He had chosen the “Number 7 in C Minor” and the Kreutzer, “Number 9 in A Major.”
“Well, there’s the theory that you put the more difficult piece first and do something lighter afterward.”
“Yeah, but I think I’d rather finish with the Kreutzer.”
I took another sip of the cognac. “That would get my vote.”
Again, that radiant smile. “Great! I’m relieved you agree.”
“Well, you know it’s your recital. I’d go along with whichever way you wanted. But you asked.”
“Look, it’s our recital,” he told me. “The piano is extremely important in the Beethoven sonatas, and, like I said from the beginning, I’m so glad we’re working together on this.”
I had to admit to myself Joel was a brilliant violinist, the best I’d ever played with, not that there had been many, given my reluctance to be an accomp
