November
Gratitude, blessings and finding the beauty in the ordinary and extraordinary
November 1
Proud of the bravery and love it takes to create new opportunities
November 2
A day that began with so much laughter after reading an email from a mentor who wrote, “I miss your wry and sometimes withering deadpan and fast brain!”
November 3
I am grateful for a career in which learning something new (e.g., music and languages) is part of the job. Today’s challenge was trying to figure out how to prepare a piano for a special work that features Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso No. 1 Preludio.
November 4
One of the “perks” of planning operas during the pandemic meant that the opera house chose some pretty interesting repertoire to replace the big operas. Tonight we had a performance of Mieczysław Weinberg’s “Mazeltov! Wir gratulieren” where I play the piano in the orchestra pit.
His opera, “The Passenger” has received a lot of attention but I honestly was not familiar with his compositional output before playing in the pit for “Mazeltov!” I have enjoyed getting acquainted with this composer through this opera, his symphonies (he wrote 26 of them!!!) and string quartets.
November 5
I am grateful for a random moment of inspiration that led to a project that I have titled, “Life of the Opera Pianist.” I am grateful for the friends and colleagues who have agreed to be a part of this project.
November 6
I love Strauss’s opera, “Arabella.” It is an opera that I know inside and out and maybe even backwards. I am so grateful that I had the chance to watch this simple but elegant production at Oper Bonn.
November 7
Today was a beautiful day for a leisurely walk along the mighty Rhein. The vendors are slowly starting to set-up the Christmas Markets and my favorite ferris wheel is now up and running.
November 8
During the pandemic, I rediscovered the joys of jumping rope and documented that love on Instagram. Progress has been steady but always improving and always with a smile.
November 9
I received my first ever flu shot in Germany today. As I reached for the paper to sign my name, I was stopped by the flu shot monitor who insisted that I actually read the 12-page document about the flu vaccine. She actually sat down next to me and to watch me “read” the document. The woman watched a riveting performance of me pouring over every line of the document that I was finally granted permission to sign my name and receive the flu shot.
November 10
I launched my Life of the Opera Pianist project yesterday and have been receiving very positive and uplifting feedback from friends and colleagues. Read the first spotlight on Craig Rutenberg here. I have also been receiving messages that I should start a podcast with this series. That will not be happening.
November 11
St. Martin’s Day
This day always makes me smile because it starts at 11:11 on 11/11.
But the best part of this holiday is watching the children celebrate in the evening. They carry lanterns in the streets after dark, singing songs and they receive candy for their efforts.
I love watching the light from their lanterns illuminate their happy and innocent faces as they sing and walk around their neighborhoods.
November 12
After all these years, I still consider it a small achievement when I can make a German laugh while speaking German.
And when I’m playing the piano? An even bigger success.
I was told to play my solos with a comic flair. To hear people laughing across a crowded rehearsal room brought a huge smile to my face.
November 13
I love running outside during the fall and winter months…
…and seeing the last bursts of color in the foliage…
….and hearing the leaves rustle under my busy feet…
…and the faint smell of wood-burning fireplaces wafting through the cool, crisp air.
I was a little disappointed that I had to cancel my half marathon last month but I had an offer I couldn’t refuse. Since a refund was not possible, I was happy that I could transfer my bib to another runner. I found a friend of a friend who gladly took my bib and ran the half marathon in 1:35. (!)
November 14
I love Sundays. It has become a tradition to start the day with pancakes followed by a long run in the evening. Every time I enter my home after a run, I say a silent prayer of thanks. I know the many stories of women who never made it home after a run.
Feeling safe and secure is a special gift and never taken for granted, especially during these “unprecedented times.” Those who provide that feeling will always have a spot in my heart.
November 15
Losing almost 25 pounds this year has meant that I can wear clothes that I have not worn in almost 10 years. It is like going shopping without having to spend money!
November 16
There is fun challenge at work involving many different pianos and fewer solutions for a work by Schnittke. See: November 3. Things are not going according to “plan” but it has been an interesting challenge trying to make lemonade with lemons.
November 17
I still cannot believe that this is Schnittke. It’s a bit cheesy but it’s so beautiful. I love playing this piano solo in the pit. In the first few measures, the clarinet plays this romantic melody and both clarinetists who play this solo with me are excellent. It makes this moment my favorite in the entire work.
November 18
I’ve been considering a possible marathon in the future and today I was reminded twice about the magic of the 26.2 miles.
This video featuring Wrinkle the Duck makes me grin from ear to ear.
And this podcast episode focusing on Abby Wambach’s NYC Marathon experience was released today. I listened to it on my run and was so inspired by Shalane Flanagan’s achievement of 6 marathons in 6 weeks. WOW! But if one loses hope in humanity or the human spirit, one only has to watch a marathon or run a marathon.
Sometimes I have to remind myself, this is not difficult, you have completed 4 marathons!
November 19
I love postcards - I love receiving them, I love sending them.
In July, I purchased postcards (and stamps) in a little shop in Venezia, Italy. I later realized that the stamps were NOT from the main postal service but a private mailing company. After some research, I found out that many considered this company to be a huge scam and that postcards will never arrive at their final destination.
I decided that I had to try regardless of what I read on the internet.
And today, I received this picture from Colorado because the postcards are finally making it to their final destinations — almost FOUR MONTHS LATER!
November 20
The Christmas Markets are open! It is exciting to see but also a bit uneasy as Covid cases in Germany are quickly rising. Proceeding with caution.
November 21
Enjoyed a piano sandwich
November 22
I love the Ferris wheel that magically appears on the Rhein every year. Last year, the Ferris wheel was assembled and then we had our second lockdown. Unfortunately, it remained stationary for the remainder of its time on the Rhein. This year, I am grateful that I was able to continue the November 22nd Ferris wheel tradition. This Ferris wheel is heated and offers a beautiful view of the city. Also, a friend sent me a picture that I had forgotten. I was happy to relive this memory from 2010 and added it to my tribute to dear Robert Cowart.
November 23
To prepare for Thanksgiving this year, I’ve done a bit of research on which indigenous tribes lived on the land where I was born. I learned a lot and hope to learn more.
November 24
Today, I discovered a store in Düsseldorf called the Kingdom of Sweets and it is located near the new Five Guys. I walked in and was overwhelmed by the amount of sugar and chemicals that adorned every inch/centimeter of the walls. I walked out with a bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and White Cheddar Cheez-its. It cost 13€.
November 25
Last performance of Weinberg’s opera, Mazeltov! Wir gratulieren. I’ve been rehearsing and playing the piano in the pit for this opera for two seasons. Tonight’s performance was the best one — what a wonderful way to end a run of performances especially since it ended so abruptly last season because of the (2nd) lockdown.
Konzert Blumen
November 26
This week, I am grateful for the many friends who have traveled to visit me in the past month, or near me like the performance of Theodora (Händel) at the Philharmonie Essen. This is my third time watching this chamber orchestra and conductor perform and I’m a fan. Also, I rarely hear (or perform) Händel so I’m always happy to hear it when I have the chance.
November 27
It was a strange day for public transportation which made making plans a bit of a challenge. My friends and I ended up meeting in Duisburg before my performance for a meal which ended up being better than the initial plan.
November 28
After filing out of the Philharmonie on Friday evening, I looked at my phone to find several messages from friends. “Sorry about your man Sondheim.” “Did you hear the news?” “Are you okay?” “You’re the first person I thought of when I heard the news.” I had no idea what happened and spent the next few days processing it, reading about it, listening to music, watching scenes from my favorite Sondheim musicals. And so many friends reached out to me as if a family member had passed. What a special gift and legacy he left behind!
November 29
Because of the pandemic, auditions at the opera house have adjusted for the safety of the pianists and singers. At our house, we no longer have rehearsals before the on-stage audition and I meet the singer for the first time on the stage. I walked backstage where a singer handed me a binder and said, “Hi! I’ve stayed at your apartment before!” Before I could respond, we were ushered on stage for the audition. I spent the entirety of the audition trying to figure out what this singer meant. It made me laugh when we figured out the connection. This story will be added to the list of funny audition experiences.
November 30
This month’s November gratitude journal was a delightful writing exercise — and journey. Deciding what to share and shuffling through the day’s activities, conversations and thoughts is a wonderful reminder of the many blessings and moments of joy in one’s day.