

If I have to choose one - return to the concert platform in my first ever evening solo piano recital on Oct 31 (and first recital in over 2 years) really made 2006 special. My relatives listened to the recording in Japan - the first time they've heard me play since I was born. They were proud of me - not least the fact that I'm still keeping up with it despite my full-time commitment in my accounting career. I want to take this opportunity to thank a few people: My family - can't do without their support and love for keeping faith in me playing the piano; My 2 piano teachers J and V - for having so much faith in my playing and desire to continue doing the one thing I love doing most (and supporting me through some hard times) for more than 14 years; all my friends & colleagues for their support when attended my recital and other choir concerts and saw the other side they didn't expect from me; and my dear friend C from Boston for her amazing warm support and friendship who helped me believe in myself through her incredible belief in my playing and ah I don't know how else to express myself now - without her faith in me I don't know whether I could have ever made it on the stage at all... And I didn't want to let her down especially.

Hopefully 2007 will bring us all even more happiness and prosperity - and more musical mayhem :) I'll look forward to seeing you all again soon and wish you an amazing 2007!

Posted by shiraiso at 10:34 PM GMT

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