… go ye unto London, to the house of God called St John’s in Smith Square nigh unto Westminster, and there play ye Mendelssohn’s Elijah on one rehearsal at 48 hours’ notice.
Well, in fairness I did apply to play. But having been put on the reserve list and then told in a round-robin that it didn’t look like us reservists would be needed, it was quite a surprise to get re-hired by text message on Thursday evening. As a result of apparently not being needed, I hadn’t prepared (there were lots of other things around to take up my attention, of which more anon) and so there will definitely be sight-reading going on tomorrow. Possibly, since I’m not sure we have enough rehearsal time to play everything even once, sight-reading in the concert. Well, with life like that to keep my heart rate up, who needs caffeine? … ?
So if you’re near central London Saturday evening, come along! There’ll be a chorus of up to 270 and professional soloists and section leaders from the Philharmonia and it’s raising money for the Three Choirs Festival and everything. And amidst 300+ musicians I don’t think you’ll be able to notice my mistakes from the very back of the violas. I’m very good at only making them in the loud bits now. … …
And there slew they the goats.