It’s a public holiday here in Sao Paulo today, so the drive in from the airport was blissfully free of traffic. The best concert tours depend on efficient and friendly local promoters, good hotels and splendid breakfasts, all three of which we experienced this morning. The players have the rest of the day free, so as I write, they are spreading out across the city to start exploring, the Museu de Arte Moderna and the Parque do Ibirapuera being popular early destinations. In fact I even saw at four players in the hotel lobby about to set off on a run - not a bad way to get rid of the effects of overnight flights (although I think I will stick to swimming in the pool). Joanna MacGregor is, however, working today and plans to practise later on the piano at the Teatro Cultura Artistica, the concert hall we are playing in tomorrow. I’ll bring you some of her insights into the programmes we are giving later.

If anyone wants to get tickets for the concert tomorrow night, details of the box-office are on our website www.brittensinfonia.co.uk. You can also find information about the programme, which includes works by Bach, Dowland (arr. MacGrgeor), Britten, Golijov, Stravinsky and Egberto Gismonti.
John Bickley