WMV Music Web Log

From the report I wrote to Betty Hauck after the Ratner concert on March 2:

"The concert on Tuesday night (the one you were supposed to play with us!) was pretty nuts. Remember, the NSO was on tour until March 1, so we had scheduled the one real rehearsal for that day (I guess they got back the night before). Well, the cellist forgot (!) about it. So this rather ambitious program (Schubert Bb, Mozart E, and Brahms B trios) got one reading in early February and a partial run through at 5:00 pm for a 7:30 concert - no real rehearsal. It was a sell-out crowd, 95 people. In the middle of the first movement of the Schubert, the power went out and the fire alarm went on. We stopped, Phil Ratner found some flashlights and silenced the alarm, and we continued with the Schubert with audience members holding flashlights. Two hook and ladders showed up to answer the fire alarm during the Scherzo. I think the power went back on just before intermission. Sheesh. (The same thing happened the time that Yehudi Wyner came down, only that time it lasted longer, and we played by candlelight). I feel a little like I'm playing in Iraq, although so far no one has gotten shot. Oh, one other detail: a woman in the audience told Marilyn that it was one of the greatest musical experiences of her life!"

Email responses to the concert:
Judy Stafford: "Well, you guys really know how to pull out all the stops. First the flashing light and whistle show, then dramatic darkness, then waiting with baited breath as the fire truck pulled up, all the time expecting to see guys marching in with hoses and hatchets. What's this? Oh, only another big night with the Banners. Ho hum. Seriously it was a wonderful evening, the music was gorgeous, and I'm sure a good time was had by all. Thank you so much."

Bill Peters: "Linda and I raved about your concert at the Ratner last night. We thought proceeding with the Schubert Trio with flashlights was truly intrepid. That trio is BIG in almost every sense. And while Mozart didn't give the cello a lot to do in his trio, but by the time you got to Brahms, David was working hard."

One audience member reported that when the power went out in the middle of the Schubert, it was like someone walking in while you were having sex.

The most remarkable response, however, was the receipt of a $1500 check the next day from the woman who said that it was one of the greatest musical experiences of her life!

I'm still recovering, but hard at work on the next EVOLUTIONS concert at St. Columba's. The postcards went out yesterday, email announcement to follow. Gloria Long says she heard us on the radio, but I know nothing about it.