… I have the Canzonetta going through me head now, I’m going to bless all of you with it as well. I’m nice that way. Go figure. I really do love the aria (and there’s not even an oboe in it!), but sometimes I wish a tune would go away for a little while. Know what I mean? 🙂
Act 1, No. 1 (numbered not by aria or scene, but just the order of the videos)
and moving on … Act 1, No. 2
Act 1, No. 3
(I’ll probably post more later. Stay tuned.)
We have our final rehearsal in the rehearsal hall today. Then it’s on to the theatre. In Cowell I’m actually able to see the singers and hear them much better than I can in the California Theatre. I’m really looking forward to this! 🙂
You know in Roman Holiday when the photographer takes pictures of Audrey Hepburn all day with a cigarette lighter camera? Do tiny cameras exist that an orchestra could attach to music stands to take photos while each member was playing a certain movement or something? I would love to see some shots like that displayed in lobbies or used for advertising materials. Thoughts? What can orchestras do to make their photographs stand out?
The technology to photograph each musician from the stand certainly exists. I think it’s just a matter of demonstrating the value of the concept. I’d personally love to see video of each performer. As far as what an entire orchestra can do to make their performance photographs stand out, I love the visual idea of acrylic music stands and chairs. Lines of sight are a huge problem for photographers and videographers – having fewer things to compete with the performers expressions is key.
Hmmm. Acrylic chairs? Does he mean chairs that you can actually see through, then? So you could see our big rear ends? Um. Please not mine!
I don’t think it’s possible to take a picture of an oboist while playing and make it look good. We just look too darn weird when we play. Even the beautiful players. Notice that no one in these photos is playing the instrument! 😉
You can read the whole interview here.
(I should point out that he suggests NOT having your instrument in your pictures. Yikes! My instrument is my shield!)
In a concert hall, an audience member making a ruckus can be an annoyance.
When the commotion comes from a white and black Shih Tzu ensconced on the couch, it’s more cute than irritating.
Still, the sound of paw cleaning was enough of a distraction at a recent private concert by members of Mercury Baroque that Ellen Sanborn had to ask Trey the dog to knock it off. But by then, they had a relationship.
“That precious dog started the concert on my lap,” Sanborn said.
And it’s all about the relationships.
At least that was the point of a recent gathering of about 15 at the Houston home of Mike and Donna Boyd for the 40-minute concert of two violins, harpsichord and viola da gamba. The performance was a chance for the Boyds to introduce the group to potential new audience members while offering an evening to remember.
I love this idea … bringing chamber music into homes. It just seems like a wonderful way to make music more personal.
I only did something like this once, and it was a while ago now. I played with a violinist and harpsichordist and I just loved doing it. The people who came were so appreciative, and it was so great to be able to talk to them before and after we played. It also is so much less stressful (or at least it was for me): when you first talk about what you are going to do and you are in an intimate setting it just seems to make things more relaxed. I continue to see some of the attendees at concerts here in town, and I feel a connection to them as I see them sitting in the balcony. I hope they feel the same way.
Anyway, I’d sure love to do more of this sort of thing.
I read about it here.
Mozart. Don Giovanni. And a car.
To talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but that an equally great one is to know the right moment to stop.
-Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
