Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Updates

Bella Musica has been invited to sing with the Berkeley Symphony Choral Festival in March. This invitation is somewhat more special than usual, as only 3 or 4 local choruses are being invited, the complete chorus is invited to appear (instead of just representatives from each group), and we’ll be asked to present one piece of our choice on our own. This is really quite an honor!

One of the large-group pieces will be the Brahms Schicksalslied, which we know well from last spring, and we would probably be able to use a selection from the Rachmaninoff for our "solo" work. The schedule will be:

Four Sunday evening rehearsals, Jan. 30, Feb. 6, Feb 13, and Feb 20.
Tutti rehearsal on Sunday, February 27
Dress rehearsal on Monday, February 28 at Zellerbach Hall
Concert on Wednesday, March 2, Zellerbach Hall

Practice CDs for Text. As mentioned last week, practice CDs for the Rachmaninoff text are freely available to anyone who would like them. If you fear your Church Slavonic may be rusty, please take a set! (Many thanks to Arlene, Jeff Nelson, and Hugh Caley for copying these CDs.)

Practice CDs for Music. Part-predominant practice CDs for the Rachmaninoff Vespers are available from http://www.choralone.com. CDs are $16, but if we can get a small discount for ordering multiple copies (the more we order, the better the deal). A sign-up sheet is available for those interested in obtaining a practice CD. I will put in an order for CDs before the end of this week so that we’ll have them as soon as possible. If you need a music practice CD, please sign up tonight!

Dress rehearsals. Since we will be practicing regularly at St. Mary Magdalen, we will be able to work out most technical issues well in advance of the concert date. For our concert at Arlington Community Church, we will have the dress rehearsal on Tuesday (at our normal rehearsal time, but at ACC instead). Extra sectionals may be arranged as necessary in the final days before the concert.

"Shameless Plugs"

♫ From Bellini to Boogie Woogie… Kensington soprano Marcelle Dronkers ("cacalatura", along with friends Aurora Bardes ("mezzanine") and Christine Macomber ("muttzo"), along with pianist Miles Graber ("Steinwegenegger") will perform at Arlington Community Church on Friday, October 1, at 8 pm. This very fun act promises "the best of Bel Canto and Can Belto." Tickets are $15 at the door. Call 843-7745 for further details.