Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry, for she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon and I shall have to beat a hasty retreat. Sometimes one simply has to beat a hasty retreat because the hasty retreat is so annoying. I don’t really beat the hasty retreat, we just do a pretend beating, but it’s ever so much fun. What the HELL am I talking about? Yesterday was a very nice day. I got up, I did a little organizing in terms of redoing lyrics. I listened to some upcoming Kritzerland projects, trying to figure out which will come when and also when will come which. Then I had a sandwich and fries, after which I picked something up from the framers, picked up a package and no important envelope, and then came back home. I cleaned up some stuff around the home environment and then our rehearsals began.
Our MD was more prepared but still a little behind, so we went over a lot of stuff and he just needs to do a little homework. If one hasn’t done this gig before, it’s sometimes probably surprising how hands on I am in terms of tempo, arrangement, feel, and everything else. In other words, you can’t just come in and fake anything. But by the end of the day, everything was sounding as it should – I especially had to work on song dynamics and once said dynamics were observed then everything sounded much better. Rehearsal two is when I do a little work on the performances – I never have to say much because I’m working with singers who really understand the nature of what we’re doing and what I want. So, it’s just a word here and there to color a lyric or vary the intention – that sort of thing. First up was David Burnham, and he’s just so wonderful to work with. Then he was joined by Kim Huber and they did their duet. That was one of the songs I really had to work with the MD on to get it to sound romantic and gentle and magical. Then Kim did her two solos and she’s just so much fun and is a terrific actress as well as singer. Then we had Juliana – she’s still very under the weather but getting stronger. If she’s still shaky on Monday, she’ll go get her throat swabbed and a shot. So, she marked her numbers, but she knows just what to do with them. Then she was joined by Ben Platt and they did their two duets. Then Ben did his solo and we worked on that a little bit. After that it was Alet, and what can I say about Alet that I haven’t already said a gazillion times? She’s just an amazing person and brilliant singer, and she really understands how to take any kind of note I throw at her and make it her own and pure magic. Her Hushabye Mountain is exquisite, as are her other two solos. Then the delightfully delightful Melody Hollis and her mum arrived and she ran her long medley of crazy Sherman words. There was one transition that was driving me crazy and I just wouldn’t stop until we finally got it right. This kid is fantastic, that’s all I can tell you. So self-assured and such talent. She’s my new best friend. She’s halfway through Murder at Hollywood High and in true Adriana Hofstetter fashion, she was wearing madras Bermuda shorts.
After rehearsal, I had another sandwich and some drumettes at the Studio Café. However, starting today it’s back to one meal a day for the next three weeks, and back to jogging and eating a reasonable amount of calories so I can lose this fifteen pounds I’ve gained.
Then I came home and just relaxed, sat in the Jacuzzi, and that was that. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get my beauty sleep.
Today, the interim helper will pick up the new CD invoices so she can start doing the labels and postage for them. We also have a bunch of stuff to ship out and I have an obscene number of bills to pay – yet again. Then I’m lunching with La Graae at Hugo’s – I haven’t been to Hugo’s in three weeks, which is very unusual. I’ll try to eat a lighter meal than usual. Then I plan to catch up on a little Blu and Ray watching.
Tomorrow, my lunch is off, so I’ll just do some liner notes and some redoing of lyrics, which I really have to finish by tomorrow night. Monday I have a rehearsal with Linda Purl and Greg Harrison. And then it’s more rehearsals with them, the Gardenia show, and all that stuff. In other words, a very busy week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, ship CDs, have lunch, do a jog, and watch motion pictures. Today’s topic of discussion: If someone said to you, “Please recommend to me one piece of 20th century classical music” which piece would it be and why would you recommend it? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland before I have to get up and beat a hasty retreat, and I hope the hasty retreat doesn’t beat me in return.