View from the top of Monte Ermada

We offered our first concert in the Duino Castle today at 11:00 for a group of happy and excited tourists. This is the first of three such “preview” concerts we’ll offer each Saturday as a way of getting the word out about our festival.

Monte (violin teacher) and I went on a nice hike this morning to the Mithraeum, an ancient cave used as a pre-Christian worship site. It was not open for visitors, but we at least saw where it was. Hopefully, we’ll be able to go there later in the month.

Huge dandelion-like flower, Monte Ermada

The rest of the day is free and unscheduled for most students and faculty. Some of us are planning trips to the beach and to Trieste (a short bus ride away). There is also plenty of time today to practice and compose!

Here is a recording from our concert last night. “Three Hopper Paintings,” by Geoffrey Peterson, were written in the early 1990’s and have been a part of my limited piano repertoire ever since. Below are the images that correspond with the three movements.

Edward Hopper, “Nighthawks”

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Hopper, “Rooms by the sea”

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Hopper, “House by the railroad”

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