Q: These days, lots of people are sharing lists of the favorite books, movies, etc. that might be enjoyed by others. Do you have any recommendations?
A: Yes! The past few months have not only been great for catching up on books, movies, and TV shows but also for reading on and finding out more about the ones I enjoyed. So, I am going to share some of my greatest hits from quarantine.
Starting with books: one of my favorite reads at the beginning of quarantine was
The Foundation
series by Isaac Asimov. Written with so much imagination and exemplifying a deep understanding of human nature, this series will take you to a whole new universe. Having a large choice of TV shows available means you always miss something that you know you should have watched a long time ago. That was the case with
Twin Peaks: The Return
for me. I had seen the first two seasons a while ago and The Return somehow did not make it into my list until now, so I am glad it finally did last month. It was a rollercoaster of mystery, surrealism, sudden twists, forming one of David Lynch’s best works in my opinion. The movie that most recently grabbed my attention and my heart was
If Beale Street Could Talk
.
Q: So many musical performances have been canceled recently, but have you been able to take on any new musical projects? Have you delved into repertory that you hadn’t had time to work on before?
A: While it was hard to start practicing at the beginning, it did not take too long to realize that this is the perfect time for the kind of side projects that always end up on the back burner. One of these for me has been learning Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. Stretching the limit on my gut violin strings and taking me through operatic aria-like themes and dark, pensive passage work, it has been a real treat to come back to this piece. Aside from the fact that it will always be a work in progress (!), basking in the warmth of D major is a great way to start your day.
Another project that I have been able to realize to a larger extent over the past few months is not at all related to playing the violin, but the harpsichord instead. I am lucky to be housing a great instrument, built by Owen Daly. Having grown up playing the piano, harpsichord music started to intrigue me as soon as I first picked up the Baroque violin almost ten years ago. Having this instrument at home with more time than usual on my hands meant I was granted entrance to a treasure trove of amazing harpsichord music by François Couperin, Girolamo Frescobaldi, and Jean-Philippe Rameau amongst others. Luckily, I have had the opportunity to take lessons here and there with some of the best harpsichord players I know, including our own Corey Jamason (Thank you, Corey!). You can see me play a short harpsichord piece in the video below.
