And now, in keeping with recent blogging tradition at VCS, we offer you the top ten things that happened this week.
- Show week regular rehearsal—not to be confused with dress rehearsal—happens to fall on St. Patrick’s Day. Of course the word “shenanigans” is used.
- The artistic director talks about performance energy and how to channel it—it shouldn’t be like “tweety birds around your head.”
- She also gives us “full permission to be in full Frisbee mode*.” Yes, she uses the word “full” twice. In one sentence. That is followed shortly after by…
- “This is a freaking hard piece!” This is rare strong language from one Ms. Rodgers. Unlike the executive director. Speaking of whom….
- She’s already consumed an ungodly amount of caffeine. It’s only Tuesdayandsheisspeakingreallyreallyfast. Friday should be hilarious. By Saturday she’ll see noises.
- In complete and utter contrast, our accompanist Greg Graf is so laidback he has his shoes off. Even traffic doesn’t bother him today.
- That moment when one of the readers recites the text that we’re going to sing. It’s an incredibly moving, loving, and deeply affecting piece. We’ve rehearsed it for months. And yet, the room goes quiet.
- O Vos Omnes—the spontaneous beat box rendition. No, that will sadly not be in the concert. Someday if we get to fund a Kickstarter short film on what goes into a show though…..
- Artistic director and accompanist have a brief moment of discussion that delays the cut off for bases. So there they are, at about a low E for an extra 30 seconds, going “uhhhhh…..” It’s like standing next to a power plant.
- Yes, this is a more grown up repertoire. Yes, there are still kid toys in play during the music. We can’t give away more than that. Come to the show and see what we mean!
Got tickets? We sing Text and Sound: When The Music Paints A Thousand Words at 7:30 pm, Saturday, March 21, 2015. Tickets are now on sale online . We’ll also have some at the door. Box office opens at 6:45 pm. Doors open at 7:15 pm.
* Frisbees, one of Jennifer Rodgers’ trademark vocal visualization exercises. Our singers are familiar with it, along with “snoopy vulture” and “muffin tins.” All three, and more, make several appearances during our summer vocal workshops. Send us an email at info@viennachoralsociety.org if you want us to tell you more in May.