Good morning, all! I am very groggy, on my first cup of coffee, and wishing I had got to bed a bit earlier than I did. BK, I understand your frustration about Monday; this final vacation period has me sitting about wondering why no one's responding to my questions about the upcoming schedule, and putting things together is a mess. The recording begins the 18th and I'm thinking that juggling 14 singers, two ensembles, one cellist, an often unresponsive MD, and a recording crew is a nightmare. Last night, I got an email from the cellist saying "maybe these two pieces are unpublished because they're lousy?" While I value his opinion and his brilliant playing, my initial question is, does the performer decide the music stinks or do we record it and let posterity decide? Since I haven't heard the music in its final form I have no opinion, except to say thanks for not inviting me to the rehearsal where you and the MD - who's said nothing to me about the issue - went through the new music.
I may have to make some casting adjustments on the recording, which is why Anthony is coming in to sing on Monday, and I've been trying to contact a friend about singing for the MD for the past three days, and this morning I finally heard from him: he's in the California mountains with his son and back on Monday. If neither seems right for the material, I've got a third person up my sleeve.
Then, at 10:30 last night, one of my singers from the Met called to ask about changing times, and that meant moving (3 times) the ladies ensemble backing her up on one of the numbers and I'm still waiting from one of the tenors about changing the date of her other session. Oy! All last night. The schedule I have sent out in June as "Final? Recording Schedule" went out later as "Final 7-19 Schedule," and on Sunday I sent another to everyone as "Revised 7-19 Schedule." How many more? About 11:30 I went to bed.
So, this morning, the McGlinnvntory; I need to check some questions on a couple of full scores, note the publisher on all miniature scores for sale, and stasrt pricing items. At 1, I meet Charlotte to see the comedy "The Other Guys." On Saturday morning, my senior returbns to Michigan for her last year.
DR Ben, I'm with you on Mehlman, and to him I say, rot in hell, asshole!
TOD:
Richard Lester
Ken Russell
John Schlesinger
