OK, need to start somewhere… well, lets try
First of all, I’ve started this blog to give for you a better idea of how it is - you know - “the life of the star” ;)))
But really, I thought you might find it quite interesting, those of you who’ve never been to, or maybe are planning to go to the places I’m travelling to with work engagements. Finally, it might be very helpful to know “the view from the side” on your life and life of society.
I’m writing this first blog on the plane from Liverpool to Madrid, surrounded by young families with kids, going off for their holidays in Spain, and feel a little alien in my business suit in this company.
Nevertheless, it’s August and I’m off to conduct a production of Verdi’s opera, Macbeth for the next two weeks or so in La Coruna in Spain.
A very busy season with the Liverpool Phil ended with our performance at the Proms. I’ve since been touring with the European Union Youth Orchestra in Italy and Germany, so now I’m expecting a little bit of sunshine together with plenty of rehearsals).
A year ago, I conducted La Boheme at the same festival in Spain. I had a few struggles with the “primadonna” in that production who skipped two rehearsals due to “bad mood and mosquitoes in the night” and afterwards was insisting that I didn’t know the opera (which I’ve conducted quite a few times in my life!).
Hope this time it’ll be smoother – at least I can speak Russian with Lady Macbeth! And very much looking forward to the great cuisine of Galicia: pulpo a la gallego (Galicia’s signature dish made with octopus) and good Albarinho wine wait for me there. You should try it!
Oops, “fasten your seat belts”! We coming down to land in Barajas, so I must switch off my laptop. Please, don’t hesitate to write to me if you have any questions – I can’t promise to answer them immediately, but will try to do as many as I can!
