2007_03_01_archive

Sleep Deprivation

It has been a long time since I was so sleep-deprived! Concert on

Tuesday night, followed by terrific birthday celebration for our

conductor, got to bed at 3, up again at 4:30 to get to the airport,

flew to Berlin (after having to change flights because mine had been

cancelled), met up with Lionel and my ex, had breakfast, walked to the

Music Instrument Museum at the Berlin Philharmonic Hall and was

severely disappointed because a harpsichord that I had donated to the

museum was not on display.

Then to the Sony Center on Potsdamer Platz to see "Dreamgirls", a

really excellent musical film, met up with Christina and her Man, they

were just as I had expected: friendly and witty.

Then to see Lionel's musical, which was a huge success, it was the end

of the Berlin run before they go on tour, even the normally staid and

stiff German audience on their feet and cheering at the end.

Afterwards the obligatory End Of Tour Party at a Mexican restaurant,

got back to the hotel at about 2:30, had to get up again at 4:30, taxi

to the airport, only to find that I wasn't in the computer for the

return flight, a real bind because I had a rehearsal in Cologne at

10:00... the kind Lufthansa girl worked out that I had booked my

return flight not for February 28 but for March 28. "But it is not a

problem sir, we can change the flight for you! Of course there will be

a fee, plus the upgrade.. $300...!"

Then the flight to Cologne, getting back at 8 a.m., rushing to the

OPera house to rehearse the Walkyrie (Wagner) for 4 hours, then

teaching (a student from Italy, now living in Freiburg, I couldn't

very well cancel her lesson as she had travelled about 300 miles to

come).

Anyhow I am exhausted and am looking forward to going to bed, having

slept about 3 hours in the last 3 days.

Addendum: While writing that post, I had a pizza cooking inthe oven.

With great forsight, I put the oven on a timer, so it wouldn't burn.