I would be remiss if I didn't mention the warm hospitality I have been experiencing here in New Zealand. Justine and Marc are hosting me in their "Wedge House" - a house they recently built in the mountains in the Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. As if that weren't enough: every evening after rehearsal I am treated to a delicious meal, primarily prepared by Justine’s husband Marc, accompanied by at least one exquisite wine. It is a complete sensory experience!
Their home was featured on a New Zealand architecture program called "Grand Designs New Zealand" - this is the accompanying article about it.
I took the above picture of the Wedge House at dusk the other night. Here is a view from the guest bedroom I'm staying in, which is the window furthest to the right.
Staying here gives this immersive Beethoven experience a retreat-like quality. This is fitting, because Justine and I last played together at a long term (10-week) residency in 1999 at The Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada, which was very much an immersive artistic retreat experience.
So, it's quite something, twenty years after my most recent "retreat" that included Justine, to find myself halfway around the world in another retreat setting, making music together again.
Comments