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United Breaks Guitars

September 5th, 2010

A big hello to everyone from Rome, Italy!

Sometimes I rave on this blog, but today I’d like to rant a little :P Whilst I arrived safely, United Airlines didn’t fare so well. In fact, as long as I can avoid it, I will never fly with them again!

All started with the 45-minute check-in (and I was the only person standing in line), then came the news that my Frequent Flyer number had been entered into the system incorrectly and there was nothing I could do about it (according to the rudest employee ever).

During the flight, I was seated next to a mentally-ill patient (while his minder sat behind) who during the course of the flight kept putting his head in front of mine to stare at me in the eyes. He also couldn’t fit into his seat, thus the armrest had to be up the entire journey (including take-off and landing). Great for safety. He got 1.5 seats, and me 0.5. Staff couldn’t care whatsoever.

My meal included a glass of water (no juice or soft-drinks are served on international flights – what the?) and a tiny container of baby food (yes, apple puree). When I queried the hostess if maybe a mistake had been made and I was served the under 3 meal… “you don’t look like a baby” was the reply.

Arrival in Rome on time, however suitcase number 1 was lost and suitcase number 2 was hacked open down the seam with a knife. After days of calling United in Australia, Italy and the USA… well… trying to call. The numbers they give you for lost luggage at the airport don’t exist any more and the baggage number for United must lead to nowhere, because no one ever answers. I finally got through to someone in the Rome central office and was told to call back at 5pm when they could help me. Called back at 5pm on the dot… office hours close at 5pm. Next morning asked to speak to the manager. Placed on hold. “No, he doesn’t want to speak to you”. Ok, can I please have his name? Placed on hold. “No, he doesn’t want to give you his name”. Ok, no problem, can I please have your name? Placed on hold. “No, I cannot give you my name”. Enough is enough. I go to the airport and demand I get my bag. United employee checks on computer. “No, sorry, your bag is not here, we don’t know where it is”. Could you please call the baggage storage room and ask them because I’m not leaving. Calls storage. “No, sorry, they said your bag is not there”. After demanding I be taken to storage before I call a lawyer (now that I have their name from their tag), I’m told to knock on the black door with “staff only” on it. United employee opens the door and there behind him on the shelf is my bag! (and he had just told me on the phone it wasn’t there). In fact, it had been there for two days! But no one entered it into the system. Why not? “Because we have been just too busy”. Yes, there are only four other bags in all the storage room. Furious. Not only that, but United were not going to cover any costs if the bag was lost because apparently, you need receipts for EVERY item in the bag as proof of ownership. My insurance seconded that statement.

I won’t even mention the actual flight!

Guideline 1: NEVER fly United.
Guideline 2: What is the point of insurance?
Guideline 3: If you don’t scan the bags as ‘arrived’ into an airport before they go out onto the baggage carousel, what is stopping anyone from taking any bag??
Guideline 4: How did I get into a secure area of an airport without a ticket or passport?

To end my rant for the year, I thought you might enjoy this little video…


Aspen Festival of Music

August 17th, 2010

Well, hoping to write in a few days sure didn’t work! Here I am, during my last week in beautiful Aspen, preparing for the last concert tomorrow and starting to pack for yet another journey! The terrain surrounding Aspen is quite simply, spectacular! It took a while to adjust to the altitude and at once, the performances started. You can see a short clip of one of the concerts below… Smetana’s The Bartered Bride: Overture. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did working with the orchestra! After almost eight weeks of concerts here, it’s time to move on to my next destinations of Italy and the United Kingdom. Whilst I’m disappointed that I did not see a bear here, I did encounter many chipmunks, squirrels, deer and a huge elk right outside my bedroom window! I’m particularly looking forward to conducting Debussy’s Petite Suite tomorrow after having played En Bateau for so many years on flute! Then, the fun of packing my four suitcases for travel! That part, I’m not looking forward to doing so much :P


Nice > Rome > New York > Aspen!

June 26th, 2010

Over the last few weeks I’ve seen the beautiful blue waters of the Côte d’Azur, the magnificent relics of the Roman Empire, seen six Broadway shows and this morning, had deer wake me up looking for food on my window! I’m now in Aspen, Colorado, where I have my the next performances. Lots of wonderful news soon as the journey picks up speed. Flying in on a tiny little plane, deep into the valley, Aspen is green every direction you look. It’s taking a little time getting used to the altitude and it doesn’t help breathing when practicing flute! I’m looking forward to working on Weber’s Oberon Overture and performing Mozart’s Flute Concerto No.1 in two days. After a days rest, rehearsals start for Rachmaninov’s Symphony No.2, Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Barber’s The School for Scandal Overture and Dvorak’s Symphony No.8 which will be performed in open-air concerts next week. Of course, it’s terrible news that my two countries, Australia and Italia are out of the world cup. At least now I can study! I hope to write in a few days! Ciao!


10th Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition Finals

June 1st, 2010

For twenty years the Cadaqués Orchestra organises, biennial, the Cadaqués Orchestra International Conducting Competition. During this time, we have focused our efforts on supporting the talent in the field of orchestral conducting.

This year we have the good fortune to celebrate our 10th edition and we want to go a step further, taking advantage of the opportunities that new technologies offer us, we will make on-line replay parts of the competition.

With this, the Cadaqués Orchestra, hopes to raise awareness of the work of these conductors who come from 40 different countries to meet from 3 to 8 June in Cadaqués and Girona.

Here is the link from which will be broadcasted live via the web of the Cadaqués Orchestra: www.orquestradecadaques.com from where you can view the replay.

Schedule (Local Spanish Time)
- 3 June. Cadaqués. Preliminary round (not broadcast)
- 4 June. Cadaqués. First round (10.00-13.00, 17.00-21.00)
- 5 June. Cadaqués. First round (09.00-13.00, 16.00-18.15)
- 6 June. Girona. Second round (11.30-14.20, 17.30- 20.30)
- 7 June. Girona. Semi Final (10.00-12.00)
- 7 June. Girona. Final (17.30-20.15)
- 8 June. Girona. Grand Final (20.00)


Stormy weather in Rome

May 25th, 2010

It’s wonderful to be back in Italy! It’s spring here and there is quite a spectacular show being put on with thunder and lighting over the Vatican. It’s really a long way from Australia and I’m reminded of this more each time I fly. Everyone was surprised to see me fully awake and walking around at 6am this morning :P The wonders of jetlag! Had a delicious home-cooked Italian meal last night and today, I’ve spent all my free day at the desk feasting on scores of scores. Tomorrow, will head out to the home of the Orchestra dell’Accademia di Santa Cecilia Roma. Lots of work to do so back to the desk now! Here is a wonderful sight I found in Rome… a collection of autographs from some of the most prolific composers ever to live. I hope you like it too!


Summer, Winter, Spring & Autumn all in two months

May 14th, 2010

Sunny Sydney! Wonderful to be home, even if only for a week. Not a cloud in the sky today but it’s getting a little fresh. Today I’ve spent packing 68kg worth of scores to conduct over the next few months. It looks like I’ll have to ship some across to the USA. Hopefully they’ll be waiting for me when I arrive! Hopefully! Have a wonderful new silk white suit to conduct in when I’m in the States. But I’ll need to get a tan in Spain first or you won’t see me :P Last week saw the fascinating film ‘Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky’ – absolutely incredible cinematography which made everyone feel incredibly uncomfortable at times. Next week, I’ll be back in Italy before heading down to conduct in Spain, my first time there! Can’t wait!


Swiss Snags and Sprüngli

April 17th, 2010

Back in Italy after a wonderful week in Switzerland with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich. What incredible musicians. It was my first time in this great city and I hope to return to this concert hall soon. With its gorgeous interior and brilliant acoustics, the orchestra produces some incredibly clear colours. It was also wonderful to have every musician visibly enjoy every note of music. Outside the concert hall, the culture is quite incredible and I spent much time at the Fraumünster church, eyes fixed on the magnificent stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. Of course, I couldn’t go to Zürich and not sample the fresh truffles, made only hours before at Sprüngli or a traditional Würste and beer with the locals!


Down Under Greetings!

March 17th, 2010

G’Day Everyone! I’m back in Australia for a week preparing for what is a wonderfully massive year ahead! Thanks to everyone for all your kind emails regarding my concert and masterclass in Sweden. It really means a lot to hear from so many audience members!! and I hope to be back very soon! Yes, it was true as mentioned before the concert, it was my very first time walking when the snow was falling :) Here’s a photo from the concert! It’s always interesting travelling and this next flight will be quite a task – over 100 scores to carry! Next I’m off to England, Italy and Switzerland. It will be my first time in Zurich and I’m looking forward to it so much! You should be able to catch me in between rehearsals at the Lindt factory :P