While I am sitting at the airport I'm thinking about how to start the tour diary this time. I would like to write that we have had a great tour which has been very special for me. But I am worried that people who read this might think that this is old news because it seems like MCO is having all the time great tours and concerts!
I will try to do my best to tell you why this tour has been really special to me.
The tour started in the Netherlands!
The first rehearsal was in Rotterdam, in the concert hall “De Doelen”. Nice feeling to enter De Doelen and see “MCO” people. I work there as a freelancer and just had one week ago a concert with the Rotterdam Philharmonic. Now it is us and we are starting the day with Matthew, our concertmaster, to rehearse the Bartók Divertimento. Matthew’s big talent is to lead a rehearsal with good spirit, clear ideas and humour. In Bartók’s Divertimento there are also a lot of solos, which were played really well by all our leaders!
And what a great pleasure and honor to play with Mitsuko Uchida in the Netherlands. I felt so proud. I had in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Dortmund a lot of friends and family in the audience. Also my daughter (11) and my husband were there. This gives a very special atmosphere and extra positive nerves!
In the train from Dortmund to Berlin I opened my book where I have a Ginkgo leaf as bookmark. Only two weeks ago we were in Japan. Time flies! Travel time is for me some time for myself to think back, to organise things for the future and to rest. 
The free evening I spent with some other MCO musicians in a music/cabaret show “Carrington-Brown”. Rebecca Carrington used to play cello in MCO often, but at a certain moment she decided to go completely for her own shows which she does now together with her husband. It was great to see how they make a great act/performance together with music and cabaret. So well done, I can recommend everybody to go there, you will for sure have a great evening!
The concert in Berlin was also very nice because so many musicians live in Berlin and brought their friends and family. Also, the MCO office staff was part of the concert. So of course we had to make this one special, and we managed I think!
The last concert was in London where Mitsuko Uchida lives. What a luxury to always play in full halls. Every concert day started with a long balance rehearsal, during which we played through both piano concertos and also rehearsed some bits of the concertos and the Bartók. After having played the concertos so often, I am proud of the orchestra to have full energy and concentration and always have the wish to improve. I know from experience that this is rare and this is what makes the orchestra special, thank you all!
The way Mitsuko plays the piano concertos and the encore is with so much simplicity and innocence. She always knows how to touch me deep in my heart. Thank you Mitsuko Uchida!
Photos: Geoffroy Schied/Paulien Holthuis
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