I just got back from harmonica concerto concerts in Graz, Switzerland and Augusta, GA.
Graz had a great and beautiful old concert hall and I played with out amplification with a 60 piece orchestra and an audience of 1,200 in a sold out hall. Wonderful group, great feedback form orchestra players about phrasing and such and tremendous audience response, but very hard on the lip to play with that kind of power and volume acoustically.
In Augusta I played, for the first time in my life, tow concerti in one concert - Villa-Lobos Harmonica concerto and Benjamin Harmonica Concerto with rehearsal of both pieces in the morning. This was very tough on the lip, but I knew if I could just get through the Benjamin, I could play the Villa-Lobos in my sleep.
Concert turned out just fine and I feel they will have me back for another concert in two years; I will never take on two concerti again in one concert!
