Basel Symphony Orchestra

I`ve been asked in the last weeks why I haven`t continued writing for this blog: it`s nice that you missed me, thanks.  I can tell you quite simply what`s been going on- exhaustion!  In China it was always easy to find an hour or more (bus rides, plane rides) for writing. Back in normal life, however, there are other things to do with the hours and never enough hours to do them in.

 I don`t  suppose that many of you out there realise how varied and  full the agenda of a musician in Basel`s Symphony Orchestra really is. To my knowledge-  and because of the very special structures involved in administrating this orchestra- we play up to six different productions every week. Concert programmes, opera, ballet, children`s concerts, CD recordings, TV productions- you name it- it could very well be on my schedule this week or next. And, as I said quite truthfully, they can at times coincide to produce weeks "made in Hell". Not that I`m complaining- our job is about as interesting and varied as could be and we certainly master every given situation with bravado. But let  me give you an example: on August 22, I left my house at 09.00 for my first rehearsal of the day. On that Sunday, I played  four outdoor concerts and two rehearsals (temperature 31 degrees) and got back home at 22.00. The following Friday, after spending the week completing a recording of Brückner`s fourth symphony and no break in between,  I left again at 13.00 for a bus ride to Bern where we played outdoors (temperature 12 degrees) getting home again at 02.00. You won`t find many (any?) orchestras whose schedule equals ours. It`s a great profession , but there are some sacrifices involved.  And  it irks me when people talk (and write) about what we cost  when they don`t look at the relation to the value they receive. How many of them would give service the way I do and gladly,  out of idealism?

So you see, if I get tired sometimes  it`s not from doing my job the way I  like to. I get tired  because I feel that the understanding of what- and how much-  we do is often limited. So please, those of you who click on "like this": come to our concerts, tell your friends about us. There are some really cool and exciting things going on. Thea last concert`s "Third Half" was a real treat and kept my eyes and ears open way beyond my normal bedtime. And, the "Casino Lounge" which was so beautifully conceived and carried out, would have been worth staying to the very end. If only I hadn`t been soo tired.

http://www.sinfonieorchesterbasel.ch 

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