… and, I’m guessing, at tempi I would love to play someday!

I do have vague memories of my very first time playing The Nutcracker. I remember loving the music. I remember seriously studying the English horn solos. I remember working so very hard to be perfect and expressive. And I remember getting so very nervous for each and every solo.

I think I’ve now played it for something like 30 years. I suspect I could play it without the music in front of me. I certainly know all the solos by heart. And I no longer get nervous, unless reeds are in fail mode.