The French Office

I enjoy my job and it is quite different than that of Florence Brunel's. Particulary because there are more people in the office, even though we all are working on different taks. There about 9 of us, and all are men except me and the secretary. So that means all they talk about are soccer, rugby, cars and the lates gadgets, (thanks to the geek squand below us). To be one of the only women in the office is quite the experience.

Now on to the parts that confused me for about the first week. Everyone flocks around the coffee pot around 10 am and it's not optional. My first day, I got there around 9:45 and I was ready to get started but they were like aren't you coming for coffee and I said "no, I'm fine."  But then the secretary was like you have to come. So it was kind of awkward.

Then, around 2 pm is lunch. One person is in charge of making lunch, another sets the table and another washes the dishes.  But because I have a specific eating plan and their favorite meal is pork, we cannot eat the same things. But I am willing to eat with them at their table.

The second coffee break comes about an hour after lunch and it as well is a requirement. It's like everyone flock to the pot because they need a pick me up. But what if I just want to keep working and not lose 20 minutes of my work?

I am not sure if this is what all offices are like but it's all new and French to me! haha!

Do you have experiences to share?

Job Interview

Recently, I had a job interview for an ensemble that I am not going to name, because the experience wasn't very good.
First, there were at least 6 people in the room, only the director seemed to be the real music person. Because when I mentioned the musicians that are in the Florence Brunel agency they didn't know who I was talking about. How can one baroque ensemble not know other important ones?

The questions they asked were like an exam that I didn't study for and my answers seemed wrong.

One included :
1. Choose a musical work that best describes the ensemble.
A. I chose Bach, I would have said the Passion, but they didn't let me finish.


I felt like I was put on the spot and I do not test well. It was very intimidating, but helps me prepare for the future.

I Virtuosi Delle Muse

One of the Italian ensembles from the Florence Brunel Artistic Agency (where I'm interning) and they are awesome! Directed by Stefano Molardi who also plays the harpsichord and Jonathan Guyonnet, the first violin.

They just performed Vivaldi's Farnace at Theatre des Champs Elysees on Thursday with several solists including Sonia Prina, Emiliano Gonzales Toro. But sadly I missed the concert due to a family accident, but I heard it was very good. and they have very good things coming for them in the future !

They will be performing in numerous festivals this summer with a Four Seasons program and another with Raffaella Milanesi
Festival du Mont Blanc
La Chabotterie
Festival du Montpeiller, Chateau de Cornillon, Bédariaux, and Castelnaudray

They have a very nice rendition of Four Seasons, that brings to life the way Vivaldi wrote the piece. Sadly there are no videos, but here are some nice ones.

and check out these :