//The World Came to Me (4)//

Since then I started making a habit of looking up any interesting upcoming concerts by regularly browsing music organization websites, ticket booking sites, and various cultural calendars. And then I spotted this…  Edicson Ruiz playing Dittersdorf’s Double Bass Concerto No. 2. “Double Bass? Is that a big brother of Cello? What does it sound like as a solo instrument?” I told Teacher I bought a ticket:

Me: Actually… is it beneficial to go to “non-Cello” concerts?
Teacher: Of course! Go!
Me: And I got a front row seat ticket!
Teacher: Err…  With Double Bass it is usually better to get seats that are a little further away from the stage because of its sound projection. You may not hear much in the front row.”
Me: Oh… Crap!

PROGRAM

Richard Strauss / Don Juan, Op 20
Dittersdorf / Double Bass Concerto No 2 in E-flat
Mozart / Symphony No 35 in D, K385, “Haffner”
Richard Strauss / Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche, Op 28

A video about the event posted by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

As I sat anxiously in the front row seat worrying that I might not hear much, this guy with a warm persona walked up on stage and planted this humongous instrument right in front of me! I looked up in awe, not just because of its sheer size but the wood looked old and full of character. And then the magic began.

I swear. I had never ever experienced something like this. He was swaying his body fluidly while he was moving his bow. But his voice was right here, in front of me from this wooden box! I kept looking at him and then at the Double Bass, then at him again, and the Double Bass again. I just couldn’t believe my eyes and my ears. How was it possible? It was mesmerizing. I was hooked.

I reported back to Teacher at our next lesson with an excitement like a little kid who just saw Santa Claus. And you know what my conclusion is? “Don’t even dare to touch a Double Bass unless the big guy up there told you to do so.”

Edicson Ruiz has a very fascinating background. Here’s an interview in Rehau’s corporate magazine Unlimited where he described his upbringing in detail: https://www.rehau.com/za-en/corporate-information/press/unlimited/unlimited-7-south-america/democracy-in-the-orchestra.

And not to be missed, Edicson Ruiz posted a YouTube video where he played the Bach Cello Suite No. 1: