Concert Week(3)–Final Run Through and Performance
Sunday, May 4th, 2008This morning we had a final run through with the orchestra. The basic task is to get through the whole piece with no interruptions [and no “do overs”]. Orff’s Carmina Burana is divided into sections, but within the sections, the different numbers join together with no break. This often means an abrupt change of tempo, mood, even harmonic structure. But that’s all part of getting the performance into shape. As a chorus member, it’s my responsibility to map my way through the score. People who grow up with the notion that one doesn’t write in books really need to get over that in order to particpate in music; my scores get so marked up by the end of one time rehearsing and performing that I often end up getting another score the next time the chorus is preparing for a subsequent performance.
We got through the run through in very good shape. The conductor seemed quite pleased, and thanked the chorus for giving 150%. Then he added that he was going to ask us for 200% in the performance in the afternoon. On of the real concerns of having a rehearsal and a performance on the same day is that we shouldn’t leave the performance in the rehearsal–that is, we shouldn’t sing so much that our voices can’t do a good performance.
We reassembled for the matinee performance and the chorus director gave us a few reminders. We worked on some of the tricky spots, and warmed up our voices. Then we lined up, and filed on stage.
Then we all came together and did the best we could. There were some little slips–someone’s attention lapsed for just a second, and that’s all it takes to do an “inadvertent solo”. And, there were a couple of times that the conductor did something slightly different–which led to a certain tentativeness on our parts. At the end, the audience seemed quite appreciative. One fellow, who had sung with the chorus in seasons past, stayed to compliment us as we left the stage door. He said, in part, “Boy, that was loud!”. And we really did give as much as we could. However, as our director says, “Never sing louder than beautiful”. And I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself for taking care of my voice during the performance.
Along the way, someone remarked that the current situation where people are more likely to hear classical music from a CD [or on the radio] than a live performance. And the current production process usually ends up with a CD that is technically flawless. And there are people who think that in the process of taking bits and pieces from several “takes” and assembling it into one performance robs the performance of some essential bit. And that’s the essential part of a live performance.
Finally, I’ll pass along a comment from a couple of the orchestral musicians about the piece…”Well, it’s not music, but it sure is entertaining”.
Bob