Back home, the veteran opera singer recounted the rigors of performing in the Olavinlinna Castle, a 15th-century fortress.

“You can imagine my surprise when I was shown how I was to make my first entrance to the stage. I had to climb up a very high ladder in the back of the castle – maybe 15 feet high – and then crawl through one of those cannon holes, usually in pouring rain, barely big enough to fit through. And then once in this small rough room, I had to climb another very steep and high ladder to another room, and then make my way down a cave-like passageway to the stage,” Stearns said.

“My exit after the first act was all this in reverse,” he said, recalling one performance in the rain when a sea gull flew onstage to greet him at his entrance. Stearns said he accomplished this backstage feat grateful that he “was in pretty good shape to be able to deal with this obstacle course while wearing a big, heavy leather costume, high boots and cape.”

I read this here.

There are times I’m quite thankful to be “just” an oboist! 🙂