Callanwolde creates a perfect setting for chamber music.  The audience gathers just inches from the performers under lamp lighting.  The strings gather almost in the curve of the concert grand piano in one corner of the elegantly appointed chamber.  Behind the chairs set out for visitors, the grand staircase serves as a balcony for latecomers.  This concert was also a fundraiser to support a strings program for students that have had music cut from their public school budgets.

The night began with the strings, Franz Shubert's Trio No. 1 in Bb Major for Violin, Viola and Cello, D. 471.  This set the mood and I began to know the players.  Spano joined for Mozart's Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, KV 478.  After the intermission, I enjoyed Piano Quartet in Eb Major, Op. 47 by Robert Schumann.  The 3rd movement of this piece was my personal favorite.

Afterwards, I spoke with the both Robert Spano and LYRA founding member, Raymond Leung curious about their impressions of the visiting instrument, our Bosendorfer concert grand.  Among other positive comments, Robert Spano stated the piano was, "absolutely wonderful" and Leung delighted how much better suited this piano was for them over their second choice instrument.  I hope to have video to share in a future update.

Raymond (LYRA), Robert Spano, Judith Cox (LYRA), Christopher French (LYRA) and me, Sam Bennett

While checking with the factory, there was one Concertina in production nearing completion.  The piano would then be crated and flown to the airport where we would pick it up.  This process, normally quite smooth, was held up because of new enforcement of an old regulation called the Lacey Act.  I became an instant expert while naming the wood species and quantity of all the different woods used in the construction of the piano.  I had never been asked down to the species.  Still, the piano was well protected during the efforts of Customs to comply more than we'd ever complied before!