18th july 2007 - ruse

we have another concert today at last, thank god. there is a press conference on the ship in the early afternoon. mayor, city councillor for culture and media representatives say unctuous things, i agree with them and thank them for their efforts and hospitality. it later emerges that we won't get any fuel and cannot bunker diesel until galati/romania, thanks to a bureaucratic detail. the beautiful grassland that the municipality cleaned and prepared in front of where we are anchored is now not to be made accessible to the public - for reasons of safety(!) a telephone call to the mayor results in an apparent compromise, allowing seating(!) in this area. it later turns out that only a small area will be seated. bulgarian television requisition the majority of the area to erect a camera crane. they are going to record the concert and broadcast it in two weeks. that pleases me. less pleasing is the manner of the director, who reminds me of the self-confidence of the orf 20 years ago (many are still living in the past).

the concert isn't bad, the people cheer, but the one in vidin was better. there are constantly little mistakes. right on the very first note of "kohler", the first valve of my flugelhorn sticks and i struggle through somehow. in football, one would be talking about a hard-earned victory. but we're not appearing against anyone, but rather for them. in any case, karandila play splendidly and darinka's playing is out of this world.