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GUEST BLOG: ASO Chorus met with resounding approval
Chorus member Kathleen V. Poe gives a first-hand look at the ASO's trip to Germany
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday night’s performance in Berlin started at 8 p.m. on the dot. There’s generally no accommodation for latecomers at the Philharmonie — probably because they don’t have a downtown connector to contend with.
Once the chorus took the stage, even before the orchestra tuned, the audience broke out in welcoming applause. This sort of anticipatory energy and first-night excitement carried the evening.
While our recent shows in Atlanta included an instrumental piece as a first half, the performances here are all-Berlioz: just the one work, without intermission. It’s a big sing, as we say, and a demanding piece for an audience, too, at nearly an hour and twenty minutes long.
Still, we could sense that they stayed with us for the duration. When the maestro gave the final cutoff, nearly 10 seconds of silence elapsed before he lowered his arms and a roar erupted from the packed house.
Cobb County teachers in the chorus at the reception with Donald Runnicles (back row, center) and Norman Mackenzie (far right).
(Another thing I’ve noticed about European audiences through my travels: Standing ovations are rarities here. While Americans predictably leap to their feet when a curtain goes down, Germans will clap for an eternity — from their seats — to show their appreciation.)
Maestro Runnicles, Joe Kaiser and Norman Mackenzie were called back to the stage three or four times before the audience started to trickle out. The chorus waited until the Philharmonic musicians left the stage to head backstage, nearly 10 applause-filled minutes after the piece ended. As we left, another hearty round of cheers and clapping began, bringing Donald and Norman back onstage.
At the after-party in the lobby, we celebrated a successful first performance with the orchestra, our patrons, sponsors, friends and family — and lots of Champagne. Those who addressed the crowd kept their speeches short. Ben Johnson, incoming chairman of the ASO board said that, as an Atlantan, he’d never had a prouder night; Maestro Runnicles mentioned that all good things come in threes (hint, hint) and wrapped up his thoughts by telling the chorus, “You rock!”
So it’s one down, two to go in Berlin for the ASOC — and I think the best is yet to come.
Comments
By Peter Stelling
May 16, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Word has been received from Berlin through official channels that the contrast in sound between the Philharmonie and Atlanta’s Symphony Hall cannot be described. Everything there is clarity and brilliance. If you look at the photo, the exterior of the Berlin Hall is nothing to shout about. Who cares?
Has anyone dared suggest that the fantasy design of Calatrava with the flapping wings be scrapped in favor of a building that focusses on the acoustics of the interior space, which could be built for HALF the price? If the cost of building it made more sense, perhaps more donors would step up to the plate. LET’S GET ON WITH IT! WE NEED OUR NEW HALL SOONER RATHER THAN LATER!
By Edgar Allan Poe
May 16, 2008 11:04 PM | Link to this
“Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly, Though its answer little meaning - little relevancy bore; For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being Ever yet was blessed with bird above his chamber door - Bird or beast above the sculptured bust above his chamber door, With such name as ‘Nevermore.’
Scrap the wings!
By Edward O'Meara
May 17, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this
Congratulations, you all do “Rock”. We’re all proud of you guys - and, very nice to see Jay in the picture posted!
By Chris
May 17, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
We are so proud of our ASO Chorus! Thank you for representing our city, our state, our nation, and the art of choral music in such an exemplary manner. You are simply the very finest “amateur” chorus in the world!
By Solsberry
May 18, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Rock on, ASOC. I am very glad to see you were able to once again go to Berlin. I was in the chorus for the War Requiem, and it remains one of the highlights of my life.
I agree with the comments above. The Woodruff has served us well, but don’t you think it would be a better idea to worry less about pretentious outside asthetics and build a new, cheaper, affordable hall with great acoustics?