Klarinet Archive - Posting 000680.txt from 2000/02

From: KlarBoy@-----.com
Subj: [kl] A circus tent and an orchestra
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 19:11:37 -0500

Greeting all,
I have played in many venues but I am currently experiencing a new one this
week, a Circus tent. This season has been a difficult one for my orchestra
here in Sarasota. Last year the Van Weezel auditorium, a hall designed and
built by Frank Lloyd Wright began renovations. The renovations have taken
longer than projected and our Masterworks concert series has had to scramble
for venues. We began the season performing in the Sarasota Opera House which
is a smaller venue seating only 600, compared to the 1600 that can be
accommodate by the Van Weezel. We are very fortunate here not to have to
worry about attendance, since all of our Masterworks concerts are completely
sold out by season ticket holders. That's what people do in Sarasota, they
retire, move to Florida, and go to concerts. Management has had to schedule
many repeated programs including doubles, and even had to ask season ticket
holders to give up their seats for the year. I'm sure it's just killing them
to have to turn away paying customers. This is also a contract negotiating
year and it hasn't helped the musicians committee any either.

The beginning of the opera season has ended our stay in the opera house since
their season which lasts about 10 weeks is concurrent with ours. The Opera
has it's own orchestra composed of many New York and mid west freelancers.
Our new venue is a circus tent that was rented by Van Weezle to accommodate
us as well as the many orchestras that perform here on their US tours.
Tonight was our first rehearsal in the tent (the program is a tone poem named
Francois Villon by William Wallace: the Strauss first Horn Concerto, David
Jolley soloist: and Mendelssohn Scottish Symphony). The tent is extremely
boomy and apparently all you can hear from the audience is the Winds, brass
and Violins, the lower string are completely lost. Recently the London
symphony had to cancel a Bruckner 4 and replaced it with a Brahms symphony
since the French fry light's were baking them to a golden crisp. We combated
the bright lights by using stand lights and low overhead lighting, which
doesn't allow for seeing the conductor. I guess that's not to bad this week,
since the boss is out of town and it's just a guest, and the orchestra isn't
giving him many glances anyway. I could be wrong about this (tongue in
cheek). The concession area has all my circus favorites including cotton
candy and popcorn, I hope the smell of fresh popcorn doesn't distract me
during the performances, I do so like it. So just remember the next time you
performers complain about the crappy hall, at least it's not a TENT.
Mario Estrada
Florida West Coast Symphony

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