why you should not skimp on rehearsals

February 18, 2008 at 11:17 PM

Saturday night's symphony concert of famous opera choruses was yet another oddball event with lots of little weird strangenesses. Perhaps management should not have cut one of our rehearsals ;). First, the opening chords of the overture to Rienzi had some quite wayward (as in different key entirely) flute notes. Then, in the beginning of Pilgrim's Chorus from Tannhauser, our conductor cued the chorus in early so that the strings could not resolve their phrase. The first half of the program ended with Polyvetsian Dances. The big clarinet solo was begun two measures early. The flautist tried to come in twice, but we basically had 32 measures with gaping holes of nothingness until the upper strings entered. The end of the concert featured the second suite from Carmen. One of the featured college choruses is conducted by a mezzo, so she sang the last movement, the Danse Boheme. And while she sang nicely enough, our conductor gave her a couple of bows, acknowledged the other chorus masters, and totally neglected to give the orchestra a final bow. His backstage glass of scotch was not forgotten, however.

I would also personally like to thank all those college chorus students who moved all the violinists' cases off the table so they could have room for their colorful purses. Oh, I am so middle aged!

From Ray Randall
Posted on February 19, 2008 at 10:15 PM

Did that "conductor" drink the booze before or after the performance?
Someone should call the chorusmaster and raise a stink about them moving the cases.

This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.