Happy Saturday! Only 2 weeks left! Today was a chill day before things really takeoff for the remainder of the program. Its really hot here today and the sun is incredible...I don't think I've seen this kind of light, except for on like 2 occasions when it came out in Arles, France.

Today I got groceries and went to the Nachmarkt and Flea Market (Vienna is home to one of Europe's largest, apparently). The highlight of the day was definitely seeing LANG LANG!!

One of the world's most famous pianists (and a Steinway artist...otherwise he would have played a Bosendorfer) really knew how to put on a show. He played the Chopin Concerto no. 1, and of course every note was flawless, but what was really amazing was his tone. It just didnt sound real. I decided that he was piano synching. When I joked about it with my roommates they were really confused because they didnt think it was possible, and of course it isnt, but it was just sublime to hear him play, live :) He is 25 years old, and bopped around the stage like a kid. He reminded me of a different instrument soloist at IUP, whose name I will not say. He stared off into space at times and at at others would just turn his head to the audience and look at them, as if to say "listen to this part..." Sometimes he would continue playing with his right hand and raise his left to make a gesture either to the orchestra or for himself to remind him of the shape of a line or to the audience to signal a release. He really was all over the place though, it was pretty cool, but kind of distracting to watch him. He really is a performer, as opposed to other musicians who when you watch them, you feel as if you are an outsider looking in on something extraordinary. I felt like I was an important part of the performance just by watching. That is, I believe, the reason Lang Lang is so popular, once you consider the fact that he plays Chopin like no one has ever heard before, and every note is spot on. His dynamics...gosh i could go on, but it really was a memorable experience. His encore was a slow Chopin Etude...i forget which number/key. On the second to last note, someone started clapping and ruined it for everyone in the audience. Then Lang Lang hit the last note and the same person started to clap...totally ruined the moment :( everyone in the audience made this kind of "aww man!" sound and just stood there and then Lang Lang stood up and people got the goahead to clap... crazy. We knew we weren't getting another encore after that! Nevertheless, it was really awesome to see him perform off of YouTube.

Sidenote: He played with the Vienna Philharmonic, but they were wearing suits, not tuxes, and there were no women :( I was really really tired from my day yesterday so I left at the break.

That was the last concert I will be seeing while im here :( Going to the Musikverein has been my favorite part of being here so far...I feel like that is my home away from home :) I have an even deeper appreciation for the orchestra now and I am really inspired to do anything musical that I can...who knows where I will be in 5 or 10 years!

Tomorrow is going to be another hot day, but I'm planning to go to the Stadt Oper in the morning to tour the building and museum, so I need to sleep! Goodnight!