Jan. 23rd, 2006

jim_p: (conductor)
Well, we had our concerts this weekend.

Let's just say I'm glad that it was the *first* one that was recorded. It went off relatively smoothly, considering.

The second one... let's just say we survived.

At the very end of "Dido and Aeneas", Dido sings one of the most searingly beautiful arias in the literature, followed with a somber coda by the choir... the conductor cuts off, and when there *should* be a moment of silent reflection before the applause... some butthead's cellphone goes off!. It reminded me of the commercial I saw sometime back where the operatic heroine threw her spear at some doofus who answered his cellphone during the performance.

After intermission, we're performing "Te Deum" by Haydn. Towards the end, the organ develops a stuck key... on a note that's nowhere near the key of the piece, so it's dissonant to the end. Not only is this bad for that piece, it's a real problem because the last piece on the program (Chichester Psalms) also calls for organ in a big way...

Fortunately, our organist is truly amazing. in the ten minutes it took for us to perform the intervening number (Ceremony of Carols, with chorus and harp) she figured out how she could do the last piece on piano. It went off, not quite as expected, but was nothing short of amazing given the circumstances.

Afterwards I told Debra, the oragnist, that she jinxed it. After the first performance (In Groton) she mentioned the problems she'd had with that organ and that the organ in Concord never gave her that kind of trouble. Said instrument must have heard that and rewarded her accordingly...

Still and all a great pair of concerts. I'm happy :)

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