Playing Economically

I have a stronger idea how to play each piece.
When I was young, there were things I couldn't understand, didn't know how to express and expressions I felt ashamed of. Now I can boldly express them.

The question is how to put them into "sound."

I once watched a TV program in which old time prima donnas said that the agony of ballerinas was that they could not mobilize their bodies when they reached a high level of artistic understanding.

Perlman also said, in the video program about former excellent violinists, that it was almost a miracle that soloists continue their activities over the age of forty these days.

Ii is for sure that the market is full of younger talents, who disappear within five years. I myself have experienced the life of a soloist, its overwhelming flow, tremendous stress, and bitter loneliness. It is really difficult to survive as a soloist.

However, these old distinctive players have been playing Tchaikovsky at the age of over forty, fifty, sixty and even eighty!

Ivry Gitlis is one of them, who came to Japan recently. A doctor, my acquaintance, told me the story that he rushed to take care of Ivry Gitlis with a whole bunch of medicine, as he complained that his neck was extremely stiff, and his shoulders ached. He hesitated for a while and said "I will try different ways of playing because it would be trouble if the medicine gave me side effects like difficulty in manipulating my fingers or in thinking clearly", and started practicing in front of a mirror.
Feeling that auras shined from Gitolis' back, the doctor pressed the shutter of his camera.

Taking things easy, but keeping policy.
Though Musashi, the famous master of sword in Japan said "I have never regretted what I have done", I think what is important is sometimes giving up, but always trying strenuously.
By the way, "giving up" is the same sound as "making things clear" in spoken Japanese !

I heard the edited version of Laro's concertos yesterday, which I recorded a year and half ago. It was really a challenge to attempt these three tremendously difficult pieces at my age. The result was satisfactory for me. I heard this, remembering troubles at rehearsals, the hotel in Nice and orchestra members. I was hearing with my PC on my stomach, then I started feeling hungry partly because the PC warmed my stomach.

My children are making noise because they will have a costume party tomorrow, trying various ideas. My daughter kissed me on my forehead, saying "Is this what you are playing? Tan tan taan, I like you playing this way, mama"

She knows little about composers' names like Laro or Bach, but she remembers melodies I play well and hums them.

The time of supreme bliss. Full of thanks.