h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yesterday was the final rehearsal for our big summer concert, which is tonight. We are having strange weather - it rained a lot yesterday and the rehearsal was moved to a sports hall, instead of the open-air venue that was originally planned.

So we met the orchestra for the first time, and also the male choir (20 of them) from Limburg who are augmenting our choir for the concert and also doing a few numbers themselves a capella.

Lots of lovely new people in the orchestra and such lovely lads! Lunch was provided during the break in the rehearsal, but back at the original venue - about 7 minutes walk. We were told to walk, not drive, to get our lunch, and that was a great idea, because we got to talk to the visitors on the way, sharing umbrellas and all!

We have yet to hear the young men's choir sing their pieces - that won't be till the concert tonight - but they certainly put pepper in our tenors and basses!

At one point in "Walpugisnacht" the men come in with a rallying shout, and they nearly knocked us off the podium. The conductor was impressed, but told them it needn't be quite as loud - "A yell for one-nil, not five-nil" she asked for. (The World Cup is still on, apparently, and I think Germany are still in it)

Such fun was had by all.

They have decided to stick to the original plan and hold the concert outdoors. Today has started tame and sunny, and although showers are forecast, I don't think they'll be enough to make it a washout. Anyway, it can't rain on an orchestra, can it?

Here's the info about the concert

http://www.kultursommer-ger.de/index.php?id=218

and here's the programme

http://www.kultursommer-ger.de/fileadmin/user/upload/kuso_2014/21KS_Chor.pdf

Well - see what happened in the thread I have called "disappointment". We didn't get to sing the "Walpurgisnacht" because of a sudden cloudburst. After half an hour people had started to go home - both the performers and the audience.

I forgot to mention a few individuals who were really noteworthy. The first clarinettist was an absolute dish. The second clarinettist, too, actually.

One of the double bass players looked liked Boris Johnson. I had a nice chat with him on the way to lunch.

The a capella group met all our expectations - the acoustics of the outdoor venue are extremely well suited to that sort of thing. They sang mainly folk songs and 19th century Lieder - mostly with a twist in the tale which made everyone laugh. They also sang a couple of Vaughn Williams arrangements and a wonderful song in Swedish.