La Maestra

In just a few days I will be heading to Paris with an amazing fan club for the La Maestra Conducting Competition.  Wim, Suzanne (and family), Ria, Frans, Irene, Ton, Sanna, and Lineke; what a joy and honor for me that you will be joining me in Paris to support me.  It warms my heart to have such amazing people around me at this important event.  I'm grateful to you!

My favourite composers at the moment are:
(early) G.F. Händel, JS Bach, W.A. Mozart
(orchestral later) Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Ravel
(choral and strings) Pēteris Vasks, Mäntyjärvi, Arvo Pärt, Rautavaara, Knut Nystedt

It says a lot that the Romantics don't really pull my strings anymore.  Thank goodness round 1 has two of my composers listed above, and round two is completely unknown music next to two pieces that I can perform in my sleep.  (I've sung Parto Parto for at least a decade). 

The last round, would I get that far, will be a joy.  Brahms 4, which I conducted in a final exam 20 years ago, Beethoven 8, one of my favourite Beethoven's, Debussy's Fētes, one of the only pieces that I like by the composer, and a new very experimental piece by Manon Lepauvre.

Allons-y!