Please take a look at the video in this post.  If you would, look at it more than once. What do you see? On the one hand you should see Yannie Tan and me performing a bit of Beethoven. 

The day after the performance I usually do something fun, and this time I had delicious avocado toast for brunch, followed by my most important activity: a lesson with Mr. Cosmo. In-person lessons are truly special, as we can discuss subtle changes in expression and tone in the same space. We worked on Chopin's Ballade No. 3 and Bach's Sheep May Safely Graze. 

Following every concert there is always a sense of relief, particularly if things have gone very well. At the same time, what I always tell fellow musicians is that the concert may be finished, but the evening is not. There is still the great responsibility of greeting and thanking guests for having attended. This was especially true following the concert at the Columbus Citizens Foundation, as there was a dinner in the restaurant on the floor below the concert space

I suppose there are some artists who might believe that one concert is pretty much like another because so much of the preparation is the same.  After all, one always has to learn new repertoire, practice, and if the concert is out of town, pack, travel, eat and rest.

Today I was at the Columbus Citizens Foundation for a rehearsal of my concert there, and to also do a photo shoot with Eric Hemedes Bass, who is handling my social media through the Alexander & Buono Foundation.

Today was a combination of fun, business, and sadness.  After practicing, my mother and I met Mr. Cosmo and Mr. Alexander at the Metropolitan Opera for a performance of Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment. This wonderful comic opera by Donizetti featured performances by Erin Morely as Marie, Lawrence Brownlee as Tonio, and the actress Sandra Oh played the speaking role of the Duchess of Krankenthorp.

Each time I am in New York I am filled with an immense happiness.  I truly love the energy of this city, and the fact that it is always so full of promise.  One feels that whatever your goals or ambitions, dreams can come true here in a way that is not possible in any other part of the world.

Having done so much research for my performances on “The Fountains of the Villa d’Este” and knowing that I would be performing it for the concert next week, Mr. Cosmo and I looked it over again in order to add a few more finishing touches.

With Liszt having written such a superb work about the fountains at Villa d’Este, I thought it important to look at the fountains themselves, in order to find out more about why they proved such a source of inspiration. 

Whenever I am in New York time seems to fly by, and this trip was certainly no exception.

My concert this past Tuesday in New York entitled "Venice...and Beyond", worked out very well, and once again I am very grateful to Mr. Cosmo, Mr. Alexander, and the Alexander & Buono Foundation for their help and cooperation in making the event a success.

It seems hard to imagine, but my Carnegie Hall solo recital debut is exactly six months from today!

It seems hard to imagine, but I will be leaving for New York in a matter of days, and there is no way I can describe how very excited I am.  There is so much to do and prepare, but I am very much looking forward to being there.

Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2

(Quasi una fantasia) (“Moonlight”)

i Adagio sostenuto     ii. Allegretto     iii. Presto agitato

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770—1827)

As I get ready for my trip to New York there are, as you might imagine, any number of thoughts racing through my mind. First of all, being in New York in the fall is something that makes the city take on its own special kind of magic.  There is, in fact, a song by Vernon Duke written in 1934 entitled “Autumn in New York”.

This past weekend in New York there were two CD release parties in celebration of the latest recording of Anna Shelest with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Neeme Järvi.

During my lesson with Mr. Cosmo on this piece we discussed again the importance of "relaxation" in playing very soft, delicate sounds to express the beautiful, subtle movement of water. Relaxation is very important in playing any piece, but I think it is especially important in this piece, which has so much tremolo, representing the movement of water.

Today I would like to take the time to congratulate truly great pianist, Anna Shelest.

Today would like to talk about the importance of why listening to myself as I play is important for me as a performer.

With today being the first day of fall, I have begun to think about how the concert season is about to go into full force. People have come back from their summer vacations and will be in performance venues all over the world for an autumn, winter, and spring of great music.