… in that I hosted a marvellous group of people for a lunch and recital which once again raised a good deal of money for the Bo Children’s Hospital project.
Three of my students played, each very well given the pressures that are on any performance in front of an audience, and for my own part I felt somewhat more relaxed and confident about what I was playing that I did last time. I played a variety of music dating from 1530 to the present day, in a variety of styles, moods and sounds, and overall was able, once again, to demonstrate to full range of effects and musicality that this piano allows me to do. Much of what I did was tailored to the piano in a number of ways, and the sounds I produced could not, in all honesty, have been produced on any other piano other than a Stuart.
Food-wise, everyone brought a plate of something and, added into what we prepared ourselves, the resultant quantity of food was still too much for us all, whilst the quality was quite exceptional.
I plan to expand these occasions not so much in terms of the number of people involved (although there were a number who would have liked to come but had other commitments) but certainly more events and variety of music, always however with a focus on the Stuart piano. I would like to think that I can put on at least another three before the end of the year, and I’m confident that the support is there for me to do that.
Speaking of which, the sound was, as usual, quite superb. The instrument, as I have said many times now, has really settled into a groove and is a real pleasure to play, and from what I was told, a real pleasure to listen to.
It is certainly gratifying from my perspective that I’m still, after all these years, able to perform to quite a reasonable musical (if not technical!) standard. Somewhat surprisingly, my eyesight did not seem to be so much of a problem this time – suggesting that my brain has finally come to what is left of its senses and has accepted the fact that my left eye has now been superceded.
And about time, too…