Tonight’s performance went very well. But I sure felt horrible! My stomach was not happy. Nor was my head. It really isn’t much fun to play oboe when one’s stomach is achingly yucky.
Ah well.
Tomorrow …?!
Opera Chic reports more possible problems for some opera companies. I wonder how long this will all continue.
I’ve heard from some folks in Opera Pacific, and they still haven’t gotten definite news from the company about what’s up. That’s not a great way to treat employees, it seems.
This is an essential, and frustrating, part of a musician’s life: to never believe that your last performance was quite good enough.
I was talking to students about this yesterday; as we improve, we know we can improve more. Perfection seems to be that unattainable goal. We do something well and think, “It could be better!” It’s frustrating sometimes, and can cause a lot of distress, but if we look at it from a different perspective it can be challenging and even invigorating.
I read the quote here. Of course reading about the oboist that Jon Kimura Parker heard I’m also thinking, “He’s probably testing a reed, and has to see how it will handle the solo!”
The San Francisco Opera created a role in “The Barber of Seville” for her pet miniature schnauzer, which also performed on stages in New York, Paris and Berlin. A Chicago judge dismissed a traffic ticket after Larmore crooned parts from “The Barber of Seville,” “Alcina” and “Cinderella.” The courtroom erupted afterward in applause.
Heck, if I sang the judge would probably double the fine. Sigh.
I read it here.
Choral Terrace seats behind the orchestra are the backwards upside-down view in most folks’ minds. The sound quality is somewhat distorted. We never get to see the front of the solo oboist’s backless gown. Instead we get to know which balding musicians opt for the comb-over. Best of all, we get to face the conductor.
I read it here.
