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| View from the Parc de Buttes Chaumont |
I just returned from Paris, France, where I participated in a chamber music exchange between Juilliard, the Conservatoire National Supérior de Musique, and the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien. The exchange is sponsored by the Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund and each year one of the three schools hosts its participants. It was my first time in Paris, so naturally I fell in love with the incredible beauty of the city and its amazing food!
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| Inside the Cathédrale Notre Dame |
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| The Thinker, Musée Rodin |
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| Musée d'Orsay |
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| Inside the Louvre |
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A rainy evening stroll through the grounds of the Louvre with the other students
from Juilliard |
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With Katy, my friend and Colburn roommate, who came to visit me on my birthday
from Lyon, where she is completing her studies as a Fulbright recipient |
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Théâtre des Champs Elysées for a performance by the Vienna Philharmonic
(what a string sound!) |
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| Tarte au Citron from one of the many neighborhood pâtisseries |
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| Macarons from the legendary Pierre Hermé |
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| Our concert poster |
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| Le Grand Salon in Musée de l'Armée at Invalides, pre-performance |
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| Invalides |
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| View of the city center from our dressing room |
I was incredibly fortunate to study and perform two beautiful works: Ravel Introduction and Allegro, as well as Jolivet Chant de Linos. I performed with students from Paris and Vienna, as well as our coach, cellist and CNSM faculty member Diana Ligeti. As a musician, we speak about the "French sound" and style, and for me it was extraordinary and something completely different to approach this after experiencing the architecture, artwork, food, and culture. It was also wonderful to get to know students of varying backgrounds, as well as get to know my fellow Juilliard students (stumbling over a foreign language together is quite the bonding experience!).
I'm very grateful for the dose of Parisian refreshment and inspiration upon returning to New York for my final semester as a Master of Music student (when did that happen?!). There are some exciting performances and experiences coming up, and I look forward to sharing them soon!
Until next time,
Francesca
