Holland Blog 2
So, – I really want to say that my guidebook was wrong but to be honest it was a bit of a shrine to concrete. Think .
The concert hall was good though – complete with 1980s funky neon lights all over the walls and ceiling.
It was one of those halls where you can hear yourself incredibly clearly, frighteningly so. It was a case of "do I really sound like that?" especially after not having seen my violin since it went on the van on Tuesday night. I really enjoyed the Haydn, what a great piece – and most importantly, a great 2nd violin part. had the whole audience on their feet after his Rococo Variations and there was a standing ovation too for the Beethoven. The storm (4th movement) was a whirlwind – the 2nd fiddles have 2 pages of near-constant semiquavers at precisely the wrong tempo to be comfortably playable...it is always painful. Next time you see an orchestra play it, watch out for the entire section collapsing briefly when there are 7 precious bars rest at the beginning of the last movement!
Now we check out of our hotel in and head to for tonight's concert. We'll stay there overnight and head to on Sunday. Plenty of coach-hours to learn how to pronounce Groningen.
Quote of the Day:
Driver: "Please sit down and put your seatbelts on"
Tim Rundle: "There aren't any seatbelts..."
Driver (quietly): "...good luck"
David Chadwick
