Guangzhou Pics
Next: Tibet...
The Quartet teamed up with a bevy of pop song students at the Xinghai Conservatory in Guangzhou, an event made possible by out good friends at the American Consulate in Guangzhou. Below, a quick pre-show practice and the show (standing room only!).
Cellists gotta stick together: Ben sniffed out a couple of them and the joined onstage for a rousing round of that tune that all cellists know.
Bela loves jamming ‘that tune’ (something about the Emperor’s horses) with every erhu player that crosses his path.. Pretty soon, this erhu player’s bandmates took the stage and the pipa wanted a piece of Mr Fleck.
Next, we were off to Bohemian hangout and art space Park 19, where the Quartet played a quick set and were then, er, treated to the vocal and dancing stylings of the wife of one of the city’s foremost flautists. A jam session by candlelight ended the evening in the wee hours.
Our last day in Guangzhou saw the Quartet perform to an amazingly enthusiastic room hosted by a Consul General who may have had trouble figuring out Abigail’s name (Washburn or Washington?), but still managed to charm his way through the introductory speech (and the photo session, below). I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the skills with which Darcy Zotter made us feel at home and took care of us as if we were her own kin.