The loss of a great one

Hello readers.

I'm sad to announce that Maestro Lorin Maazel passed away this morning.  I'm still in a bit of a shock at the news.  He was so supportive of me and my career.  I spent three summers at the Castleton Festival and I treasure them.  The following in an excerpt of my original "city gal diaries" from my time on the farm.  The diaries were the precursor to this blog and only a select few got these emails.  It sums up my time in Castleton well and the generous spirit of this amazing man.

Well, himself is here.  Everything has changed and I can tell you dear friends I have never been so happy to see someone in my life!  Well, maybe that is a bit of an overstatement but I'm down right giddy.  The run went very well yesterday and he was pleased.  The orchestra arrived yesterday morning from Japan.  They are a college age group and arrived exhausted and not speaking much English.  They have an interpreter with them, thank the good Lord.

Last night they had their first orchestra rehearsal.  The poor kids were so tired, I can only imagine how they felt.  We were invited to quietly watch the rehearsal from the balcony.  The assistant conductor, who is awesome, ran the rehearsal with Maestro sitting right behind him leading the way.  I did not envy Tim this task but he handled it with grace and aplomb.  At one point a most hilarious game of "telephone" ensued.  Maestro would give a note to Tim then Tim to the interpreter and then the interpreter to the tired, jet lagged orchestra.  Maestro doesn't miss anything and the game went on for hours.  It was one of the most amazing things I've ever witnessed.  Each tuning issue, bowing change and tempi discussion was truly a just reminder of why I do what I do.  

I sat in the darkened balcony and watched music being forged and shaped in a most intriguing and satisfying way.  They worked so hard to make each note correct.  Truth be told they weren't quite up to snuff and aren't now but they were receptive and seemed to absorb the telephone game with some success.  I watched my score as the notes simply came to life and danced across the page.  The orchestration for this piece was done by Benjamin Britten.  While we, the singers, are intoning John Gay's vision the orchestra is bringing Britten's mastery to the plate.  It is a heady combination and my mind swam with the melodies and possibilities of this most unique show. 

I've learned many valuable lessons during my tenure in this crazy biz but perhaps one of the most was reinforced by my dear Pavarotti.  He insisted everyone be in the theatre for every rehearsal.  It didn't matter if we were in that scene or not, hence my first hand knowledge of Tosca Act III.  We sat there and watched our colleagues and our music staff create art.  In this time of cookie cutter, fast food culture, sometimes we don't think about what it truly takes to do what it is that we do.  I'm so happy that chose to attend this rehearsal.  It was not mandatory and no one is the wiser but this afternoon when Maestro takes the stick at our Sitzprobe I will know that my first piece is only accompanied by one horn player until the oboe obbligato.  I will know that the percussiveness of the piano will be replaced by a much smoother and quieter harp.  These little school notes are not the true lesson though.  I spent 3 and half hours in the presence of one of our great musical minds.  Call me greedy but I am going to steal as many moments of that mind as I possibly can.  I know Pav would be proud and I will have rekindled a musical spirit within me that many years of Holiday Inns and Comfort Suites have beaten out of me.

Rest well and God's speed Maestro.  I will miss you.

~Melsy