classical tahoe finale

The Tahoe Symphony wasn’t perfect, though they were all musical “all stars” as the long-winded introductory speaker said. A program coordinator muttered something that sounded like “too long” under their breath while we waited in the wings for our ticketing situation to get sorted. It was fun watching these intros from stage left, still under the trees; not the usual spot to see it. Then we walked across the front of the stage to our seats like we meant to do it that way all along. The errors really kicked off once the program began. There was the moment that the cellist’s sheet music fell after she turned it, because of a puff of wind from the side. Then the double-bass soloist had to get down off the barstool, lay the instrument on its side, and bend down in her evening gown to adjust the length of the endpin during a lull of the Nino Rota piece, right in the front and middle of the whole orchestra. We remained in our seats during the intermission, not wanting to risk any more improperly timed tours of the front of the stage. The violinist adjusted her music stand up about a half inch during the first movement of Beethoven’s 7th. And there was the first chair dog barker, running late, still somewhere off stage and outside the tent, who performed their one note off time during the second movement. Even here, on Lake Tahoe, there were still things that could be found to be imperfect, if you got out your microscope. The sunset was a nice touch, though. My hat’s off to whomever put in the order for that one.

jg

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