Last Tour Stop – Lincoln Center

This morning, 48 singers of the Los Angeles Master Chorale took the stage of Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for our  final dress rehearsal of the tour.  This tour has been quite a magical and memorable journey for the Chorale. Tonight, we present the last and final performance on Tour to a sold out house audience. As we prepare for this final performance, and reflect on the artistic high points of the tour it is also important for us to take the opportunity to thank and acknowledge the Los Angeles Philharmonic for asking us to collaborate on this incredible project with them and for our organization to be able to lend our artistic contribution – our voices – to this monumental work.

It has been such a pleasure for all of us to have spent the past two and half weeks collaborating on such a high artistic level with such an incredible team of friends and artists – old and new –  Gustavo Dudamel, Peter Sellars, John Adams, our very own Grant Gershon, all the players of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, 6 fabulous principal singers – Kelly O’Connor, Tamara Mumford, Russell Thomas… the Three (Counter)Tenors! – Daniel Bubeck Brian Cummings, and Nathan Medley… 3 majestically beautiful dancers – Michael Schumacher, Troy Ogilvie, and Anani Sanouvi, and a small army of incredibly talented, patient, and reliable artistic and production staff that have kept all of the cogs of this artistic machine moving in the right direction (across an ocean and four countries!)

Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center – home of our final tour performance.

Tomorrow morning we board a jet at JFK Airport to head back to Los Angeles, where many of our singers will “hit the ground running” preparing for Easter Services this coming weekend.

Hopefully, our singers will get a little bit of post-tour, post-Easter weekend rest, and a few loads of laundry done before Grant and the singers begin the process all over again, next Tuesday, as they begin preparations for our next concert  in a few weeks, bringing you the music of Poulenc and Vaughan Williams.

We hope you have enjoyed our updates along the way. We will try to put together a post-tour wrap-up – with more pictures from the Tour when we get back next week. Thanks for following along!

Tour Party in NY

Yesterday, the singers had a free day in New York, and due to the wet and chilly weather, most sought refuge among some of New York’s finer indoor activities – museums and shopping.

However, last night the singers were warmed by the gracious hospitality of LAMC Board Chair David Gindler and his wife Kiki. The Gindlers hosted a delicious reception and dinner at A Voce Restaurant on Columbus Circle. Everyone had an absolutely wonderful time reminiscing about Tour highlights and soaking in what an important and impactful experience this has been for each of us – and the organization as a whole. The Singers and staff were also joined by a few friends, LAMC Board member Ann Ehringer and Marjorie Lindbeck. Much food, beverage and frivolity ensued, and a good time was had by all.

And, how do a group of grateful singers thank their gracious hosts for this dining treat? Why, with song of course! Much to the surprise (and likely delight of the rest of the restaurant), the entire ensemble of singers joined an inspirational and spontaneous chorus of Wana Baraka (written by our own Shawn Kirchner of course!). It was an incredibly moving experience for all.

Here are a few photos from the dinner, last evening. Today, we head into our last staging rehearsal of the tour, as we prepare for our performance tomorrow evening at Avery Fisher Hall.

Resounding Applause in Paris

The Salle Pleyel in Paris

Unfortunately for most of us, Paris was the shortest leg of the tour. Due to the very busy schedule of the Salle Pleyel, we had one fewer day of rehearsals in Paris. However, not to be daunted, and relying on our musician’s incredible talent and professionalism, the maestro, singers, players, and everyone arose to the occasion and again – gave an incredible performance to a heartily appreciative Paris audience. As is sometimes the habit – on the Continent  – at the conclusion of the performance, the audience began their highly enthusiastic applause that quickly grew into a unified, rhythmic wave of ovation, with the entire audience clapping along in the same rhythm – apparently, a very high sign of praise from Parisian audiences!

While brief, we had a great stay in Paris and caught as many of the sites as we all could squeeze into the stay. This of course, concludes the European leg of our tour.

Boarding the bus at our hotel to depart Paris.

We headed en masse to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to wave good by to our delightful and intrepid European Tour Courier – Marianne Swienink-Havard who guided us safely around Europe and treated us to wonderful commentary on the bus and helpful information along the way. We boarded our flight and arrived safely back in the Good Ole’ U-S-of-A at JFK airport late last evening. Today, the singers have a free day to rest readjust to the time zone (and apparently with snow on the way!), before we head to Lincoln Center tomorrow afternoon to prepare for our final performance of the Tour on Wednesday Evening.

Tonight, we look forward to being treated with a hosted party in New York for the Singers and several of the Board members of the LA Master Chorale. Check back tomorrow for pictures from our free day in New York.

Free Day in Paris

Bonjour, à partir de Paris!

Where to start with only one free day in Paris? The LAMC singers were greeted with the warmest weather of the tour so far, on our free day.  Temperatures moved up into the middle 50’s with a mixture of clouds and sun all day… and no rain!

The singers and guests headed out across nearly every Arrondissement (neighborhood) of the city. Highlights for many included taking the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower, others climbed the steps of the tower of Notre Dame. Many strolled through the gardens, the neighborhoods, the museums, and of course stopped to catch their breath, re-caffeinate, and soak in the Parisian street culture at curb-side cafés and restaurants.

Here is just a brief sampling of some of their highlights…. we’ll add more pictures as they come in!

Au Revoir!

Lucerne Recap

We had a wonderful stay in Lucerne, nestled between the lake and the snow-capped alps. The concert was incredibly well received by the Swiss audiences and the singers and all of the performers continue to ratchet up their performances, making some incredible art and breathing wonderful life into this new masterpiece of John Adams.

After our free day and rehearsal day, the LA Philharmonic sponsored a “little” gathering for the entire tour company – all of the LA Phil players, the Master Chorale and our wonderfully supportive tour patrons and Board Members. We were treated to a tasty swiss dinner of brats and all the trimmings… and a live combo band provided swiss music to add to the revelry.

The day after the performance, we did our last minute shopping for chocolate and watches, took a brisk stroll around the lake, and headed to Zurich to continue our journey on to the next performance in Paris…

Au Revoir!

Chorister Staging Rehearsal at the KKL

Yesterday morning, the singers had their first experience singing in the swanky KKL Auditorium – an interior awash in white and natural wood tones with pretty wonderful acoustics. Unfortunately, due to the huge size of the whole production and limited rehearsal time the Singers will perform the work from their version of the “Choral Benches” similar to our own Disney Hall. However, with creativity and flexibility, Peter Sellars, Grant and the Singers are able to pretty much replicate the entire staging that occurred on the flat stages of the Disney Hall and Barbican into the modified staging of the seats in the KKL.

Here are a few shots from that rehearsal in the KKL, courtesy to the KKL.  We are looking forward to the performance this evening!

 

 

Free Day in Lucerne! Bridges, Medieval Market Squares, Cheese and Chocolate!

On the morning of our free day a group of about 25 from the Chorale hired a guide to give the group a private tour of the inner city of Lucerne. We started at our hotel (which is practically next door to the KKL theatre) and explored the rich history, architecture, sights, sounds and tastes of this beautiful city.  The group walked through Medieval market squares (no surprise, the Wine Market was our favorite!) admired the hand-painted murals on the exteriors of the businesses – advertising their wares – jewelry, medicine and lodging. We crossed two of the oldest covered wooden foot bridges in Europe, and spied the turrets of the ancient Medieval Wall that has protected the city for many centuries. Here are a few shots from some of that adventure.

In front of the HofKirche

The Lion Monument

LAMC taking a guided tour or Lucerne

Inside the Jesuit Church

The old Water Tower in the middle of the River Reuss

The Chapel Bridge and Water Tower and a drizzly morning

Visiting the Richard Wagner Museum

After the tour, it was time to sample the local cuisine! Singers sought at fondue houses, a local microbrewery, and tried local favorite Swiss dishes like Raclette and Rosti – a cheesy-potatoey-pile-of-comfort-food-goodnesss…yum!

For some singers, a walking tour of town was just TOO tame, so several expeditionary forces headed out of the city for many day-trip excursions. One group headed to the top of the local snow-covered Alp – Mt. Pilatus. They ascended up the side of the mountain, through the clouds, via a cable car and were greeted at the top to Alpine temperatures.

Another group headed deeper into the Bernese Oberalander area of the Alps and explored the idyllic, and snow-covered Lauterbrunnen Valley – surrounded on each side by snow-crested alps.

Finally, another group fed their musicological curiosity with a visit to the Richard Wagner Museum.

London Recap!

 

Greetings from Lucerne… First of all, much apologies are in order for our lengthy delay in posting… we ran into a bit of technical difficulties our last day in London that prevented us from being able to upload any new posts. So, here is a bit of a catch-up!

The London performance at the Barbican (our European premiere of the work) was spectacular and received with resounding acclaim from the highly appreciative London Audience. During the performance, Gustavo, the principal performers, chorus and orchestra were fierce  and fearless – and rewarded with an enthusiastic ovation at the conclusion of the performance.

After the performance, the artists were welcomed to a post-conocert reception hosted by the Barbican Centre.

IN THE PRESS…

From The London Times…

“…The excellent Los Angeles Master Chorale not only sang from memory but added their own strikingly angular unison gestures.”

From The Guardian…

“If the urgent choral writing seems to derive directly from the turba choruses in the Bach passions, Adams injects them with an jagged, irresistible energy of his own, right from the opening moments of the work. They were superbly delivered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale”

Here’s a perspective from the stage of the opening night performance, from one of our altos, Kristen Toedtman

Saturday Night at the Barbican

Any performer will tell you stories about audience: the sort that give back, the sort that give nothing, the ones you think aren’t approving and then thunderously praise you at the end or even after. And every night is different (the Sunday afternoon crowd in Los Angeles loved us!). So as we embarked on this incredible journey, many of us wondered excitedly what differences we’d notice between the audiences of each city.

With the beautiful lighting design for this work, we can sometimes quite plainly see the faces of the audience and will later share notes backstage about their perceived reactions (and some fabulous outfits – that pink jacket and bowtie in the balcony last night won the prize by me!).

Adams’ Gospel is not for the faint of heart, and so reactions can be dramatic. My impression last night from the illumined front row faces at the beginning was amusement, the state of being entertained, going along for the ride. Two patrons walked out within minutes (that it was so soon is telling: this was not their thing). But those who stayed were committed. We saw the smallest increase in empty seats from Act I to Act II so far (perhaps only noticed because we were actively looking), and the applause at the end of the performance was a clear indication of their approval. Many curtain calls and great crescendos in applause when the soloists bowed, when Gustavo had the various instrumentalists take bows and yes, when Grant jumped on stage and pointed at the Chorale! The buzz later on was that everyone on stage turned it up a notch for a very electric and emotional performance.

And now… Lucerne!

-Kristen

Staging Rehearsal at the Barbican

After a restful day off to sightsee and aclimate… it was time to get back to work! Yesterday afternoon the Singers and Grant Gershon took the stage at the Barbican along with with Director Peter Sellars, our  fearless pianist Lisa Edwards and the principals to adapt the performance for the stage at the Barbican. Enjoy a few of these action shots from yesterday’s rehearsal.

This morning, the Choristers, soloists and dancers are joined by the full ranks of the LA Philharmonic and Music Director for a dress rehearsal run thru before presenting The Gospel According to the Other Mary premiere to UK audiences this evening at the Barbican.