Brahms Sonata op.38 1st mvt Camille Thomas and Beatrice Berrut

These two Swiss girls are breathtaking. I love when a musician is obviously as moved as I am by the music she's playing; I thought a couple of times that Camille was channeling Jacqueline du Pré. True of any performance art, really. That's why Method actors like Daniel Day-Lewis and Sam Rockwell have so much power in their performances: their heart and soul are being poured out for us. Many musicians actually succeed in making the world's greatest music boring, just as some actors and directors suck all the life out of Shakespeare. But with musicians like these, or Jackie, or...erm...well, nevermind...every note is a different-colored jewel, glittering in a different light.

Of course, it also doesn't hurt that they're lovely. Adding beauty to a superb performance is like adding wine to a good meal.

One more reason for Switzerland to be my favorite place in the world--and this performance was given in Belgium, my second favorite! I need to move back to Europe.

*Correction: one is Swiss and one is Belgian. Perfection.