Returning from Taiwan

I just returned from a three-week trip to Taiwan, and am now busy getting caught up with work, reading, etc. One thing I enjoyed the most while on my trip was rehearsing the Sonata No. 2 (op. 94a) by Sergei Prokofiev (after whom a cake was named), with a pianist friend. I had thought Prokofiev to be weird, but over time I came to appreciate this particular composition, both its techniques and music.

My German also improved, as I had more opportunity to practice with the same friend, who had studied piano at Berlin’s Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler and who describes herself as halbdeutsch. She taught me quite a few new words and phrases.