Now it’s off to Wuppertal, seventy minutes from Cologne. Wuppertal is a fairly recent creation. Several cities were joined together, like Pittsburgh and Allegheny City or Lawrenceville. It’s an industrial city along the banks of the Wupper River. Tal means valley. The two biggest cities joined in a long, narrow stretch were Elberfeld and Barmen. Not everyone was happy with the merger, naturlich. Sollingen, the company that makes the fine German steel cutlery, is just up the river.

The Stadthall is fabulous. Huge old building with marble everywhere. It’s been recently refurbished to pristine condition. Remy champagne drinkers in the lobby. The WDR classical radio has a huge display. Mathias behind the table says he can roll up his set up with a huge color backdrop in eine Minuten. Inside, the ceiling is painted with blue sky, like King Frederick’s Palace. Cream and green are the predominant colors. Ten stone faces, all with different expressions, and ladies in stone line the only balcony. Five rows of seats are beneath the organ case behind the orchestra. Only a handful of seats were empty. Marek Janowski was born in Poland but grew up here with his Mom. His Dad was lost in the Second World War. He came here as a child, but has never conducted in Wuppertal till now.

Tonight, we have Julia Fischer playing the Brahms Concerto. We heard her last season at Heinz Hall for the first time. The orchestra checked out the sound in a 30 minute session. I head to the bar for a butter pretzel at 1.50 euros. What’s this? Here comes someone I know! It’s Florian Wiegand, who went to CMU for his masters degree 1999-2001. Now, he’s the Artistic Director of the Dortmund Konzerthaus. He drove about 35 minutes to see the Pittsburgh Symphony. He worked for the PSO during the 2000-2001 season. Florian said the area is terrific, with five theaters all with active concert life—Essen, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Cologne and Wuppertal within an hour of one another.

He’s having a big season in Dortmund, presenting the Vienna Philharmonic with Georges Pretre, and the Concertgebouw with Andre Previn and violinist Anne Sophie Mutter (they’re still good friends after their divorce.) Later, the Cincinnati Orchestra and Paavo Jarvi are coming over. Florian still raves about the Pittsburgh Symphony’s visit to his Dortmund hall in 2006, and he hopes to return to Pittsburgh soon.

Julia Fischer is gorgeous. She wore a burgundy velvet gown with bare shoulders, plunging neckline, and blond hair tied back. It’s intense physical playing. She bends way back in the big moments. She’s trim and petite with a big smile and bright eyes. How was her Brahms? I loved it. Sensational playing. The encore was the last movement of a solo sonata by Paul Hindemith that only turned up in 2003. Flat out fireworks.