Ensemble Nobile

What a concert!!! As part of the 60th birthday party for Israel, the American-Israel Cultural Foundation has brought the five person Baroque group, "Ensemble Nobile" to Florida for a series of concerts. We were lucky enough to be in one of the places they performed - Gainesville!!! What a group. Consisting of viola da gamba, baroque violin, harpsichord, soprano and mandolin they played early 17th Century Venetian synagogue music, Venetian gondola music, Vivaldi and a variety of other music. They were outstanding. Perfect ensemble, stunning individual performances and winning stage presence. During the reception after, they all proved to be totally delightful people to talk with and share ideas with. To boot, the gambist is also a master luthier who made all the instruments (except the harpsichord). And what a sound they all had! I don't get to many concerts because I'm too busy playing them myself (and as a self-supporting musician, who has that kind of money?). I'm sorry you couldn't all be there.

GCO Concert Week

I'm in the throes of concert week for the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra. First rehearsal was last night and we worked on Gershwin's "Cuban Overture" and the 1812 Overture. Tonight will be a mixture of stuff for the children's concert tomorrow morning - Harry Potter, ET, Snow Maiden, and similar stuff. Then, after more rehearsals Friday night and Saturday morning, we do an outdoor Pops concert in the downtown Plaza (Gainesville, of course) which is free to the public.

The other big news is that we have decided to join cousin Jerry and his wife at the Scor! Adult Music Camp in Rochester, NY in July. A busman's holiday, to be sure, but it should be fun. I rarely get to play any chamber music just for fun anymore and I should get three good days of it. My wife and partner is also very excited since she doesn't have much chamber music in her cello background and this will fill a real need. More to come on this one.