Feeling Proud

Yo Yo Ma was very gracious to pose with me after the first rehearsal in Tokyo, Thursday, May 19, 2005.

Sunday, May 22, 2005, Tokyo
I am so proud of us. Tonight's TV broadcast from Suntory Hall was put together under difficult conditions. But, as I expected, we rose to the occasion and did ourselves proud. I thought Lang Lang played beautifully in the Beethoven Piano Concerto #4. It was a pleasant change to play Beethoven after the previous programs of Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler.

From the opening trumpet solo, played by the fabulous Dave Bilger, to the exciting ending, played by everyone, the Mahler Symphony #5 bought the audience to "Bravos" and at least 4 ovations! Acting Principal Horn, Jeff Lang (no relation to Lang Lang) was "The Man" and hornist extradinaire tonight, too.

There was a time when a Mahler symphony would be performed sparingly because it required extra players and was not easy to put together, especially for a tour. Not anymore. We are touring with not one or two but THREE Mahler symphonies and not just performing them, but recording all three and having one televised!