Klarinet Archive - Posting 000911.txt from 2000/08

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Tony reports on the on stage band in Don Giovanni
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 09:49:17 -0400

Terrific story of Tony finally getting even by getting a gig to play in
the recording of the on-stage band on Don Giovanni.

I once did the part and was not told until practically the last minute
that I could take only one clarinet on stage. The music calls for two
clarinets and, at the very brief rehearsal we had, I used two clarinets.

If I remember correctly, one of the three excerpts in the supper scene
calls for A clarinet while the other two call for B-flat, but maybe it's
the other way round. I don't remember.

So I'm all dressed up in my 18th century livery with a wig. I was some
sight to behold, let me tell you. And the stage manager or somebody
says, "You can't take two clarinets out there."

"Why not," says I.

"Cause I says so," says he.

So I ran downstairs where I had about 15 minutes to make sure I could
transpose that piece at sight and then went up to play the scene in the
second act.

The stage manager comes back to me and says, "And take those glasses
off."

I says, "You're crazy. I can't see the music without my glasses. It's
bad enough I have to transpose the A clarinet music, but you want me to
do it without being able to see it?"

He says, "Yup!"

Then I looked at one of the French horn players who was wearing horn
rimmed glasses that were as thick as coke bottles.

"What are you going to do about him," I says.

"Well. He REALLY needs his glasses," was the response I got.

I put the glasses into my pocket until I got on stage. Then I put them
back on again.

My wife said that I looked very fetching in my wig.
--
***************************
** Dan Leeson **
** leeson0@-----.net **
***************************

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