Re: Carnegie Hall debut!!

[martin_s]

Wow! Well done mate!

Sorry, I am on the wrong side of the pond so I can't come and listen...
Best of luck though!

-Martin

[nilsjohan]

Congratulations Robert!!!

That explains why you have been a bit quiet on the forum the last months. Hard work at the other keyboard...

Unfortunately I am also on the wrong side but I really wish you good luck!
Maybe we could broadcast the recital here at Piano Forum? That would be cool!

[Pianorak]

Robert - How absolutely splendid and no doubt well deserved. Congratulations! Shall be with you in spirit. Regards - Fred (from the UK)

[Ludwig]

Wow, congrats, I hope you get a HUGE audience and play greatly... you deserve it. I'm sorta stuck here down under for a while yet to come, but goodluck.

[rmc7777]

Robert, this is great news.  Congratulations!  If you can record the recital and put it on the web, that would be great.

Regards,
Richard

[rmc7777]

Robert,

After your Carnegie Hall debut, please share your experiences with us.  I'm sure many would like to hear what it was like.  Thanks.

Regards,
Richard

[ClassicalPiano2002]

A MILLION CONGRATS

i dont know anyone that wouldn't want to come see one of "our own" (someone that started so small becoming so big) play.  But i can't make it even though im just upstate in New York.

But remember to play your hardest and play like no one is watching

maybe you could find a way to tape it and put it somewhere on the web.. THAT WOULD BE AWESOME

congrats again

[dinosaurtales]

Holy mackerel!  Congrats!  Do you know what you will be playing yet?

[Colette]

congrats. Thats great! what are you going to play? I live in NY so maybe I can see you in October. That would be very cool. You should broadcast it online for the other members so they don't miss out. Great job, and I hope to see you!

[robert_henry]

Hi again everyone,

I want to remind you guys of my debut which is only a few days away.  There are still some tickets available, and I would love to meet some of you.

Program is:

Mozart Sonata in Eb K. 282
Carl Vine Sonata
Schubert Sonata in A minor, Opus 143
--Intermission--
Eleven Etudes from 53 Studies based on Chopin Etudes

The recital should last about 1 1/2 hours.  


If you would like to purchase tickets, you can call 212-247-7800.  They are $15 general and $10 for students and seniors.

Robert Henry

[dinosaurtales]

What an incredible program!  I am indeed jealous!  I never did have the talent to do what you are doing.  I will not be able to be there, and I KNOW you will be great!!!!!   Is it going to be on any kind of radio broadcast?  We get some of the Carnegie Hall stuff broadcast "live" out here (believe it or not)!

Do they say "break a leg" in piano recitals?

[Colette]

I saw your debut performance at Weil! Good concert. I especially liked your interpretation of the Vine sonata. Your rhythmic and tonal control was great. I'd really like to play this piece. You also have a nice feeling for Mozart, a very gentle, sonorous touch. How'd you feel about it? Did you like playing at Carnegie? It's to bad the competition didn't put you in the larger hall. I hate playing at Weil...the backstage is pretty gross, right? Well, best of luck with the engagements that are sure to follow and keep us posted with your other dates.

[robert_henry]

Colette, I would have enjoyed meeting you.  That unfortunately was one of the worst performances of my career.   I generally don't get nervous, but I couldn't help it this time, and it really hurt my playing.  I just couldn't calm down.  Lack of sleep didn't help either.  And the hall seemed surprisingly different from my dress rehearsal.  What really bothers me is how well prepared technically and mentally I was for that performance, only to have it fall apart on the day of the concert.

I will pick up from here and move on.  I'm sorry that was your first impression of my playing.

Robert Henry

[janice]

Robert,
As I had said to you, I'm sorry that I couldn't make it.  I'm in the midwest (Iowa) and it just wasn't possible to make the trip.  Sorry.  I'm sorry that you are so upset about your performance.  When I do a solo at my church, I rant and rave for days, and I listen to the tape of it over and over and over, and I pick it apart and analyze it.  Then I get depressed and go eat a carton of Cool Whip.  You get the picture.  Then I regain my focus and my reason for playing.  I'm not trying to coddle you or anything, but I bet that you just might feel better in a few weeks.  Seriously.  And if you happen to have a recording of it, wait a whole week, at least, before listening to it.  That's what my teacher advised me to do last time I played.  When I did actually listen to it, I thought it was awesome!  If I would have listened to it immediately after performance, I would've become really depressed and I would've eaten a carton of Cool Whip!  Your feelings just might pass.  At your level, it's only natural to address the fine details in the music.  But when we analyze a performance, I think that we have to FORCE ourselves to take a step back and look at the overall picture.  So those were just some of my thoughts.  We all would still like to see it broadcast somewhere!

[dinosaurtales]

I'm with Janice.  I'll just bet you are being too hard on yourself.  You may not have had the perfect performance you envisioned, but I'll bet it came off just fine to the listeners.  I really really sympathize with you on the nervous thing, though.  Once something like that gets going, it's impossible to stop it. - and I don't play anywhere near your capabilities!  

You'll be great at your next recital, I'll just bet!

I have to think about the Cool Whip thing,though.

[Colette]

All I can say is that we all get nervous and we hardly ever perform as well as we could or should or expect to. However, I'm not going to say don't be hard on yourself, because I know that i place high standards on my playing and strive for perfection in performance, and whenever i am not pleased i don't just say "i tried the best that i could and that's all that counts." I just don't think in those terms. I use the ill fated concert as a positive critique (after the intitial depression period) and make it an abosolute goal to fix whatever problems (nerve wise, mentally, technically...) i can and assure myself that i know i can play better and i will play better the next time. If you can play with as much seeming composure as you did at carnegie  with so much pressure---all those judges/teachers/musicians breathng down your back, just think, when you're free and concertizing it'll be a breeze, and a fun breeze at that.