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To all who have just returned from Returning to Middle Earth,
I was simply blown away by that performance! You brought everything you had, and I was incredibly lucky to be able to receive and enjoy the results of all our hard work in a way that you couldn't: I got to experience it from the high back row as an audience member. I am so sorry that you couldn't be in both places, because seeing it was a large part of its impact. Hearing John read the poetry was the vital last step that linked the whole work together (though I'm not sure how clearly you could hear his readings). But as a member of the audience I was also able to absorb the impact of how those around me were feeling, and I can assure you the effect on them was palpable.
You know all too well how dubious I was at the beginning of our scheduled rehearsals! I just didn't know how we'd be able to do a credible job of those cluster chords in the first movement, or of counting all those "waiting" measures in the other movements, in 5/4 meter no less! The list of challenges goes on, yet you delivered your role with confidence—at least as far as the audience could tell! We're the only ones who know how hard it all was, yet what you gave them was simply gorgeous throughout, from my vantage point! And the battle was terrifyingly delivered, fully present from every one of you! (One audience member could not believe that those were just rocks you were hitting!)
Below is the beautiful message that John Skelton sent me in response to my letter of congratulations to him. I am so very proud of the friendships and collaborations we've known over the years. I can tell you that it's rare, and maybe only possible in a small community such as ours. This project took a village, as you well know, so capably led on our side by Bryan in his final capacity as FCO Board President after eight fruitful years.
And now here it is, a Tuesday, and we're not gathered together for rehearsal! I don't even know what other humans do on Tuesday nights, but I guess we'll find out.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being who and what you are, curious musicians who aren't afraid of hard work, with the reward of experiencing a project like the one we delivered to the audience and to ourselves!
Please consider singing next term, especially those who were new to us this term, as we join Monty Python in saying "Now for something completely different!" As always, look for all the details in late summer.
Your grateful director,
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