My (long) ride

Freedom is beautiful. When you’re told, “you’re free to play whatever you want”, it’s both a joy and a responsibility.

Yesterday, I embarked on an 8-hour drive to a remote location in the Pyrenees mountains. Plenty of time to reflect and decide what I would perform… or so you´d think.

I should perform 4 concerts in a lapse of 4 days, each one with a completely different and improvised repertoire. Starting today. And I didn´t decide anything on my 8-hour drive. Instead, I just listened to music and thought of other things.

Of course, the fact that my family came along (my wife and daughter) makes me concentrate on different things, mostly non-musical.

Anyways, I´m not worried at all. I´ve done these sorts of concerts before many times. I thoroughly enjoy their spontaneity.

And having my family in the audience is a rare (and exquisite) treat.

Many years ago, when I was “just” a pianist and completely focused on Classical music, this wouldn´t have been possible for me at all.

Picking up the bandoneon, learning different means of musical expression, and learning to improvise were long and difficult tasks to master, but with such a huge reward. I feel lucky and privileged to have so many different “tools” to express myself.

Is it better to delve into many different interests, or is it better to focus and master completely one single thing? I really don´t know. Both have their bright side and also a painful point of what you have to give up for it.

These sorts of things are in my mind today. Tomorrow will be different since I´ll already have played already. In the oldest running festival in the Pyrynees.

Anyways, tomorrow you´ll hear more from me. Have a great day!

Claudio.