Saturday, May 9, 2009

Freude, schoner Gotterfunken

Tonight I will be onstage at the Fox Theatre singing the Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. Our Spokane Symphony Chorale will also be singing the Brahms Schicksalslied (Song of Fate). Both sung in German.
I joined the Spokane Symphony Chorale in 1991. What a wonderful experience it has been. It is times like tonight (and the additional concert tomorrow afternoon), when I feel fortunate that I live close to a major city which supports a very talented orchestra and Chorale.
Funny, all week when my mind is still, it fills with German and snippets from each piece. I know that will fade in about a week, but I find it fascinating while it lasts.

Our conductor grew up in Germany so you might say he is quite particular about our pronounciation. Amazingly, he can conduct the orchestra and at the same time mouth all the German for us. This morning at rehearsal, when all the orchestra was playing full out, he was able to hear a stray note (one stray note) in the bassoon section.

Most are familiar with Beethoven's 9th, but if you haven't heard the Brahms piece, it is a true gem.

Next blog: my new whale and iceberg painting

1 comment:

Terry Miller said...

Hey Linda ... if your voice as anywhere near as exciting as your paintings ... it should be a wonderful performance. Too bad I am on the other side of the country, would love to hear the 9th in person ... not the same listening on the IPOD!