It’s 11:40 PM. I’m home from opera. Everyone here is asleep. And I’m wired. Go figure.

The opera went quite well. I played a new reed, which can be risky sometimes, but this one behaved, for the most part, and may very well work itself into something quite nice. Then again, you know how reeds are; I might pull it out tomorrow and find it’s decided it isn’t a reed after all. But this is the first performance I’ve played where I’ve stuck to one reed. For the others I’ve played three or four reeds … one for each act and an “extra” inserted here and there. Yeah, it can be crazy making, but Butterfly is a reed eater.

Hmmm. What would someone who hasn’t a clue what I’m talking about thing if the read, “Butterfly is a reed eater”? Hah!

Since I’ve decided to unpack both oboes and have the extra one waiting in case I get water in the octave I’ve only had to use the reserve oboe once. Wouldn’t you know? It’s kind of like taking an umbrella along just to make sure it doesn’t rain. Works nearly all the time!

I think weekday performances should begin at 7:00 or 7:30. I wish they all would listen to my thoughts. And obey them.
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