At the Hands On - Flute bonanza in Aveiro, I also had the great pleasure to meet Irina Stachinskaya, a Russian Powell Artist! Her reputation preceded her, since I've heard wonderful things about her and her playing for several years from absolutely everyone at Powell!
The best thing is when you meet one of these stars of the flute world, and they turn out to be JUST THE NICEST PERSON you ever met! We had a great dinner out in Aveiro with Daniel Sharp (did I mention the food in Portugul is amazing?) and snapped this photo.
Lamentably, I was not able to attend her concert — the grand finale of Hands On — due to flying out of Lisbon early the next morning. She graciously gave me a CD as a consolation prize, of great flute and piano works, with none other than Phillip Moll on piano! Thank you so much, Irina!
With some luck, she'll come to Lisbon soon, and we can shop-talk some more! How do you say "até breve" in Russian?
With Daniel Sharp of Powell Flutes and Irina Stachinskaya, Powell Artist, on the canals in Aveiro