
A Magical Week
Back in 2021, I had a rare opportunity, as an orchestral musician: a week of magical rehearsals culminating in an even more magical concert. It was transformative—a glimpse into a different world. Eager to capture this magic, I began writing about it immediately afterward. However, other obligations prevented me from finishing the piece, which I later dismissed as irrelevant. It was only recently, while revisiting unfinished blog posts, that I realised this week was still worth sharing. While rehearsals and concerts are inherently personal, influenced by individual convictions, musical interpretations, and even one's mood, certain factors can elevate these events to a level of true magic. Let me share these factors from that unforgettable week.
The Conductor, the Soloist, and the Music
The foundation of any exceptional concert is the combination of conductor, soloist, and repertoire. It can make a concert enjoyable or very boring. In the rehearsals and concert I am talking about, that combination couldn’t have been better. Leonidas Kavakos, renowned worldwide for his unparalleled artistry, conducted the Athens State Orchestra where I work, while rising star cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin brought his youthful energy and passion to the stage.
The program featured Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C and Prokofiev’s Sixth Symphony—two vastly different works that demanded completely different approaches. This mix of immense knowledge and experience (Kavakos) with vibrant enthusiasm and freshness (Timotheos) was the first ingredient in this magical equation. It was music-making at its finest.
The Depth and the Simplicity of Playing
Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C is elegant in form, melodically rich, and perfectly balanced. This piece because it has been played and recorded so many times, often tempts modern performers to interpret it in extravagant or overly distinctive way. Timotheos though didn’t follow this path.
Instead, he played with simplicity and let the music speak for itself directly to the audience. He didn’t get in the way- a feat more challenging than it appears. It requires from the performer clarity of playing, precision in intonation, a lively sense of rhythm and most importantly an in depth knowledge of the structure of the music. And all these performed with a profound finesse and ease of playing. This kind of effortless mastery comes from countless hours of dedicated and thoughtful practice.
Unveiling the Musical Architecture
One of Kavakos’s greatest gifts as a musician is his ability to reveal a piece’s architecture.
Under his baton, music becomes tangible—almost three-dimensional. Like a beautiful building unfolding before our eyes. As an orchestral musician working with Kavakos, you don’t feel like you’re merely following instructions; you become an integral part of his vision, a skilled craftsman helping to bring his design to life. His directions during rehearsals are so vivid that they bring a piece’s inner workings into sharp focus, making even the most familiar compositions feel fresh and revelatory.
The Connecting Element
The element that connected all the above was the unique energy of these artists. I have met in my life some top level musicians and they all posses this magical energy. When I am close to those people, suddenly and for no particular reason, I feel good. I feel energetic and confident. I feel like I am one of them (although I am not). Nevertheless, this illusion makes me bring out my best self. I become the best I can be in the moment. I am sure this is true for many musicians. A few years ago, in a private conversation with Kavakos, he told me that he feels blessed for the life he has. And a blessed person always brings a positive energy to people around them.
The Lesson
This article is by no means a concert review. Rather, my goal was to shed light on elements that can ultimately inform our practicing and performing. In practice, this means working for great clarity and articulation of playing, on intonation, and on being rhythmical but not metronomic. Most importantly, working to understand deeper the music we play. The structure, the texture, the harmony, the style, the meaning of the music. If we all try to master these elements, maybe we won’t become as great musicians as they are, but we will certainly become better musicians and better people. And this is invaluable by itself.
Final Thoughts
Reflecting on that week, I realise how rare it is to encounter such an ideal convergence of artistry, insight, and energy. Kavakos’s deep understanding of music, Timotheos’s sincerity and mastery, and the timeless works of Haydn and Prokofiev combined to create an experience that will stay with me forever.
Rehearsals like these remind us why we dedicate our lives to music. They reignite the spark, the joy, and the profound sense of purpose that comes with being part of an orchestra. And for that, I remain deeply grateful.
A small excerpt from that magical concert