NewsHour on Handel, Messiah, and the Market

Here's an interesting article on Handel, the Investor.

Great Messiah - plus food for thought!

Thanks and congratulations to SCNO singers for your fine work with Messiah. The week left me with renewed joy and confidence in our possibilities for the rest of the season and future years!

Check out this article on the choral scene in Washington D.C. Interesting to compare the assessment of available singers, audience, and money with our situation in New Orleans...

Artistic Note and Hammond Dining Recommendations

First the artistic note: in His Yoke is Easy - where we have been asked to insert the eighth rest between "his burthen" and "is light" many of us are rushing - coming in too soon with "is light" after (or, actually,) during the rest. Make sure there are eight eighth notes in every bar (even with the added rest). It would not be a problem if we just sang what Handel wrote, but we must do what we have been asked accurately AND expressively.

Now, the important stuff:

If you are going up early to eat, or looking for someplace to go after the concert in Hammond (I think these would still be open at least until 10), here are two personal favorites:
They are within half a mile of each other, basically on or just off Highway 51.

Cate Street Seafood Station has San Francisco quality sushi at Hammond prices. Best sushi I have ever had (with the exception of an event hosted by the Japanese consulate, but that's another story...) Ask for the cowboy roll (not on the menu, but they'll make it if you ask). For casual surroundings and GREAT food, this place is the bomb. I sometimes drive to Hammond just to eat here (plus my friend Keith Davis, the luthier [look it up] lives and works here).

Cate Street Seafood Station
maps.google.com

308 South Cate Street
Hammond, LA 70403-4224
(985) 340-3891

If you are into TexMex, this is pretty good ... like Superior Grill on St. Charles

La Carreta: Historic Downtown Hammond‎
7 reviews - more info »
108 Northwest Railroad Avenue
Hammond, LA 70401
(985) 419-9990
carretarestaurant.com‎

MESSIAH SCHEDULE CHANGE!!!

Due to the inclement weather on Saturday, the LPO cancelled and has rescheduled their Classics Concert for Monday evening. Due to other contractual obligations, this means that the orchestra cannot rehearse Messiah on Tuesday evening.

What this means for us is:

The Monday (12/14) Piano Rehearsal at Loyola is CANCELLED (enjoy your free evening! Since you have nothing better scheduled, consider reviewing your music...)

On Tuesday, December 15 we will have a piano rehearsal at the First Baptist Church in New Orleans from 7 - 10 PM. (This is NOT a change in schedule - merely a change in the nature and function of the rehearsal. Be there by 6:45 ready to sing your asses off!)

Wednesday's Orchestra rehearsal will take place as scheduled at the FBCNO from 7-10 PM.

There are no changes to the performance schedule on Thursday and Friday.

The gift of Monday night off is an expression of confidence in the chorus by conductor Rebecca Driver, the LPO staff and players - AND by SCNO board and staff. Let's make sure we live up to this professional and collegial response to force majeur by delivering a great artistic product - with a positive attitude towards conductor and orchestra, and a public demeanor that turns out an enthusiastic audience for our concerts!

2010 Grammy nominees

Best Choral Performance
The Sixteen (Handel Coronation Anthems)
San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Pacific Boychoir, SF Girls Chorus (Mahler's 8th)
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir, Warsaw Boys' Choir (Penderecki, Utrenja)
Voices of Ascension (Song of the Stars)
Gabrieli Consort (A Spotless Rose)

All of the Best Classical Album nominees contain chorus, though sometimes in a minor role:
Morgan State University Choir, Peabody Children's Chorus (Bernstein's Mass)
SF Symphony Chorus, Pacific Boychoir, SF Girls Chorus (Mahler's 8th)
Tanglewood Festival Chorus (Ravel, Daphnis & Chloe)
Chicago Symphony Chorus, Chattanooga Boys Choir (Ravel, L'Enfant et les Sortilèges)
Chorus of the Mariinsky Theatre (Shostakovich, The Nose)

Two of the five Best Small Ensemble Performance nominees are choirs:
Tallis Scholars (Josquin, Missa Malheur Me Bat)
Theatre of Voices (David Lang's Little Match Girl Passion)

There are a sprinkling of choirs in other categories:
Conspirare (Best Classical Crossover Album)
Atlanta Symphony Chorus (Best Surround Sound Album)
London Symphony Chorus (Best Engineered Album)
Tanglewood Festival Chorus (Best Engineered Album)

And a couple of choral works were nominated for Best Classical Contemporary Composition:
Arvo Pärt, In Principio (Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir)
Roberto SIerra, Missa Latina 'Pro pace' (Milwaukee Symphony Chorus)


More: http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/52nd_show/list...

This week's rehearsal (and next) REVISED

At tonight's rehearsal (Dec. 1) we will sing all of the Messiah choruses. I will focus extra time on those we have sung the least: For Unto Us, His Yoke, and His Yoke. These are the "duet" choruses with all the sixteenth notes. Bring your lean, mean, ready-to-speed, voices tonight. I do hope for a good turnout, despite the rain...

I just emailed Rebecca and she will most likely come to some or all of next week's rehearsal on Tuesday, Dec. 8th.

You should be spending some time EACH DAY in individual work to get ready to sing this annual treat at the level the LPO and our audiences have come to expect from us over the last 25+ years!