The Opera

One of the reasons I've been a little panicked about June is that I'm playing for the UNLV opera this week. It was a very last minute. The other harpist called me on Friday morning last week. The music was too difficult for her or she didn't want to spend the time (I'm not really sure, but after one rehearsal she backed out). She could get me the music that day, but the performances were starting in one week!

At first I said that it was too short of notice. Then I talked to my mom and decided to accept. When people ask you to sub, you've got to say yes or the calls will stop coming, at least when you're first starting out somewhere. It would actually be a good week to be busy since my parents are coming out and they could help watch the girls.

So, I got the music Friday. First rehearsal was Sunday from 2-5, then Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 7-10pm, and the performances are this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

I was so worried when I first got the music that I felt sick to my stomach for the rest of the day. Then, after getting some encouraging support from other harp friends, I tackled it. It's a daunting harp part and everyone knows how I am so terrible at orchestra and worse at opera playing. The opera is Richard Strauss's Ariadne Auf Naxos and I'm happy to say that it is hilarious and a very fun opera.

Since I really bombed so bad playing La Boheme at BYU and since they were paying me now for this gig, I really wanted to improve. Now, some of the things I did might seem elementary to the regular orchestral player (Liz), but for me they made a huge difference. I think I've written before that my harp teacher didn't really see a future for being an orchestral harpist so we rarely had help from her in learning to read a score or mark a harp part. This time, I downloaded the opera from itunes and started listening to it a lot. Then, the former harpist had checked out the complete score and lent it to me. What a difference!!! It's amazing to listen to the music and watch the score and then watch my music as well. Instead of counting 100 measures, I can see what's going on and I don't become totally bored or panicked when I loose count. Thankfully, my harp part was extremely well-marked up, too. In fact, every spot where the harp is prominent, there are large, underlined letters marking SOLO!!! at the beginning of the phrase. Can I tell you how helpful that has been? I knew in the beginning to focus on those parts just learning the notes, then playing with the recording and knowing when to come in.

I've been to two rehearsals so far and they've both been positive! I'm definitely not perfect, but they've both been better than any opera rehearsal I had at BYU. I feel so much more confident. Maybe the music is easier. I know for sure that this conductor is very clear to follow and does a great job, so that has helped. Maybe I'm just older and more mature. At BYU, I had so many other priorities and playing for the opera was the bottom of my list. Rehearsals would make me sick and nauseated, but I wasn't fixing the problem during my own practice hours.  The fat lady hasn't sung yet, so things could get miserable. The conductor is pretty ornery, but he's been giving me wide berth since I was such a last minute replacement. He might come down hard on me one of these days.

I do have to comment that being with orchestra nerds just takes me back. They really do transcend all boundaries. I saw one of the double bass players. He has nasty, long, frizzy hair and a patchy beard. He was wearing some holey t-shirt. He walked past me and I thought, "Now, that is a bass player. I bet he probably has a German bow." Then I immediately thought, "Come on now, that's ridiculous." (There are two types of bows for the bass, German and French and they require different hand holds.) But, then we got in the pit and started playing and guess what, he had a German bow! I started laughing out loud. Of course, no one probably got this last paragraph except super Bassist Liz, but still, it made me laugh. I don't know why I always equate the German bow with exceptionally weird bassists.

I'm really enjoying the chance to get out and play. It's also been good for me to leave the children with Ryan. I think I'm probably a control freak with them. They have both been so attached to me that it's difficult for me to ever leave. Now that I go and see them happy when I get home, it is making it easier. I also think it might help wean June from help bedtime feeding since I won't be home to administer it for the next few days. I've been trying to stuff her throughout the day. I keep giving her food as she crawls around and being less picky about how much cheese or crackers she has eaten that day. Sometimes she surprises me with how much she can still put away after I thought she was full!