April 10 - Degree Recital at Yale

With the incredible load of obligations I currently face (working on two commissions for The 5 Browns, preparing for performances of Bartok's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion later this week, preparing for lectures and a piano duo recital in L.A. next week), it was a miracle I made it through this recital in one piece. I allowed myself 2.5 concentrated days of practice to relearn the program after having set it aside for a month.

Those moments when you forget you are on stage and enter another world are wonderful. Regardless of preparation, there were moments that when all fears dissipated and inspiration took over in tonight's concert - specifically in the Menuett and Toccata in the Ravel, Bach's "Sheep May Safely Graze," and the theme from Schumann's Symphonic Etudes. Those moments are why I love to perform.

There are also those moments when you *realize* you are on stage and there's an audience watching your every move. In situations of little preparation, those moments can be truly terrifying ... such as midway through Schumann's Symphonic Etudes.

That's what sets live performance apart from recordings - the unknown - spontaneity. I wouldn't give it up for anything.