Ara Guzelimian, artistic consultant

On one of my earliest visits, Mitsuko kindly invited me to sit on a rehearsal of the Brahms Horn Trio with a couple of “youngsters” as she inevitably calls the junior musicians. It was a warm afternoon and the glow of sunlight streaming in matched the golden glow of the music. I was enlisted as page turner, basking so closely in playing of such extraordinary beauty. I did not know her younger chamber partners, but each played with such commitment and passion. It did not take me too long to hear again of her young partners as they made their way into distinguished careers—violinist Lisa Batiashvili (long since a celebrated soloist and chamber musician) and horn player Jennifer Montone (now principal horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra). The transmission of musical wisdom and perspective from senior musician to junior colleague was yet again tangible that afternoon to no end other than the delving deeply into the music at hand—the heart of Marlboro at work.