More than a few St. Louis Symphony musicians left the stage for rehearsal break saying words like "phenomenal," "extraordinary," "he's really something," or just letting out sighs of pleasure on the subject of guest pianist Eric Le Sage, who had just played the Schumann Piano Concerto with them.
Le Sage makes his St. Louis Symphony debut this weekend, and comes to us, thanks in part, to guest conductor Stéphane Denève, who has performed with the pianist many times before. The two musicians are also great friends. I was on stage to introduce myself to Le Sage, and also to check on his accent, since he will be a live guest on the Saturday night St. Louis Public Radio broadcast. "His accent is like Inspector Clouseau," Denève said. "That's my name for him, Clouseau."
"A myth eez in the rheum," I said in the best Peter Sellers imitation I could pull off. Le Sage then kept up the Sellers routine on his own. Formidable.
"A myth eez in the rheum," I said in the best Peter Sellers imitation I could pull off. Le Sage then kept up the Sellers routine on his own. Formidable.
