If yesterday was quiet…

…today has so far had more than its fair share of hassle! Firstly, as the competition proceeds, the atmosphere is automatically heating up. Secondly, cellists keep wandering into the competition office more and more frequently, asking about tomorrow: when, where, and at what time…?

The first round is already more than half way through. I still can’t think very far ahead, however – the wisdom of living for the moment is all too obvious here. One journalist asked when the rehearsals are for the finals and I had to exclaim: now that’s asking too much! Luckily this somewhat peculiar reply from a press officer did not seem to throw him. Here in the office our heads really are full of what’s going on in the here and now.

So what have we been up to? Well, to give you an example, we got a message from the jury secretary in the hall saying that there’s a disturbing clatter outside the hall right near where the jury are sitting. So out into the street I march to negotiate with the workmen: could they please try to understand that there’s a cello competition going on and their clatter is disturbing it. The poor guys were busy digging up the pavement. But to my great surprise, they took it like angels. “We’ll stop at once,” they said! Many, many thanks, workmen, for respecting our competition.

Meanwhile we’re writing out fact sheets, translating the canteen menu into English, eating the strawberries Annica, the lady on the door, has brought in…

I did manage to get a breath of fresh air (or rather a view of it) as I drove one of the competitors to get his bow rehaired. When I tried to phone the bow rehairer I got the wrong number and the poor cellist spent ages talking to whoever answered before handing me the mobile. A woman’s voice at the other end said: “I haven’t a clue what this man wants.” And I must say that a lot of people might be a bit taken aback to get a phone call and hear someone stuttering, “I would like to have new hair to my bow”!

The contestants just love the cello ringtones available on the YLE website and we’ve had great fun listening to them together. It’s a shame many of their mobiles don’t work in Finland and they can’t download these great tunes.

Have a nice evening!
Eeva