selig sind...

Just got back from Chicago where we performed the Brahms again. This time at Symphony Center, which was an amazing experience. The venue itself is breathtakingly beautiful - ornate, gilded wall carvings, plush velvet seats, soaring balconies and boxes. Compounded with the heritage of it being the home of one of the best orchestras in the world and the many splendid musicians I shared the stage with, it will definitely be one of my favorite memories.

And the way we sang tonight -- I was certainly moved. I don't know about the audience, though I'm pretty sure they were too. I poured my heart into it - pain and sorrow, love and joy.

I get goosebumps every time we sing "Denn alles fleisch" at forte. Something about the text and the music and the volume.

Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras
und alle Herrlichkeit des Menschen
wie des Grases Blumen.

Now all flesh is as grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass.

How transient our being is!