TEACHING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

I was truly honored in the fall of 2011 when I was asked to go to Brno, Czech Republic, to teach master classes in piano at the Janacek Academy. The occasion was the 100th anniversary of the birth of my beloved teacher Rudolf Firkusny. He was one of the great pianists, and I was honored  to have had the privilege of studying privately with him for five years, both at his apartment in New York City and his summer home on the Hudson River.

For some time I had wanted to study with him but I was told that he didn't teach. I found out later that he didn't even like teaching! However, after an audition in Stratford, Ontario, where he was appearing on the Summer Music program, I was accepted as his student. I was thrilled and immediately made plans to move to New York

The rest is history. Four years later I was giving my Carnegie Hall recital debut and embarking on a career.
Rudolf remained my dear friend until the end of his life. My husband Andreas and I were in Austria when I heard that he had passed away. He died in Staatsburg, NY, so it was impossible for me to attend his funeral.

 Left to right, Anya, Mme.Maria Vegara, Rudolf Firkusny, after Carnegie Hall recital


Rudolf Firkusny was one of the most refined and gracious human beings I have ever met. As one critic once said, "He has the manners of a diplomat", and I certainly agreed. The times I spent with him were magical, and even though he didn't like teaching (and he told  me this) we had great lessons, and I really learned so much about music. He had no time for teaching technical "stuff", as he called it. He just wanted me to get to the core of the music."Always follow the composer's intentions."


In the spring of 2012 we found ourselves bound for Prague and Brno, his birthplace, where the big Festival took place .I taught some very talented pianists and had a wonderful time. I had the feeling that the Maestro was always looking over my shoulder. I was one of several pianists from different countries who came to teach. Pianist Carlo Grante from Italy became a great new friend, and I renewed my friendship with Sara Davis Buechner, one of the greatest pianists we have performing today. Other fine pianists came from Belgium, Austria, Japan, the USA  and Switzerland. I know how pleased Firkusny would have been to see so many of his former students (he finally relented and taught at Juilliard in later years) take part in such a gala in his honor. That week will live in my memory forever, as does the memory of my beloved teacher.

POETRY

I have often been asked if I have written any serious poetry, and, if so, would I please publish some.
So today I am doing just that.

                                          

SOMEWHERE

Somewhere, under the ages, stardust lies

Somewhere 'neath the endless skies.

Somewhere, threading the eons, ageless, old yet new

Somewhere falls the Immortal Dew.

Stardust, wisdom of sages, ashes of error, lies,

Stardust, soul of that which dies.

Stardust, substance of living, death and life anew

Stardust, Breath of Creation too.

Somewhere, beyond all horizons,

Where the Infinite dwells,

Somewhere, mid uncharted cosmic cells,

Somewhere, universe on universe

Non-ending, forever to be,

Somewhere, the throbbing

Heart of eternity.

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I don't think that I will add a rhyme from "Doggerel" this week.

See you next time!

Anya

JAZZ, JAZZ and MORE JAZZ

HELLO EVERYBODY!          

This is my first blog, and being a musician, what better way to start than to do a music review?

Karen and Angus

Friday, May 10, The Art Salon of St.Marys GALA was hosted by Trevor Exner and Susan Ratz at the Black Angus Restaurant. The guest artist for the evening was Southwestern Ontario's foremost jazz diva Karen Calder.* Karen was accompanied by the wizard of the keyboard Angus Sinclair, who is known far and wide as a superb organist (he is the associate organist at the Anglican Cathedral in London). Sinclair is also in great demand as a jazz pianist, and he proved his dexterity at the keyboard on Friday night.His accompaniments were first class, as were his solo forays into different styles....a little Mozart even!

The featured star of the night was at her best, as usual, and sang without a break for ninety minutes. It was interesting to watch the audience react to her, as she moved up and down the Black Angus (bedecked that evening with local art), stopping here and there to bestow a pat on the back or even to sit with a gentleman as she sang. She knows how to work a room, and tailors her moves to the reactions of the audience. There were so many songs that I don't have room here to list them, but my favorite, “All The Things You Are,” was given a rousing performance. The people at our table loved the evening and were tapping their toes as Karen gave us one hit after another including “Satin Doll,” “Frim Fram Sauce,” “The Lady is a Tramp” and “Orange Colored Sky.” This lady is going places...and I will definitely keep track of her in my blog.

*Quote by Pauline Finch, former music reviewer for the Kitchener-Waterloo Record.

Angus, Anya, Rev'd Andreas, Karen

This was Karen's fifth time performing at the Black Angus, and owner Trevor Exner was thrilled at the turnout. Trevor's wife Susan Ratz is a fine artist in her own right. At the restaurant she produces designer cakes, and in her spare time she works in that most difficult medium...watercolors. Her art work is beautiful and she also does crafts which are real eye-catchers.

Trevor is an extremely generous gentleman, and donated a portion of the ticket sales to the Art Salon. He has been sponsoring a series of various acts for the past few years at the restaurant on Saturday nights for the people of St.Marys.He outdid himself this time by bringing Karen Calder and Angus Sinclair back.

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 I am going to close every blog with a rhyme from my collection,"Doggerel."

The Afghan

Look at the Afghan, so beautifully built...
You'd never suspect that he's only a quilt!
( c 2000, Anya Laurence)
                                                   
Please come back in two weeks when I will be writing about the way the English language is being spoken (murdered) these days.