Where Fine Is Still a Tradition JN: How did you start composing your own cadenzas? JB: I'm a wannabe composer, and some day, I'd like to do more composing. Right now, the outlet for me is writing cadenzas, which I've done for all the major violin concertos. Unfortunately, the Sibelius I'm playing has one written in by the composer so I don't do my own for that piece. I wrote my own cadenza for my Gershwin and Bernstein albums. JN: How did you get into performing music that is not strictly classical? JB: Classical is such a broad spectrum. Even classical has incorporated folk and 077 music if you look at Ravel and Bartok. I don't draw the borders so strictly. I found areas of music — like in Gershwin or bluegrass — which use the violin a lot. Those excited me so I don't think of it as crossing over. Its just music. I'm used to changing styles for every piece I play so it doesn't feel unnatural. My tastes in music are varied. JN: How did you like being the artistic adviser, performing artist and a body double for the film The Red Violin? JB: I was mostly involved with playing the music and working with the com- poser as he was writing. I was on the set and happened to be the right size for one of the violinist characters and played his body double. We came up with a lot of creative ways to make it look as if the actor was playing the violin, and that was a lot of fun. It couldn't have ended in a better way because there was an Oscar for the musical score. JN: Do you have a practice routine? JB: Every day is different for me. On the day of a concert, I have certain rituals. I practice things very slowly, and I take a nap in the afternoon. I've learned to make the most out of very little time. That's something I've gotten good at over the years, particularly since when I was a kid I had so many other interests, including sports. I didn't practice four or five hours a day as a kid. I practiced maybe one or two hours, and I learned to make the most of that. JN: Do you still play while you're on vacation? JB: I'm on vacation now and will proba- bly not touch the violin for 10 days. I need those breaks to get refreshed psy- chologically. You can burn out if you go non-stop. When I'm on vacation, I like to stay home since I travel so much. I see my friends, go to movies, play ten- nis, golf in nice weather and eat out in nice restaurants. I've been renovating my loft apartment in New York City. I'm getting it to feel like a home instead of [another place to live] out of a (fePutiy, the Wiest tfi/ice 195,2 suitcase. My goal is to break a rectangu- lar space into several different areas that reflect different sides of who I am. I have a music area, which has a grand piano and all my music books. I have a huge area where I hang all the auto- graphed pictures of composers and vio- linists that I collect. Another area is my entertainment center with surround sound movies and computer games. I wanted a fun area, like a kid area. There's a part of me still playing video games like a kid. JN: What do you like about the violin? JB: My parents started me on the violin when I was 4 so I hardly remember not playing the violin. I liked it right away. I love to make music. It's just the most enjoyable thing, and the violin is what I'm best at when it comes to music. Dinner: Toes-Sat • Lunch: Mon-Fri Available Weekends for private parties ENJOY SUCH SPECIALITIES AS: _Ibnolon IA/tott, tfizateeo _412e/tch Chooeit,fole, << a1 rt Mack lAi4es) LET US CATER YOUR NEXT EVENT Gift certificates available NOW OPEN SATURDAYS . THE CAUCUS CLUB • 150 West Congress • Detroit, MI 48226 Reservations Recommended • 313-965-4970 JN: Any other musicians in your family? JB: I'm the first professional musician, but everyone in my family plays music. They all love music, understand music and play for fun. I have two sisters who have played the piano and the cello. My mother has played the piano, and my father used to sing and play the piano. We grew up going to concerts and lis- tening to music in the house. 3 : , ackA4r . v AUTHENTIC SZECHUAN COOKING Seafood • Cocktails • }--tome of General Tso's Chicken • 'IA() MSG in any dishes • 'Vegetarian Dishes • -C)aily Specials • fresh JN: Are there any Jewish connections in your work? JB: I've performed in Israel a couple of times, [where I've visited my mother's relatives], and I've played some Jewish music. I've recorded the Bloch suite with the Barber and Walton violin concertos. 39450 14 Mile Rd. (corner of Haggerty in the Newberry Square Plaza) (248) 960-7666 Original location: 29215 5 Mile Rd. at Middlebelt-Livonia JN: What are your current projects? JB: The most fun and interesting thing is the Bernstein record, taking West Side Story and making it into a violin and orchestra piece. I also recently recorded the Beethoven and Mendelssohn violin concertos. The Beethoven is the biggest of the violin concertos and one that I waited for years to finally record. Those two projects will be the focus of my upcoming year, what I'll be promoting and thinking about. Not good with any other offer 1 coupon per table • with coupon Expires 1/31/01 Home of the finest Mi dle Eastern Cuisine. We've catered to kings & presidents ... and were not kidding!!!! MN MI NM MI MN =I MI =II Mil MI NMI MI =I MIN NMI MIN MI MI NM MN INN JN: Do you have any new career goals. JB: There's so much music yet to play, and I'd like to perform more of the chamber music repertoire. I've consid- ered taking a year and doing only string quartets. Some day I'd like to teach. My biggest goal is to create a composition that is completely my own. E, Joshua Bell will perform with the DSO at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 11 and 12, and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Orchestra Hall. 519-S71. (313) 576-5111. ri BUY ONE DINNER & GET A SECOND DINNER FOR FREE! (Up to $12.001 Suomi dinner of equal of lesser value • One per customer • Not valid with any other offer • Expires1/31/010 Dine in Only 39777 Grand River • Novi (West of Haggerty in the Pheasant Run Plaza) (248) 477 8600 - FAX: (248) 477-9306 PRIVATE BANQUET FACILITIES FOR ALL OCCASION r SLAB $2 OFF 1111H2 KEN OFF WITH OR WITHOUT SKIN SPECIALLY-TRIMMED RIBS k L ALL DINNERS INCLUDE: SALAD OR COLE SLAW POTATOES AND GARLIC BREAD GOOD 7 DAYS! ■ Exp. 1-18-2001 A I ALL DINNERS INCLUDE: SALAD OR COLE SLAW POTATOES AND GARUC BREAD I GOOD 7 DAYS! ■ Exp. 1-18-2001 L Brass Pointeas,6. ....., 24234 Orchard Lake Rd., N.E. corner of 10 Mile • 476-1377 „Tr 1/5 2001 65