Phil Collins retrospective

By now you know that CSO principal trumpeter Philip Collins has had to retire due to lip injury from 31 years of wear and tear in the first chair trumpet. There was lots from our conversation that didn't fit into Sunday's story. Among them, I've always admired how focused he has been on tours. On the last European tour, Collins had to play the very exposed solo at the opening of Mahler's Fifth in Vienna, probably the toughest audience in the world.

Phil: "I remember one of the last tours with Paavo, the first concert was in Vienna, playing Mahler's Fifth. We just had incredible jet lag, and it felt like 2 a.m. I had the whole plane flight to think about the opening."

In the photos, Phil found quiet spots to warm up before concerts, playing through the jet lag in Beijing's Great Hall of the People and below, in Vienna's Konzerthaus. (Thanks to Ixi Chen and Kyril Magg for the photos.)

Take a look at some of Phil's thoughts as he retires.