Friday, June 14, 2013

Sir Neville Marriner (II)

Ingrid Bergman said, "Happiness is good health and bad memory."  Apparently, so did Albert Schweitzer.  And Sir Neville Marriner seems to be a good example.  No holding on, no worries.  Taking care of each moment as it arises and laughing about the ones that pass less gracefully.  Our rehearsal proctor, Ito-san, has been quite confused by the erratic and spontaneously changing rehearsal schedule this week.  Suddenly time for coffee breaks, impromptu announcements of rehearsing pieces already rehearsed earlier in the day, extra musicians waiting for their chance to play in the lounge.  And Sir Neville Marriner has been amusedly compliant to the rules by which the orchestra seemingly needs to adhere.  And no one in the orchestra seems in the least bit distressed, other than Ito-san, who isn't distressed so much as just wondering what to do.  I'll miss watching their relationship.

And the happiness of this man, his calm, unworried content, is what he seems to bring to the podium that so few others bring.  Could he carry it with him without the years that came before?

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