Mothers and Daughters Ch. 19

You have provided me so much joy that it would be churlish of me not to let you have the chance to gain immediate entrance to the orchestra. This private audition then is for you to display justification to me that I ought to use my influence to provide a short cut for you to perform in public at a high level. You have brought your violin so we can get started now."

"Well I was told only to bring my violin. It was suggested to me that if you were willing to hear me play that you would select the music you would want me to play. Am I to presume you are to be my accompanist, for this 'audition' so I can highlight my talents properly?"

"Yes you are right on both counts. I will indeed be your accompanist with the piano in this room, and yes I have the music I want you to play. I will give you fifteen minutes to study it."

"OK let me get dressed and then I'll look at the music."

"Oh no Natasha my darling, I want you to play in the nude. I believe this will allow you to bring passion into your playing and this will give you your best chance to shine."

"Will you be naked as well?"

Dietrich got off the couch, went to his desk and withdrew some papers from a drawer. Returning he handed Natasha some sheets of music, and replied:

"Oh yes I will likewise remain naked as you. You see Natasha I want you to play Enescu's Sonata No. 3, Op. 25 in A minor. I am of the opinion that Enescu's violin music isn't as well known and appreciated as it ought to be by the public- of course by public I do mean serious classical music aficionados. I believe the musician must pour his whole heart and soul into the playing of this piece if he is to bring out the best in Enescu's music. A mindless technician cannot play this piece and do any justice to it even if the playing is without error."

As Natasha took the sheets of music, she smiled inwardly as she could not believe her good fortune. She did know this music very well. When she was ten years old, and first started playing the full sized family violin, her then music instructor asked her to try playing this same piece.

Given the obvious aptitude Natasha had to violin playing, the instructor wanted to test how superior her talent really was for her age, and this particular piece was in his opinion most suitable to gauge Natasha's true prowess. Not only did Natasha master the playing of this sonata but it became one of her favorite pieces to play in her spare time. She often played it to sooth her mood when she happened to be melancholy.

Thus Natasha replied:

"Well Dietrich...."

He interrupted:

"No! No! No! Now you must call me Maestro again. We are not being intimate at this point but instead we are engaged in legitimate music business. It is imperative than we observe proper protocol and so you must acknowledge my position"

"Yes of course Maestro, forgive my impertinence. I just want to say I happen to be familiar with this piece of music so I do not require the fifteen minutes study time. As soon as I get my violin out I will be able to play immediately."

Surprised by Natasha's self-assurance, Dietrich received another surprise when he saw Natasha's violin. Recognizing the superior craftsmanship of her musical instrument he gasped:

"Where did you get such a magnificent instrument? Surely you don't own it?"

"My mother says I do own it. My grandfather's great-great grandmother received it as a gift from Tsar Alexander II as a reward for her playing ability. This violin has been in our family ever since and is considered to be owned by the direct descendant who can play the instrument as well as she did. Until I came along my mother was the only direct descendant who could play it but my mother acknowledges that I play a lot better than her. Certainly my grandfather, who has heard me play it on several occasions, has not objected to my possessing it."

"Does this mean you are related to the great Olga Podkopayeva?"

"Yes that was her name but don't tell me you have actually heard of her?"

"Of course I've heard of her. I came to being a conductor of a world class symphony orchestra honestly. It is a poor conductor indeed who does not know his music history. I am aware of all the great musicians both past and present besides composers and conductors. Olga Podkopayeva was arguably one of the greatest violinists, male or female, of the 1860s and 1870s and some are prepared to argue even greater than the legendary Pablo de Sarasate."

Natasha was particularly pleased with this factoid and so responded:

"Wow! I really wasn't aware of that. To me she was just a name my mother told me to complete the story of the violin. In my music history class we have not studied the names of famous past musicians but perhaps we will later. I think I would get goose bumps when we do and I can say to the class I am the great-great-great granddaughter of Olga. Oh my gosh maybe I need another great but no matter I am a direct descendant."

Dietrich chuckled as he replied:

"Well this is a bonus point for your audition, and being a descendant of the great Olga makes me think this audition will definitely be worth my time. However your ancestry certainly does not seal the deal. Your playing will reveal if you are the natural heir of the great Olga Podkopayeva and worthy of playing with the Chicago Symphony."

Natasha then sat down on the comfortable cloth covered chair. Situating herself close to the piano and positioning the violin for play, she awaited Dietrich to start. Natasha was not uncomfortable playing in the nude as occasionally alone in her room (both at the Maple Grove home and at the Excalibur Street house) she had played the violin when naked as she practiced. Dietrich remained nude as he said he would and sitting down at the piano struck the first notes.

As soon as Natasha joined in with the haunting first strains, it became evident to Dietrich instantly that she had captured the sound of a true gypsy violinist as the composer had intended. As the piece was so familiar to Natasha, she was able to negotiate seemingly effortlessly the endless and fiendish varying themes of the first two movements.

Dietrich was a perfect accompanist to Natasha. Together they managed perfectly the rhythms and dance like finale to bring the nearly twenty-five minutes' work of music to a spectacular conclusion.

Each of them discerned the special uniqueness of this personal private recital which spurred them to exert their upmost skills while playing the piece. Shortly after they started playing, the notion that this was an audition to determine whether Natasha was to play with the Chicago Symphony disappeared from their minds. Instead the music overwhelmed their minds and they concentrated solely on producing the music.

Their actual technique was absolutely flawless, but then for Natasha, by now perfect technical performances were her norm anyway. What made their performance absolutely spectacular and memorable in her estimation was the passion in their playing. Whenever afterwards she recalled this moment, Natasha's only regret was that their playing had not been recorded nor witnessed.

Although subsequently in her public performances, she knew she was frequently able to match the intensity and passion of this private performance and sometimes even surpassed it but she believed she never was able to recreate the magic of this performance.

At the end Natasha was perspiring profusely. Rivulets of sweat were sliding from her forehead down her face and even falling onto her shoulders. Dietrich was also enflamed by the playing and his contributing passion was such that he sported a rock hard erection.

Noticing his condition, Natasha put away her violin and said:

"Dietrich my sweet Maestro, I am going back to the couch. I believe we ought to make good use of that wonderful erection of yours."

Suiting her words to action she hurried back to the sofa and lay down flat on her back. For the convenience of Dietrich she lifted one leg to rest on the back edge of the couch and the other leg she had resting on the floor. She reasoned that this ought to provide him the easiest access to her cunt. She had also spotted Dietrich's handkerchief on the floor which she had picked up to wipe her brow. Wordlessly Dietrich got to the sofa and he took her. As soon as she was impaled she maneuvered both of her legs so her calves and heels were resting against his shoulders thereby surrendering her entire body to him.

His fucking of her was of a short duration. When he reached her he was still highly aroused from the reaction of the intense music playing. When his cock was in her, his hormones overloaded and could not handle too much more passion. Thus he was ejaculating seemingly within seconds of initial penetration.

Despite the quickness of the coitus, Natasha nevertheless achieved an orgasm as well. Her complete concentration on playing the sonata produced a sexual high for herself as well that only a few strokes of Dietrich's cock in her vagina was all that she needed. As he was cumming in her she was ranting and raving, and not quietly either; leaving no doubt about her sexual satisfaction.

After his sexual excitement somewhat abated, Dietrich Ebersbacher was all business again, and so he said to Natasha:

"Do you know Dvorak's Concerto in A minor? Can you play it?"

"Yes of course."

"I just learned a couple of hours ago that Anne-Sophie Mutter has had to cancel this Thursday, Friday and Saturday's engagements because of illness. The business manager of the Orchestra is trying frantically to find replacements. If you can rehearse with the Orchestra this Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, I'll have you play the Dvorak Concerto on those nights. What do you say?"

"Are you serious?"

"All I can say Natasha is that your performance was awesome...I have never in my entire sixty-two years, heard this Sonata performed live or by recording better than how you have just so exquisitely played it. Words cannot do justice to describe how magnificent you were. I have no doubt in my mind that you will be one of the greatest if not the greatest violinist of your time.

I predict the audience upon hearing you will feel fortunate that Anne-Sophie Mutter had to cancel and thereby had the privilege of hearing you play instead. Oh yes I am serious."

Natasha naturally was overwhelmed by such praise and replied:

"Wow I am flattered and I am thrilled."

Then she coyly asked:

"I would like to ask though, what has impressed you more; my playing the violin or my fucking?"

"Ah a question that would even baffle Casanova as to how to answer and not lose the lady. So I refuse to answer. All you need to know is you are excellent; superbly so in each activity. I take it you will do the concerts?"

"Of poo so diplomatic of you. Don't fear though you will not lose this lady. By the way can you get a ticket for my mother so she can see and hear my debut with the Chicago Symphony?"

"Of course she will have the best box seat in the house as my guest. Just let me know if she will be alone or will have a companion."

At this point Natasha coughed as she breathlessly and at her sultriest asked:

"Dietrich, my magnificent maestro, do you mind if we seal our business deal with a celebratory fuck? I don't want to tax your stamina too much, but I am so excited by your praise that I just need your cock in me again. If I suck your cock or perhaps lick your ass hole again could we do it again?"

"Ah so my young wanton, you are afraid this old geezer has no more energy left to satisfy your young insatiable lusts?"

"Well even some of my young lovers do get tuckered out after a couple of fucks, so I just being considerate that is all."

So Dietrich scoffed:

"Ah these young bucks have no idea how to preserve their vigor and satisfy a passionate young lady like you. Never fear my dear sweet Natasha, I may be ancient but I do know a trick or two on how to keep you screaming in ecstasy."

"Oh my sweet maestro you do make me burn with the way you use your body on mine"

This time when Natasha and Dietrich coupled on the sofa, their exertions were not so frantic. He was able to harden again without hardly any foreplay and her cunt was suitably moist to receive him. For variety he took her sideways from her back. She curled her outer leg over his so that they fucked without strain and in comfort. So focused was she on the pleasure she was receiving that she involuntarily grunted and squeaked on each thrust. The noises she was making was higher than her normal voice and gave him the impression he was fucking a little school girl rather than the voluptuous woman that Natasha really was.

Needless to say Natasha was in great humor when she left Dietrich and returned to the home in Morton Grove, that afternoon. Vera was as ecstatic as Natasha to learn about the concerts she was to perform the following week.

Vera's happiness was summed up by this declaration:

"I knew you were good Natasha but I now believe, given what you are about to do, that the musical genes of Olga Podkopayeva have been reborn in you. From her grave she must be smiling to realize that her natural successor has finally emerged."

The next day Natasha upon seeing Bolek at the school thanked him for his help in arranging the appointment with the conductor. Bolek was amazed to learn about the success of Natasha's visit.

When he had arranged the appointment he had expected that the best outcome he could have hoped for her would be that Ebersbacher having listened to her play might arrange for her to practice with the Orchestra pending an opening in the strings section to develop. That he would actually schedule her as the soloist in an actual performance of a Violin Concerto, and so soon was beyond anything he would have thought possible.

Knowing the libertine reputation of Dietrich, he could only surmise that Natasha must have been a great lay indeed for him to give Natasha the opportunity to make her professional debut on such an auspicious setting.

Studying Bolek's face and sensing accurately his speculations, Natasha smiled wickedly and obliquely admitted:

"Perhaps my skill at the violin was not the determinative factor for the opportunity Maestro Ebersbacher is affording me this week. But no matter; I want to assure you that our relationship will not suffer as a result of my new horizons."

Bolek smiled in return and just nodded. He did not misinterpret Natasha's remarks but as he was in no position to be jealous, he was at least pleased that Natasha was not planning on giving him up. That knowledge prevented him from feeling regret of having arranged for Natasha and Ebersbacher to meet.

Natasha did practice with the Orchestra on the relevant mornings. Natasha had a natural easy going personality that would not give offence to anyone she came in contact with. Quite cognizant of her inexperience and given the abnormality that she without any prior reputation was replacing a world renowned violinist, Natasha was careful to be differential to the musicians of the Orchestra. Despite their universal suspicion that she was the conductor's whore, Natasha soon won them over. Consequently the practices went smoothly and portended successful performances.

The performances were indeed successful even more than Natasha had dared to hope. The performances had been sell outs because of Mutter and the audiences were naturally initially disappointed by the substitution. However as Dietrich had predicted, Natasha's performance was as electrifying as even the most discriminate connoisseur of classical music could wish for.

The applause for Natasha was thunderous and genuine and lasted so long that she gave two quick encore performances of two minute pieces. The audiences were totally enchanted and their enthusiastic congratulatory displays went beyond anything the Chicago Symphony had witnessed in recent memory.

Vera, attending the initial Thursday's night performance with Linda Snyder, was tremendously proud as she witnessed her daughter's triumph. She usually did not delve on the circumstances of Natasha's birth or the pressures she had endured. This night though she smirked in her mind as she could not help but think: 'And Larry the father wanted me to have an abortion! Ha! Just think what the world would have been deprived of if she had succumbed to the wise choice to have an abortion'.

Another gratifying experience for Vera that evening occurred when she bumped into Jed Baxter, and Felicia. The Baxters' luxury box was adjacent to the one Dietrich had made available for her and Linda. As a result an encounter was unavoidable, and it was the first time she had personal contact with Jed since the break-up of their affair some two and one half years previous.

It was very pleasing for Vera that she could in essence showcase her talented daughter and perhaps instill some regret in Jed's mind that they longer were together. As for Felicia, Vera tried to ignore her as politely as possible.

Their chance meeting occurred during the intermission. Natasha had not yet played as she was scheduled to perform during the second half in the evening's total concert entertainment. However the audience had been made aware that Natasha would be substituting for Anne-Sophie Mutter. The encounter ensued as follows with Vera first acknowledging each other's presence:

"Why hello Jed, nice to see you. And Felicia too. I am delighted to see that you are both here tonight on the occasion of my daughter's debut with the Chicago Symphony."

Jed was somewhat surprised to see Vera, as he had gotten used to not thinking about her despite the fact that, apart from their past personal liaison, they still had an ongoing significant and satisfactory business relationship. He had avoided seeing her since he had his assistants deal with her, and he also used the option to deal with Walter whenever he needed to have direct contact with Vera's firm.

So warily he replied:

"Hello Vera, nice to see you too. I did notice from the program notes that a Natasha Starikovich would be substituting for Anne-Sophie Mutter, but I admit I did not think of making the connection. Of course I remember you telling me that you have a daughter but I do not recall her name if you indeed told me. I guess you did but I had forgotten. In any case you must be very excited."

Vera smilingly replied:

"Yes indeed Natasha is my daughter. She has been playing the violin ever since she could talk. She's now a freshman at the School of Music of Northwestern University. One of her professors at the school recommended her to Maestro Ebersbacher who after hearing her, scheduled her tonight to replace the ailing Ms Mutter. I'm on pins and needles in excitement. I hope her playing will be good enough not to disappoint the audience who were expecting to hear Ms Mutter."

At this Jed graciously opined:

"I'm sure if your daughter is as skilful in playing the violin as you are in your accounting talents, she'll do just fine."

"Thank you Jed, so kind of you to say so. By the way you remember Linda Snyder, who is the wife of my partner Walter, and who you and Felicia met at that party our firm had to celebrate our grand opening."

Jed acknowledged the introduction:

"Yes of course, and how do you Mrs Snyder. I've gotten to know your husband very well and I'm very satisfied and pleased with the work he has done for my companies."

Linda gushed:

"I'm pleased to meet you again, and I'll let Walter know of your pleasure."

As there was nothing more to say Jed and Felicia eased away. Once they were out of earshot Linda asked:

"So Vera how do you feel? This is the first time you've seen Jed Baxter since he dumped you, isn't that so?"

Vera replied:

"Yes it is and I'm OK. I've long since gotten over it and I have survived. You know there was one thing I'll always remember him telling me. He had told me that I was different from his other paramours as he realized I was not interested in his power and money like them, but solely interested in him as a man. And as I reflected on this observation, I've come to conclude I was different from his wife as well, since she was just like his paramours.