I wonder how this piece ends?

Hi Everybody. Well, we're here now since 10 February and we've yet to finish the piece. I've been assured that it will be completely staged by tomorrow, so that makes me happy. I just want to get to the end so I know how it turns out!

Seriously, it is a bit frustrating to me staging in this way. We seem to be taking quite a long time to get it all put together. I'm not used to working like this. Normally, we would have been staged and ready to go with the orchestra rehearsals, but on the other hand, I rather like the opportunity to really delve into not only my character, but all the others as well. It's a real collaboration and the stage director is now trusting us more and welcoming suggestions.

I must say though, that we miss our conductor Jeremy, who is off doing something else, somewhere else. He returns next week for our orchestra rehearsals and I assume will stay with us until we open which is on the 16th of next month. One of the assistants has taken over the conducting duties in his place. Having said that, it can sometimes becomes difficult when there is a question regarding musical interpretation when the conductor is not present. No one can really make any concrete decisions so, we sort of do it our own way until he arrives and gives either his seal of approval, or doesn't and suggests his own interpretation. The frustration level can be rather high when one continues to rehearse in one way and then is asked to change an interpretation at a moments notice. Singers are creatures of habit so changing something is never an easy thing for us to do. Anyway, I know it will work out in the end...it always has and it always will.

So, here's a little preview of what to expect...

There will be quite a gruesome scene at the end of Act Two (our Act One as we do the first two acts together). In the finale, a massacre occurs and young children will appear to be shot and die in their parents' arms. This is an addition to the traditional Idomeneo, but in fact remains consistent with the concept of the Stage Director. It is an incredibly shocking scene, but trust me, it all turns out OK in the end. That part, I won't give away.

On the home front, tonight is the Gregory Kunde Chorale's repeat performance of Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem at 7:30 EST at Asbury Methodist Church on East Avenue in downtown Rochester. My assistant Malcolm Merriweather will conduct, Linda Wojciechowski (my wife) will be the soprano and Jan Opalach the baritone. Berri Garver and Gordon Porth will accompany the Chorale in Brahms' own arrangement for Piano Four-Hands.

In bocca al lupo to them.

More to come before the weekend.