Klarinet Archive - Posting 000824.txt from 2000/11
From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Orchestra disasters & a neat site
Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 10:45:32 -0500
Here's a humorous story submitted by somebody on http://www.greatconductors.com.
Beyond being a really neat site about the world's great conductors, it also has
an email forum like Klarinet, except that you visit the site to participate, ra-
ther than receiving messages directly at your private email account. The topics,
and the quality of writing, are quite good, and the exchanges dynamic in a very
collegial way. Thus, in addition to the double-reed list, the conductor's list
is also worthwhile. Take a look! Anyway, here's the funny story. Maybe we
have a few from Klarinet members as well?
"Even a lot of showstoppers are silly nothings that everyone just shrugs
off. Like the time my orchestra was starting the Grieg Piano Concerto --
for the opening tutti crash our conductor gave a huge, forceful downbeat
and really got a crash! The soloist got a few bars into the piece before
he realized the conductor was temporarily unable to continue, as he was
occupied with retrieving his music desk from where it had landed in the
viola section. Our conductor has a great sense of humor; he just turned
to the audience with a sheepish smile and said, "I think we'll try that
again!"
But here's a better example....
A long time ago and with a different orchestra, we were doing a run-out
concert to some college in a different city. First of all, the conductor
missed the dress rehearsal-his wife was having a baby. Maybe a good omen,
I thought, but I was young and inexperienced.
A chartered bus was taking a lot of the orchestra on this trip, but I drove
separately, bringing a couple of my section-mates. I was worried about find-
ing the hall, but despite our fears we found it in plenty of time---indeed
it was practically empty. I walked in backstage and greeted our conductor
who said, "Did you hear the bus broke down?"
Then I walked over to say hello to our piano soloist for a Prokofiev concerto,
and she responded, "Did you hear I broke my thumb?"
Somewhat shaken, I returned to my mates and was told, "Did you hear this is a
dry campus?" The third hammer blow had fallen!---or had it?
Well, the rest of the orchestra showed up eventually. The restive audience was
placated by an impromptu concert of Christmas carols sung by the campus choir,
who were to do the Beethoven 9th with us. We took the stage at least an hour
late and did the Prokofiev, which had some holes in it where a thumb should
have been. Then we finished the dismal evening with the finale of the Beethoven.
Everything actually went well until the easiest part of the piece, the Turkish
March and tenor solo. Amidst all the night's distractions, the tenor forgot his
lines! We noticed his voice mysteriously fade out---and then it was replaced by
a new voice, that of our by now devil-may-care conductor, who without turning
around proceeded to sing the tenor's part for him! I can only assume the poor
fellow lip-synched it; meanwhile the orchestra was trying desperately to keep
from cracking up with laughter.
At least for the third hammer blow we came prepared, and sipped our champagne
unnoticed in the parking lot."
-- Neil :-)
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