The wonderfully lovely Joshua Bell

You will never believe who I had the most desirable pleasure of meeting this beautiful morning. In the classical music world, he is a rockstar of the highest status. Plus, he is as down to earth as one of his status and fame could be. Now, I could only be speaking of one person. Well, actually two. Unfortunatly, Yuri Bashmet is not scheduled to appear at this festival.

So, this morning there was a "Meet the Artisit" thing in the Moon Room. Basically, Joshua Bell sat down and talked to us for 45 minutes while we asked questions. It was pretty amazing. He wasn't intimidating (until we watched him play later...) and he talked to us about playing, falling into his career, and his violin. Apparently it used to belong to Huberman and during a concert when it was left unattened briefly in Carnegie Hall was stolen. It wasn't seen for for 50 years and on his deathbed, the theif confessed that his violin was the 1713 Strad. The said theif was a cafe violinist and had been playing the instrument without telling anyone what it was. It was cleaned and restored and another violinist bought it from the insurance company that had paid for it back in the 30s. It was in this European violin shop and, when Mr. Bell was in there getting his bow rehaired before a concert, he tried it and fell in love immediately. In fact, he played it four hours later at the concert! He told the owner that he just had to have this violin.

After talking with him for a while, he went to go practice before the dress rehersal with the EPO. He confessed that the piece he's playing tonight (the Sibelius violin concerto) he hasn't played for, like, three years. Which kinda annoyed me. So Jen and I went to Starbucks to get coffee and pasteries before his rehersal with the orchestra. When we got back, they were just taking a break before the second half of rehersal. Then we watched him play. ...I don't know how to describe it. It was...amazing. Inspiring while still being depressing that he can play so well. But just pure...ecstacy? hahahaha. That might be the right word...I don't know.

Well, I have to go. Meeting in 15 minutes...love you all!