I've done his program a few times before, and I marvel at his ease with facts and names and witty retorts - he really is a genius at not only the intricacies of many genres of music, but at the art of the interview, which is not an easy thing to finesse!
I arrived at the BBC lobby, and noticed a woman sitting across the way with a cello case, and I thought, "Hmm. She must be a guest on the show as well," as they prefer to have live performances when possible. (Usually I partake as well, but sadly not this time, having just arrived on the train!) Well, I was partly right. The cello was for a performance on the program - but it didn't belong to her.
It belonged to Yo Yo Ma.
As in YO YO MA!!!
I won't lie: my knees went a little weak. And my voice might have risen an octave or so in excitement.
I hardly know what to say, explaining what it is like to sit in a room with such a masterful, generous musician and human being, and witness their music making. He was consumed with joy, and I marveled at his every phrase as he made that little cello SING so gloriously.
I'm still pinching myself that I met him, spoke with him, listened to him ... he personifies every thing I believe music making should be about. And witnessing it first hand was a true gift to me.
If you'd like to listen to the interview, it's available for the next week, only, on the BBC "In Tune" website.
I can say without a doubt, it was one of the coolest hours I've ever spent in my life!
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8 comments:
Welcome to London!!! Isn't the hugging couple at St Pancras a cute welcome to London ? :-)
Just listening to the InTune, what fun you all had!
And tomorrow... Furoreee!!
Wow - you were so quick to update your blog from last night, and GREAT photos of Yo Yo Ma - lovely one of the two of you. Looking forward to the Barbican performance tomorrow night.
I'm so impressed that you got this blog entry and photos up so quickly from last night's wonderful 'In Tune' experience - great photo of you and Yo Yo Ma! Looking forward to tomorrow night's performance at the Barbican.
This entry made me realize why I read your blog. It's your own serendipity and the word's origin is quite apt here. A picaresque novel from the 1700's, "The Three Princes of Serendip," the archaic name for Sri Lanka, detailed the wonderful adventures of three traveling princes. The name stuck and hence the best and most apt definition: the gift for finding unexpected treasures.
That picture just oozes adorable! It was so great hearing the warmth flow across the studio during the broadcast- ah, when people who are passionate about music get together, it's so precious! :-]
I listed to this show from your link - it is so cool to be able to do this! I've read that the Internet is hurting pop music but it is definitely helping classical music, and I can see why. I wasn't sure about purchasing "Lamenti" until I followed the link to the little documentary, which opened the door. It was such fun to see Maestro (Maestra?) Haim at the harpsichord, Natalie doing her "thing", and Joyce starting to realize that this was going to be a LONG session (just as she described in her blog post). By the time Rolando exclaimed at how modern this music was, I was sold.
Look at you and Yo-Yo Ma!! I'm so glad you two got to meet - look there's two of my favorite artists in ONE picture!
awww... it's fun to fangirl, isn't it?
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