Hello Everyone, Monday, April 24th, 2023:
I thought it would be appropriate and essential for me to explain my thinking regarding solos for our first RIV concert in 4 years. Count them FOUR! Back then the music performances had medleys that were interrupted by solos from the medley show. In this way we were able to add 4-6 EXTRA solos per performance much to our audience’s pleasure, and ours as well. We found out that practice was illegal. So…………..we had to change! And to have solos sung by our many glorious singers, I cut many pieces from each of our four medleys.
Fast forward to 2023, and we’re finally, FINALLY, back at the RIV, the scene of unbelievably wonderful afternoon concerts and performances by you, the very singers who bring such joy to our audiences. For those of you who are new to us in these last 4 years, the RIV is THE favorite concert of our followers, with our Christmas concerts coming in 2nd.
I want to share with you how this RIV concert is constructed. As you consider these insights, remember that the bathroom situation at the RIV is extremely inadequate. If we have an intermission, we know through past practices that a normal 15-minute intermission becomes 30 minutes because of the lack of facilities. This may sound like it is well worth it, but it adds a great deal more expenses to our budget for our rental of the hall and to the payment of our union instrumentalists. A mere 30 minutes of overtime adds a whole other rehearsal.
All the above is to explain why for us to add more than 1 or 2 solos outside of the medleys, I will have to cut 10-15 minutes from the medleys. Fact: I received several emails that singers were not happy to have cut some of the music from the medleys. Ex: Dancing Queen.
Presently our concert consists of 62 minutes of music + 1 duet (of my choosing) equaling 67 minutes of music. Given applause, some narration, we will most assuredly be hitting 75-77 minutes. So, if we want solos outside of the medleys, I will have to accommodate that time by doing some surgery of the medleys.
BUT: I encourage any of you who want to sing what we refer to as ‘standalone’ solos to audition on them. Please know however, that I will do everything in my power to accommodate as many auditioners as possible, even if it means more than one on a solo part, splitting up solos, etc.
I hope this helps you understand what makes up and goes into the musical ingredients of this concert. I will be hearing anyone who wants to sing a solo (of any sort) beginning May 3 and 10 after our normal rehearsal. And to make sure we get our choral work in; it would help if you all really worked on your music. We will all ensure that the time we spend will be used effectively. I’m the worst offender. My banter will be limited. I can’t swear that my stories will get better, but they will be shorter.
See you Wednesday where I’ll tell you where all the solos in the medleys ‘might’ be.
M