2008•06•12 ~ Shaking hands with Martin
My daughter goes to the same school as the daughter of Edmonton Symphony Orchestra’s 1st violinist, and concertmaster Martin Riseley. In the past couple weeks, we’ve had occasion to run into each other – at birthday parties, and most recently, at the Bistro Praha, in downtown Edmonton. Now, I’d read about his performance of Bartok's Violin Concerto No. 2, which is challenging, to say the least – a master work. Anyway, we shook hands on both occasions. And shaking hands with the concertmaster, 1st violin of the ESO freaks me out. I mean, what if I squeeze too hard, inadvertently break a bone, or damage a tendon!!! So there we are the Bistro – Martin’s lovely wife and my wife are hugging and chatting in close proximity….and I’m looking at Martin and reaching my hand out….to shake…and nothing happened. I had enough wine in me to say something about: “I never know how hard to squeeze…” and he said: “I never use that hand anyway.” And out the door the Riseleys went. No big deal.