John Koen

Osaka

John Koen — Sat, 24 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

to be filled later

Starting

John Koen — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Flight to Tokyo

rehearsal

John Koen — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Only 45 minutes late for rehearsal. Penderecki Sextet for Clarinet, Horn, Violin, Viola, Cello & Piano. Difficult.

waiting in the plane

John Koen — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

This was the worst (the only bad, really) part of the trip. On the plane; boarding was a little late (scheduled departure around 5:20 a.m. Sat on the plane until about 6, then the pilot said that they were waiting for some paperwork. We waited another 45 minutes or so. Turns out the computer was on the fritz and the paperwork had to be faxed to Minneapolis airport, but we weren't at a regular US Airways gate and the faxes had to be hand-carried from a different part of the airport to our gate (!). It became obvious I would almost certainly miss my connection in Philadelphia. Also, this one was a regional jet; no first class. I just wanted to sleep anyway.

We also waited a little on the ground in Philadelphia and they kept changing our gate, finally got out somewhere in Terminal B and power-walked to the bus connection to the crappy terminal F (US Air regional-type flights). Caught the bus (barely) so didn't have to wait, and of course the gate was closed already for my flight to Albany. Missed by about 2 minutes.

Sat around in the terminal, had a really bad cappuccino and some kind of food (not as bad as the coffee).

arrival

John Koen — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

got in around 4 p.m. Took the train (like subway, but above ground and slow) to downtown. Walked about 7 blocks to the hotel. Pleasant downtown with lots of restaurants, none of which I had time to enter. Ate in the hotel; very pretentious waiter (probably the hotels fault). Fake accent and all.

Meeting at 7 p.m. was mostly interesting (some people need to stop talking so much...) Hung out a little afterwards (around 10:30). Went to bed around 11:30 (Central Time, so feels 1 hr. later than the clock shows).

Next morning up at 3:45 to get in the taxi at 4.

1st flight

John Koen — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

US Air wanted to put me on a non-stop to Charlotte, but then I wouldn't be upgraded to first class. I stayed with my original itinerary. By the way, I still don't have the miles credited for the first leg.

Starting

John Koen — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Drove from Saratoga to Albany airport. traffic not too bad, about 30 minutes. Easy to find.

Ozsváth-Sperber wedding

John Koen — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

My friend Peter was getting married in Jerusalem, but they had a wedding dinner/concert in Dallas. We played Schubert Cello Quintet and many other things.

back home again

John Koen — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Two more weeks of Mann Center

Vail Festival

John Koen — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Philadelphia Orchestra's first trip to the Vail Festival. Most people had a great time. Slavy & I went rafting.

back home

John Koen — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

United Airlines running massively late, so they switched us to American (through Dallas), lost my phone in the rental car, and got back to Philly more than an hour later than should have.

International Society of Bassists

John Koen — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Week-long convention for bassists. I brought my cello and practiced. Oklahoma City was not a bad town. I actually rather enjoyed it.

by the riverside

John Koen — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

main thing is we forgot the camera, so no pictures (also, it's not quite as exciting taking pictures of just around the corner). Rossen Milanov conducted this one. We did Tchaik. 5 (like on tour), but of course a different interpretation. Many of the principals didn't show up. Weather wasn't bad, actually (quite a breeze on that waterfront). I didn't play the Camden outdoor concert last year, so I thought it was in the same place as in 2005 and I could just take PATCO (subway between Philly & S. Jersey). Turns out I had to get off at Camden City Hall stop. Walked outdoors and 'Oh my God'. Rossen came and rescued us in his car.

Rossen's Tchaik. 5 was really good, by the way. Sound system sucked (have to look into that--what's the point of playing outdoor concerts if the audience can't hear half of it because the sound is screwed up?).

About to practice now (11:45 p.m.) Haven't had my good cello since Tuesday in Seattle. I expect to also practice tomorrow morning before the 11:50 a.m. train to D.C.

washing clothes

John Koen — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

practicing on the Orange cello, getting reacquainted with the kitties, getting the air conditioners going (it's up to around 90 during the day), and getting repacked for the next trip, Oklahoma City for the International Society of Bass convention.

We officially like Seattle

John Koen — Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

First time on the tour it was really sunny! Of course, that's unusual for Seattle, but it was great. I even sunburned my left elbow. Good espresso wasn't as easy to find as it used to be (lots of Starbucks and fully automatic machines :(

Went bar-hopping after the concert (and lavish party by Maestro Eschenbach) on Tuesday until 4:30 a.m. No further details will be forthcoming.

Wednesday evening took a really nice sunset cruise in a sailboat. Will bring a jacket next time!

Got upgraded to first class for the return flight to Philly, so that was pleasant for 5 hrs. Of course, it's probably because all their Chairman's Preferred and Platinum members skipped over to United, but I'm getting upgraded a lot, so I'm pretty happy with US Air!

deciding what to do in San Diego

John Koen — Thu, 24 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Again, advance planning helps. Scheduled an afternoon flight late enough to do things in San Diego and still have time for San Francisco this evening, but Sea World doesn't open until 10, and is $60, but we'd have to leave around 1 to get to the airport with our luggage, and the whale sighting just stopped. There are some other things to do, but those were the best two. Maybe just a short city Harbor boat tour for an hour (and time to write something on the blog).

I was alternate for the concert, so I just put some dirty clothes in the orchestra trunk and came back to wander around the gas lamp district and have dinner. Then came back and uploaded tons of pictures from Omaha, Las Vegas & San Francisco.

Disneyland

John Koen — Mon, 21 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

up at the crack of dawn to get to Los Angeles, then drive to Disneyland. They close at 11 p.m.…

Found out it's best to do a bit more research before visiting Disneyland. California Adventure park closed at 6, and the main park at 8.

practice

John Koen — Sat, 19 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

I took a good nap on the bus from San Francisco to Davis (about 1 hr. 45 minutes). Because I hadn't played since leaving Omaha, and I didn't really practice there (just warmed up), I spent about an hour before the concert practicing. Definitely worth it. Then I chatted a bit with colleagues during the Mozart (Goerne, the singer canceled). Then we did another Berlioz, so I saw nothing of UC Davis. I even forgot to take pictures of the concert hall. Chatted with colleagues on the bus on the way back. Terrible traffic in Oakland heading into San Francisco.

arrival in San Francisco

John Koen — Sat, 19 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Took the subway (BART) from the airport, checked into the hotel (Mark Hopkins Intercontinental, very nice), found a place for lunch, went down to Union Square and walked back in time to get ready for the bus trip to UC Davis.

Caesar's Palace

John Koen — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

We stayed at Caesar's Palace. Had a great lunch there, at Rao's. Amazing salmon on black lentils with Moroccan spices. Explored the hotel, picked up tickets to the Celine Dion show ("A New Day…"), took a nap (I got up at 5:30 a.m. to fly from Omaha). Then checked out the Bellagio next door and a little shopping. Show was really great, then dinner at "Noodle" in the Bellagio.