Found this post yesterday and then listened to the Jobim album you linked while I was baking my Chinese hazelnut biscuits! I recognised two songs (quiet nights of quiet stars, and I forget the title of the other one). Thanks for the rec!

Re playing with the soloist for the first time, yes that is always exciting! Reading about your experience made me realise I haven‘t touched my cello in a really long time :-( There is an ensemble workshop again this year in autumn though (I missed last year‘s because I was sick) and I am determined to attend.