Blog entry six years ago today.

I knew they were going to give a Chopin Recital on our tiny rouelle, Del Catet, as part of the local arts festival.
They arrived three days ago and created a little concrete plinth for the piano.
(things are not done by halves here)

I was watching for the moment and was delighted when this van pulled up outside our house and disgourged a piano at the top of the Del Catet.
I knew I was going to be disappointed out of a “Right said Fred” moment when I saw that it was carried on a little caterpiller called a Pianoplan, this was possibly designed for getting Grand Pianos down stone rouelle steps.

The Pianist and I watched them as they rolled it down the steps.
“Tis the pity of God ” I said to him in French ” That you didn’t take up the concert flute or the trumpet ”
He laughed, insincerely.

No sooner was it upright in the bottom but he began to practice.
A truly magical moment as the walls captured and magnified the sound and threw it up into the Place del Eglise

Soon enough the crowds started to gather.

Eventually there was a sizeable audience.

The pianist, who was called Francois-Michel Rignol, played beautifully.
First the standard Chopin waltzes and then some absolutely marvellous sonatas.

Magic.