Journal 2013.2014Die jährliche Hauszeitschrift der Konzertdirektion

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You started working together in 2001 after Baiba won the Queen
Elizabeth Competition. What’s it like working with someone for
so many years, and how has the relationship changed?
Karen: I remember very clearly meeting you at the Queen Elizabeth Competition and
that you were completely shocked when you won! We were both younger then of course!
And I think it’s like any relationship: you grow closer together, but you need to feel that
bond at the beginning. Actually I think we’ve really grown together, Baiba. We don’t have
any ‘catching up’ or ‘getting to know each other’ anymore, so we can just keep moving
forward, which is fantastic.
Baiba: Certainly! We know each other so much without even talking to each other. You
know what I need in my professional life, and we have shared a lot of private time
together. You have to have this amazing trust with the other person, and I have that
absolutely with Karen, and I know that she will always do things in my interest and will
always be on my side.
Has there been an experience you have shared together which
has been particularly special?
Baiba: The first thing that comes to my mind is along the private lines – I’m sure you
will say the same thing Karen – about the bar in Cincinnati!
Karen: [laughs] We still talk about it even now! Baiba, go on explain it, otherwise it
sounds rather cryptic …
Baiba: It was one of these really funky sushi bars in Cincinnati, and we had a couple of
cocktails and a very nice meal. There was this really weird bar tender who was just trying
to be ‘nice’ to two ladies.
Karen: [laughs] Yes, and he wanted to take pictures of us, because he thought we
were sisters!
So what about your professional highlights?
Karen: For me, your Berlin Philharmonic debut with Andris Nelsons in October 2010 is
definitely my number 1. I remember the previous week I was in Vienna with you and
Andris as you were performing together with the Vienna Symphony. After the last concert
we sat together and started talking about Berlin the following week, and I was really
touched when Baiba turned to Andris and said “I’m so thankful that my debut is with
you”, and he was feeling exactly the same. The three concerts in Berlin were just a
fabulous highlight.
Baiba: It was the only time in all the concerts we’ve done together that Andris and
I talked about how we were going to do the rehearsal. We were really thinking of
which movement to start with. It was a very special event and very nerve-racking for
both of us.
Karen: The other highlight I was going to mention was when you first played in
Birmingham with the CBSO and you recorded the Tchaikovsky CD. We went to Andris’s
concert the day before we started recording. It was very special to be at the beginning
of his history with the orchestra, as well.
Karen: And now you’ve repeated that as you’ve been at the beginning of his history
with the Boston Symphony. You’re his lucky talisman!
Baiba Skride