Waiting Steinway

Last night was one of those special nights, where special things happen. Many special things happened last night. Most of them were notes, played on this wonderful Steinway, by the even more Wonderful James Rhodes (@JRhodesPianist on twitter if you don't already follow him).

It was the second time I'd heard James play live, and the experience was just as emotional and exciting as previously. The Waldstein Sonata (Beethoven) was supremely exciting, yet also sublime. This is what I love so much about this way of playing music - beauty AND excitement all at once, neither at the expense of the other.

The other special things last night were in fact people I met. It was lovely to see @awoollyhat again (I met her first last Autumn), and also to meet @PeeteerSmith, @puyaraimondi and @jos21. Lovely lovely people, and they actually seemed pleased to meet me too, which I always find rather surprising. The Wonderspouse also looked suitably bemused when people kept saying to him "Hello, you must be the Wonderspouse"!

A great end to what had started as an odd day. Half the morning asleep. Early lunch of chocolate buttons at 11.30, sitting getting stressed about maths, getting stressed about the prospect of going out and meeting people, journey to London etc etc, but in the end all well worth it. I don't even think this picture was the best picture I took (have a great one of a giant upsidedown purple cow, which I'm sure will emerge sometime) but it's the one that evokes the evening best.

Many thanks for a great evening to the lovely friends who were there, and special thanks to James who, in addition to being a lovely friend, also made some great sounds come out of this lovely piano! :-)