|
Dear everyone,
First, I must apologize for my non-stop coughing on Tuesday that frustrated us all. It was one of those aggravating tickles that simply would not go away. Let's hope it doesn't visit me next week! I'm not sick, honest I'm not.
Congratulations to all for the extremely efficient re-arranging of each section by height. So many of you came really early that we accomplished the task and were beginning the rehearsal on the dot at 7:00! I couldn't believe it. Of course, it was a no-brainer for the tenors and a many-brainer for the altos, led by the indomitable Doris. Believe me, one long look from her steely blue eyes and her alto charges are quivering in their boots! A few years ago, as we prepared a concert of famous opera choruses including a couple from Boris Gudonov, we took to calling her Czar Dorees and practically snapped our heels together! That mixture of pride and terror has pretty much stayed in place.
Despite my cough, we made a lot of solid progress on Tuesday, even managing to get beyond mere note mastery and into the interpretive weeds! It's beginning to sound a lot like Mozart. This wonderful progress would have me rejoicing, if it weren't for the number of singers missing (I believe we were missing 8 from the soprano section alone)! Why? Let me tell you several results of holding a rehearsal with singers missing:
- Progress on all the features of the choruses we spent so much time on is halted until those missing singers somehow catch up. That's frustrating.
- The magic of each section achieving a unified sound (which we can all sense when it arrives!) takes longer to happen. That's sad.
- My ability to prepare a top-notch performance is hampered. The faster we can all master the basics, the more I can turn our attention to Mozart's creative genius. The longer I have to spend being sure we're all up to speed, the less I'm able to build our group musicality.
Over the years, FCO has had various attendance policies that limited the number of rehearsals a singer could miss and still perform at the concert. Following the pandemic, the Board has tried to be more flexible and trusting that those of you who sign up (and pay fees) will prioritize your commitment to the group. It may be that a number of you have been connected to musical endeavors whose rehearsals were there if you felt like coming, no big deal if not. Festival Chorale is not built on that premise. Let me tell you why: I'm here to produce the very best musical performances that I possibly can. That's not for MY benefit: I believe that we prepare concerts for the composers! They deserve our best. You're not here for me; you're here for Mozart this term.
This goal of performing at the highest possible level, while bringing together both highly experienced performers as well as less experienced but curious music lovers, requires me to work fast and hard. And when each of you commits, our group experiences amazing joy in being able to investigate and perform the very greatest works in the choral repertoire. But we can't hit our maximum rehearsal goals unless we're all there! So you're tired after a long day? Come anyway. An evening of deep breathing and sharing music will leave you energized. Is there a choice of vacation time? Try to schedule your trips so that you don't miss rehearsals, or at most only one! In other words, don't take lightly the opportunity you're GIVEN to perform the world's finest choral works onstage with a professional orchestra and soloists!
Friends, we're off to a fine start this term! Don't be fooled into assuming that because the group is large your voice doesn't matter! We must all grow together at the same pace to achieve our best performance.
Next Tuesday's plan: learning mvts.10 and 11 then reviewing mvts. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 8!
We're within sight of having encountered every movement for the first time! Bravo to us all, particularly our faux orchestra, Brenda! You think YOU have a lot of notes to recognize?! And she comes to us after having negotiated elementary students as a librarian! All day!
Sending love and encouragement to all of you,
| 
