Today started early. We had to be at CH at 8 am, so no breakfast! (I had loaded the hotel fridge with sandwiches, orange juice, and sodas on the first night, and so had a few bites), then off we went by Uber. MidAmerica Productions does a good job of taking care of us. We’ve had a few hours each day for sightseeing, but the main task has been to prepare for this day!
We rehearsed on stage with Nicole for the Monteverdi “Magnificat” but the organist couldn’t seem to keep up or follow Nicole’s directing. Definitely a train wreck ahead. After our hurried run through, in which the “Gloria”, which relies on off beats, went poorly, Nicole had a “talk” with the organist and understood her issue with page turns and the organ itself. Good grief. Oh no. This was the piece that mattered the most because it was just us and Nicole, and Nicole’s big debut. We had to pull it off.
The next bit of rehearsal was for the other 4 pieces: Bach’s “Sanctus,” Vivaldi “Magnificat,” Handel’s “Coronation,” and “Zadok the Priest.” These were conducted by university conductors and were peopled with 130 music majors. Needless to say, big and glorious and easy peasy. Just watch the conductors and read the music.
Right after rehearsal, we hurried to the front entrance to meet my first Japanese friend from my year abroad in college. Sophie and her husband, Yoshito, have been living in New York for more than 30 years and love it. Meeting her again was definitely the big deal of the day. So far…Big hugs and brunch at Rue 57. What a perfect setting for lots of conversation. That was it. With everything so tightly scheduled, we wouldn’t see them again this trip.
Back in the theatre, we did a few warm-ups and then headed to the stage. What a gorgeous theatre and what perfect resonance. The secret must be in the balconies— three balconies, plus the nosebleed section. Lots of space for the sound to gather and expand. And so ornate with gilded detail. Back to the music. Nicole eyed us. We opened to page one and out came glorious sound—even the Gloria perfect. That was a huge sigh because it was the most important piece. After we moved to our new positions, the orchestra came on stage, the soloists, the two conductors and the big part of the rest of the show commenced. It was all worth smiling over.
We sat in the tip top tier of the theatre to watch the second half, then gathered to board buses for our “dinner cruise.” Well, this is not exactly what we expected. It was more of a ragged boat with trays of food, a classic “party boat.” The food was hearty—to be generous and the kids livened things up by drinking their two drinks quickly and dancing the night away, even as we rounded the Statue of Liberty. It was lovely to hang around the upper deck with our friends, the Krasners, and watch the New York skyline at dusk in surround sound. When the light hit the sides of buildings, the whole scene sparkled.
Back at the hotel, John and I decided to go to the bar for a drink and watch the last of the basketball game. How fitting that NYC won. We felt our own victory in theirs.
Good night.