Friday, May 25, 2007

California Sun(less!)

While you guys back in Philly seem to be thrust into summer weather, we continue to elude the heat and keep digging back into the suitcases and wardrobe trunks for sweaters and jackets. Despite the temps, California has had much to take advantage of as we move around the state by bus, train, and plane.

LA was interesting in many respects. I'd heard the LA Philharmonic in Disney Hall last June but this was our first time performing there. When I was an audience member I kept thinking that the organ pipes were a gigantic pac of fries and when I was performing on stage I kept thinking I was smelling Bob Cafaro's vegie oil powered car (just kidding!).

The next morning Hirono Oka and I went on a tour of the Colburn School's impressive facilities. Situated across the street from Disney Hall, it is in a fabulous location and is undergoing an expansion that will more than double its size, including more studio space, dormatories, cafeteria, and another concert hall. Heifetz's violin studio has been moved from his house to the inside of the Colburn School. We were able to go inside the studio and see the studio as it was when Heifetz used it for his practicing, rehearsing, and teaching.

Later that afternoon, many ladies of the orchestra were seen coming and going from the spa at the hotel which offered an incredible menu of luxurious massages and facials.

The concert in Costa Mesa was reached via bus thru incredible traffic. Once there, however, we were amazed at the pristine city and the depth of cultural interest as there are two beautiful concert halls side by side.

The trip to San Diego was on a a double decker Amtrak train. We enjoyed being able to view miles and miles of the Pacific coast beaches as we sped along. The hotel in San Diego was right on the water and there was time for a leisurly stroll amongst the harbor shops and restaurants before our concert.

Today about half the orchestra spent their free day in San Diego and the rest of us took a Southwest charter back to San Francisco. Southwest is quickly becoming the musicians' favorite airline as there are always loads of fun and games included in the ride. Today we were treated to a hilarious rendition of the usual ho-hum safety announcements by Bob Cafaro and Julie Kim.

Tomorrow evening the orchestra will reunite for a second concert in Davies Hall and I plan to enjoy more of what San Francisco has to offer during the day, wearing my heaviest sweater, of course!

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