A Roanoke gig

I'm just back to my hotel after having conducted the Poulenc Concerto and played the chamber version of the Duruflé Requiem. Tidbits:

-- This was at St. John's Episcopal, Roanoke, Va., where my friend David Charles Campbell serves as director of music.

-- His choir and friends made up the chorus, and several members of the Roanoke Symphony and other Virginia musicians were the orchestra.

-- This was my first invited conducting gig.

-- This was the first time I had played the chamber version of the Duruflé. I have lost count the number of times I have played the solo organ version.

-- I'm playing the solo organ version of the Duruflé in two days!

-- I have never played the Poulenc.

-- Up until recently, I had never liked the Poulenc.

-- The Poulenc is a masterpiece.

-- The Duruflé is a major masterpiece and probably my favorite choral piece.

-- I could go on and on. Thank you, Roanoke friends old and new! This was a treat. Back to the grind tomorrow morning.