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A slight disregard for the big names of conducting has been a result, for me, of singing in the Houston Symphony Chorus, where sometimes the big names have big ideas and then big gaps in communication. However, I suspected he'd live up to his. He headed the choral programs at NEC and Yale, and while the choral head at NEC while I was there was a simpering governess who managed to be handholding and condescending at once with low expectations she talked up to the sky, I doubted that would be the case with a founding member of the King's Singers.
And so. It came almost to that best of situations, when I am struggling to keep up. I never did lose his thread, but there was such a thread! Everything he said, he said succinctly and without waffling or circumlocution, which was a nice change to be sure. And he said so little! It was a whirlwind rehearsal. I am properly exhausted from the surfeit of attention I paid for 3 solid hours. As I should always need to.
He was what I suspect Stephen Connolly will be when he's had as many years of experience conducting, rather than singing and workshopping. Same vast depth of expertise, same years of experience on the other side of the baton, but such control over the hive mind of a choir. Probably some of the difference there is that Stephen's choirs were young and didn't fully appreciate him, and the chamber choir is a professional ensemble, but we have our frustrating nincompoops too. Similarly frustrating in both cases were people actually talking during rehearsal, while direction was being given. Well, we know who that was. Same person who got called out for skewing the blend. And someone else refused outright to be separated totally from our voice part. What a way to advertise your unpreparedness. I can't imagine complaining audibly about not being able to do it.
But the few shadows cast on the highlit rehearsal can't abbreviate its excellence. Yes, we HAD to pay attention. Yes, we mostly did. That's what I want to do for the rest of my life. And we've got another one tomorrow.
And so. It came almost to that best of situations, when I am struggling to keep up. I never did lose his thread, but there was such a thread! Everything he said, he said succinctly and without waffling or circumlocution, which was a nice change to be sure. And he said so little! It was a whirlwind rehearsal. I am properly exhausted from the surfeit of attention I paid for 3 solid hours. As I should always need to.
He was what I suspect Stephen Connolly will be when he's had as many years of experience conducting, rather than singing and workshopping. Same vast depth of expertise, same years of experience on the other side of the baton, but such control over the hive mind of a choir. Probably some of the difference there is that Stephen's choirs were young and didn't fully appreciate him, and the chamber choir is a professional ensemble, but we have our frustrating nincompoops too. Similarly frustrating in both cases were people actually talking during rehearsal, while direction was being given. Well, we know who that was. Same person who got called out for skewing the blend. And someone else refused outright to be separated totally from our voice part. What a way to advertise your unpreparedness. I can't imagine complaining audibly about not being able to do it.
But the few shadows cast on the highlit rehearsal can't abbreviate its excellence. Yes, we HAD to pay attention. Yes, we mostly did. That's what I want to do for the rest of my life. And we've got another one tomorrow.
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