So this is what it's like to be the idle rich. I got home last night at 11:30 PM and then did some work, wrote some reviews, and before I knew it, it was 2 AM. The veddy veddy rich were undoubtedly at a reception for Gavrilov in somone's mansion. The next thing I knew, I woke at 10 AM. I'm sure the veddy veddy rich had their breakfasts in bed, brought by servants, but I took a quick shower, biked up to The Elms without breakfast, and heard a delightful morning of music. First, Pedja Muzevic played two Chopin Mazurkas. Then, Julie Albers, the very attractive young Colorado cellist, played three pieces by Borodin and two etudes by Chopin, arranged for cello by Glazunov. Accompanying her was Bernadene Blaha, who played with great elegance. Then, the star of the morning, Catherine Manoukian, an very young teenage Armenienne-Canadienne, played Chopin's Cello Concerto, transcribed for violin, again accompanied by Blaha. She played with wonderful musicality and fire and lyricism. Intermission on the lawn was beautiful, with clear skies and perfect temperatures. And the landscaping isn't bad either. After intermission, there was the Trio No. 1 of Dvorak, played by Nai-Yuan Hu. Who? Hu. Who is he? Yes, Hu is he. But who is Hu? Who know? Hu knows. Also, Maureen McDermott on cello and Pedja Muzevic on piano. They all really shown in fabulous ensemble playing.

     This evening, I returned to the Breakers. I got a seat in the second row, right behind Malkovich and his guest for the evening, Dmitri Sitkovetsky. The beautiful people were not here tonight. Nobody was here tonight--the place was only about a third full. So much the better. John Aler began with a set of songs by Richard Trunk, a 20th Century German composer. He was accompanied brilliantly by Tom Hrynkiw. The music was very difficult, both the vocal part and the piano. Both artists showed consummate skill, beautiful expression, phrasing, diction, clarity. They told stories in music. Even if you knew no German at all, you would listen with interest. It was a triumph. Then Luigi Piovano, a young Italian cellist, played a Ballade and Serenade by Josef Suk. It wasn't a bravura piece, but he played well. Then a young violinist stole the show. Christina Castelli was just graduated from Harvard with a major in chemistry. She played Paganini's "Variations on Rossini's I Palpiti." It was the usual Paganini pyrotechnics, and she carried it off with elan. Dmitri Sitkovetsky was smiling approvingly at her dexterity and command. During the intermission I spoke with her. She is moving to New York to study at Julliard with Dorothy Delay, and she's scared about living on the Upper West Side. Then Bernadine Blaha stole the show. Nelson Goerner was scheduled to perform a Chopin Scherzo, but he is in the hospital, so she stepped right in. She has always been one of our favorite pianists, clear, musical, lyrical, tasteful. With the Scherzo No. 3, she showed she could pull out all the stops. She played magnificently. I said to Malkovich, "Put a ponytail and dark glasses on that girl, give her some gum to chew, and she could really be somebody." He smiled politely. After the intermission, Bernadene's husband Kevin Fitz-Gerald stepped in for Goerner to perform the Liszt B Minor Sonata. Now this is a big piece. He did very well on short notice. He has a wonderful lyricism, as well, and great musical taste, but he lacks the power and verve to do carry off the  keyboard-smashing moments of Liszt.

     I should mention the weather. Each day in Newport has been gorgeous, perfect temperature, clear, sunny, calm, quiet.

     This is what life is all about.

     Tomorrow...back to Providence to work for a day and pay for all these tickets.