Overlake

It's hard to remember each year that driving to the Overlake School in Redmond takes you to such a different environment. There are horses and farms along the roads and it gets so dark there, that it feels like you are camping. Opening night brought the performance of the Dvorak Terzetto, originally composed as a piece for friends and students. Dvorak, son of a butcher, realized that the music was in fact too difficult for the people he composed it for and had to step in himself. Parts exist for both two violins and viola as well as two violins and cello. It's a lovely piece, especially the second movement which brings the kind of ending harmonies that you dream about in music.

A summary blog

Despite my best attempts, I was swept up during the Lakeside festival and even promises to myself, "I will blog today," were put further down the to-do list. Lakeside ended on Friday- 14 concerts in four weeks, all sold out but one (save for the family and emerging artist concerts). A note: the family concert this year was fantastic and even reviewed in the Times. There's nothing like inappropriate noises coming out of an instrument to inspire budding young musicians.

The music was breathtaking, people were happy, the sun was shining.....

Opening night I went backstage for a coca-cola (the only time of the year I drink it) and discovered all the musicians trying on wigs and stuffing their shirts. I suppose after summoning one's greatest talents, it is time to dress up like a woman. Our backstage area is the same as the costume shop and luckily, they got to burn off some steam becoming ladies after the show.

There were no major glitches (no fires or injuries) and now we are off to Overlake, the more pastoral venue. There's nothing like seeing some livestock on your way to a chamber music performance....