I was in the left side of the stage, waiting for my performance. On stage a cello quartet playing, they were Matt Haimovich, Giovanni Sollima, Arnau Tomas and Reinhard Latzko. Some of the greatest masters in cello playing, globally respected figures of music… And there was me, a simple mortal who didn’t even finish basic studies in school. But I had worked so much, that I was not nervous. Also I had Misha Maisky with me in my ipads, so I was not alone. They finish —the stage simulates a big cafe— and they take a seat around, the sound of one thousand people clapping announces my time has come… the production team places a platform with my electric cello in the middle of that huge stage. I could say that all my life was meant to end up there, but I feel like it’s normal, I got the power, it’s my time to enjoy. I know the audience is demanding, they know all cello repertoire. Also everywhere around me are renowned cellists. How did actually manage to even put one foot after another until I reached my cello??
I respect and adore those masters. I recognize with no doubt that my skills and mastering of the cello is light-years away from their. They were touched by the hand of god. I was touched by the hand of a monkey. But somehow thanks to my passion and devotion for this instrument and because of my personal approach to it, I end up in among them. Seeing my name together with those living legends and masters of the cello is for me like for a lonely african runner being in the Olimpic Games with Usain Bolt by his side. Oh la la!!