Hello everyone,
Wow - what an absolutely EPIC dress rehearsal!
Thanks to everybody for your patience, focus, care for the space, flexibility, and dedication.
Second dress rehearsal "on-site' is always pretty epic - this one was more epic than some, because we weren't able to cover everything we needed to cover in the first on-site dress.
You all really put forth a mighty and concerted effort, and that effort was well repaid.
Please continue to push ahead to claim the prize - rest tomorrow (Thursday), but don't let the motivation sag. Stay on it! Take care of yourself. Don't put vocal-fold-drying substances into your body (alcohol, tobacco, "herb"). Don't put mucus-forming substances into your body (milk, dairy). Drink a lot of plain tepid water or mix up a thermos of my special Singers Cocktail:
Hot water
Lemon juice
Honey
Yup, this is the hot toddy recipe, minus Jack Daniels ;-) You can complete it on your own time AFTER THE CONCERT ON SATURDAY ;-)
Pamper yourself tomorrow, as much as possible. Spend some time listening to the choral recordings of your pieces with and without the score. Get on the floor! Dance to it, move to it, conduct, sing it mentally as though you were singing ALL of the parts. Really dive into it head-first and let it soak into your heart.
"Dark Day" is for physical replenishment - NOT for mental laxity. Stay active, stay engaged, stay focused!
Also - remember this - WE CAN START EACH PIECE ONLY ONCE AT THE CONCERT. Instruct yourself to immediately get into the "set" you need to begin each piece. Instruct yourself to immediately switch moods/ "set" between pieces. This is part of the challenge of performing - to be able to do those important lightning switches between pieces. Each piece brings a world of its own. Keep training yourself to immediately "beam down" when it's time to begin.
If you're one of those who will be standing "facing the center" on the risers with your head turned to face Doc - PRACTICE THIS POSITION!!!! Practice standing and singing that way.
I am very proud of all of you, and I look forward to serving this delicious, nutritious musical feast on Friday and Saturday. Enjoy your success - you have earned it! Let the audience know that you love their presence and that you are determined to give them what they came for - delight, surprise, heart-felt emotions - something to feed the deep hunger that motivated them to buy a concert ticket and to make time for us ;-)
See you all on Friday. Stay focused - stay enthusiastic - stay positive - stay powerful!
In musical solidarity,
Lee
