The Orlando Philharmonic along with Mad Cow Theater is presenting “My Fair Lady” at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center (401 West Livingston Street). I went to a rehearsal of this limited staged production and was shocked at the care taken with the set. The whole living room section rolled forward towards the audience. I thought I was going to sketch back stage, but the whole orchestra was elevated making that a challenge. Instead I sat in the front row looking up at the action.
I loved this production it was funny endearing and the singing was great. The sound techs were still working out the kinks on the sound dials for the actors mics. This caused actors to occasionally go mute but I’m sure it will all be worked out by show time. Caroline Blice a french horn player came down to say hello during the intermission. She explained that every instrument in the orchestra had a separate mic.
I loved every second of this production. The performance features Michelle Knight as Eliza Doolittle and Philip Nolan as Henry Higgins. Performances are today at 2PM and 8PM. You will be sorry if you miss this production.
Philharmonic Concert
My wife had tickets to the Tribute to Leonard Bernstein concert at the Bob Carr performing arts center. We were seated back in row N. I felt quite claustrophobic, unable to move my arms without bumping the person seated next to me. Terry also acknowledged that these seats were a tighter fit than usual. I knew what to expect with the first half of the concert since I had sketched the rehearsal the night before. When the intermission rolled around I was glad for the chance to stretch my legs and arms. Terry lead the way up to the patrons lounge where people were lined up for champagne and wine. When we returned to the theater, we sat in the front row so I could do a quick sketch of this historic performance.
This was the last performance by conductor Andrew Lane at the Bob Carr. He was resigning from the Orlando Philharmonic which he had helped foster and grow for the last 17 years. For this reason the concert had a bitter sweet feel to it. When Andrew waved and walked off the stage it was for the last time. The orchestra and audience gave him a long standing ovation. Toasts were offered in his honor at the back stage gathering after the concert. There were plenty of rumors circulating about reasons for his departure, but the bottom line remains the same, Orlando has just lost a great conductor who helped inspire the orchestra to push themselves to new heights. I for one will miss him.
Philharmonic rehearsal
I went to the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center to watch a rehearsal for “A Tribute to Lenny” conducted by Andrew Lane. In the lounge there was a younger crowd than usual having sandwiches and drinks prior to the rehearsal. I thought I was going to an event that is usually attended by board members, where the board members are invited to sit on stage right next to the performers. I quickly made my way onstage. I was surprised to find none of the other patrons back stage. I got a chair but when I sat down, I couldn’t see over the whole orchestra. I decided I had to sketch standing up.
This concert was a tribute to Leonard Bernstein, with selections from Candide, On the Town, and West Side Story. I love the overture to Candide and it helped me relax as I blocked in the sketch.
Soprano Angela Mortellaro was standing right behind me as I worked. I started feeling self conscious thinking I might get kicked out of the wings when Union stage hands realized I was in the way. I even thought Angela might ask me what I was doing and ask me to leave. When she walked onstage to sing Glitter and be Gay from Candide, she turned to me and smiled as she walked by. I realized she had much more important things on her mind. Her performance was stunning she has a range that the music fully put to the test. The song left me felling joy and excitement mixed with a deep sadness.
As is typical in a rehearsal there were many stops and starts. The harp player didn’t play for the longest time. I had planned to sketch her playing but instead she sat through most of the rehearsal reading a magazine. I patiently waited to catch her performing and then I sketched frantically thinking she might stop before I finished. The same was true for the string players who would remove the instruments from their chins and hide it in their laps. I was just about finished with my sketch when half the program had been performed. The orchestra went on a break and I put down my final washes and packed up. I decided this sketch was enough for one night. I planned to see the concert the following evening with my wife.
Russian Masters – Rehearsal
After an Orlando Philharmonic Board meeting, board members and friends of the Philharmonic were invited to sit on stage during a rehearsal for a concert of Russian Masters on October 30th at 8 PM at the Bob Carr. Christopher Wilkins who has just signed a five year contract to conduct the Philharmonic, talked for a while about the concert and introduced the pianist for the evening, William Wolfram. Christopher explained that Shostakovitch’s Symphony No 5 in D minor is one of the iconic symphonies. The other piece to be performed was to be Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No 2 in C Major. When the Pianist William Wolfram was out of the room, Christopher explained that he and the pianist had worked together several times but this was the first time the pianist would have performed in Orlando. Chris also said that in the past the Pianist had played a practical joke on him and that tonight he hoped to play a practical joke in return. In the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto, Chris asked the whole orchestra to play their parts a quarter note higher than it is written in the sheet music. That way when the pianist, began to play his part, it would sound all wrong. The practical joke worked as planned. When William Wolfram began to play the piano part, the conductor had to stop everyone and he said to the pianist, “Well these things happen”. What was fun was that the rehearsal came to a screeching halt a second time before the pianist realized he was being toyed with. He and the conductor shook hands and had a good laugh as did the whole orchestra. The pianist then stood up and began jokingly walking off stage saying “Well goodnight everyone.”
There were 3 rehearsals for this concert. One rehearsal was canceled in order to save money. The Philharmonic is proud to have balanced it’s budget as of June 30th of 2009. Next year the Phil will be staging several partially staged operas to help keep opera alive as an art form and to nurture the community’s passion for opera. Carmen and Porgy and Bess will be staged with the orchestra being placed on the stage rather than hidden in the pit.
As the orchestra began to perform the Second Concerto, Christopher Wilkins interrupted and shouted out” You have to be more forceful. You have to punch it in the face!”
Philharmonic After Party
After the performance of the Orlando Philharmonic, Board members, donors and friends of the Philharmonic are allowed to go back stage for a meet and greet. Champagne is served along with fruit punch and deserts. Terry and I always attend these gatherings and since Terry is a true social butterfly, we are almost always the last to leave. This time I walked up two steps on the stairway to the dressing rooms to get a good overall view of the crowd. This sketch was certainly a challenge since people were constantly milling about and moving from group to group. I am pleased with the result since I can pick out individuals I know and it gives a good feeling of what this crowded event s like.
The time just flew by, and several children became curious and wanted to see what I was up to. The featured pianist Joyce Yang even wanted to see what I was up to so I got to talk to her, which I usually would not do since the featured performer is almost always surrounded by a crowd of admirers. This sketching at social events has turned out to be a great way to meet talented and interesting people.
Orlando Philharmonic Performance
Terry and I attended the concert that the Philharmonic had been rehearsing for. The concert was entitled “Mozart and Mendelssohn”. Joyce Yang was the featured performer and she played piano for the Mozart Piano Concerto number 24. For the first half of the concert we sat up in the balcony and when I got my sketchbook out I suddenly realized that I had forgotten to bring my eye glasses. The glasses allow me to see objects at a distance clearly. I let out a huge guttural scream and everyone in the audience turned to look. No that didn’t happen, I just resigned myself to my blindness. Looking at the stage I could barely make out dark and light blurry shapes. When the house lights dimmed I also could not see the sketchbook. I put the book away and closed my eyes and enjoyed the music instead.
When intermission came, Terry and I moved down to the front row. We had the front row entirely to ourselves. For whatever reason people do not sit that close. From this vantage point I could see all the performers and the stage lighting allowed me to see what I was drawing.
The Orlando Philharmonic
The Philharmonic offered the Board of Directors a chance to experience the music up close and personal. After a small sit down dinner in the atrium of the theater, Christopher Wilkins, the conductor, explained that in these hard economic times the Orchestra has had to cut back on the number of performances but the organization still stands on solid ground. He said the Orchestra is starting to reach out and involve the community in new and creative ways.
The Orchestra had to rehearse for the final performance of the season. The members of the Board were offered a chance to sit next to their favorite instrument. A Magic game was also going on that night and Christopher said “The Magic never offers it’s fans the chance to go right down to the court and experience the game next to the players.”
Since my wife plays French Horn, I decided to sketch the brass players. I was sitting right in front of the Timpani drums and a Cello player suggested I get some ear plugs from stage right, which I did. The orchestra rehearsed Dances of Galanta by Kodaly. There were many stops and starts but I must say it was exhilarating! Sitting among the players surrounds you with sound in a way even the best stereo can not duplicate. The Timpani was indeed very loud but I didn’t want to dull the experience by using the ear plugs. I have known many of the players for years so sketching them came second hand. I hope Christopher Wilkins will consider letting me sketch during rehearsals more often because this is a great subject to observe and draw.
Sweeney Todd
The Orlando Philharmonic and Mad Cow Theater joined forces to bring Sweeney Todd to the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. Davis Gaines performed the title roll and Faith Prince performed as, Mrs. Lovett. This production far exceeded my expectations. Gaines voice resonated with loathing and impatience. Faith also had a magnificent performance. Having seem Tim Burton’s movie last year, in which a girl with a thin mouse of a voice sang as her window, I cringed at the thought of listening to Christina’s song again. However, Shelly Cooper performed with a warmth that mesmerized. The whole cast deserved the standing ovation that they got. The hall was as full as I have ever seem it.
I quickly sketched the stage before the play started and when the lights went down, I had to stop since I could no longer see the sketchbook. I tried lifting the book off my lap up to my chest to catch some ambient light off the stage, but the man seated in front of me was tall and had a huge head. His head eclipsed all available light. The lady seated beside me seemed amused with my contortions. During intermission she asked “Are you a stage designer?” I replied “No I am a blogger”. She pulled out her iPhone to show me the picture she had taken of the stage. Although I might complain, I prefer the challenge and personal view point of a sketch. Besides before the play starts they always announce that there is to be no photography. They never say no sketching.
Fat Tuesday
David, the executive director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, hosted a Fat Tuesday party at his home. The Friends of the Philharmonic and members of the Board of Directors were in attendance. David decorated his home by perching glittery bowler hats in unexpected places and hanging beads from chandeliers and furniture. David barbecued a huge slab of brisket and guests each bought a side dish. While doing the sketch I met a woman who worked as one of three graphic designers for Tupperware many years ago. Today she says Tupperware employs 35 graphic designers. This is one good thing about sketching at a party, people interested in art will introduce themselves to you. The sketch was started after dinner. When I began the room was packed. However in Orlando guests do not tend to linger at a party, they want to rush home. The fellow in the black pin striped suit was in costume as a gangster, his wife had a wonderful flapper outfit on but she never entered the room while I sketched.