Got to bed about 8am, up again at 1pm for a 2.30pm rehearsal.
Went downstairs to the bar and ordered a schnapps and a beer. when asked about the drink all I replied was "lunch!"
Today is a special day. We're performing Handel's Messiah live on a couple of floating platforms in the harbour and the afternoon will be spent getting ready, sound checks and topping and tailing the score. The soloists were "volunteered" by the Hamburg State Opera and lots more volunteers have comforward to perfom with the chorus. There are so many that our chorus and the Hamburg State opera chorus will be on the platforms along with both our orchestra and the Opera state Orchestra. 2 Orchestras and chorus' on a couple of floating platforms in Hamburg harbour. Safety is a paramount issue for this and I ban alcohol totally just to be on the safe side. There will be police and coastguard rescue launches, rescue divers and a rescue helo on standby not far away from us on a closed off car park. the Harbour by the Landingsbrucken will be full of watches and chorus participents with TV monitors for my direction for the onshore chorus.
I give our bunch a full safety briefing on what to do if they do fall in as the river is very cold. I don't expect them to wear concert dress but I do expect them to dress warmly and stay sober and no mucking about or practical jokes. this is where I make it serious by telling them that anybody who falls in, or causes someone to fall in by design or accident will be required to buy the entire rescue crews and the helo crew a drink of whatever they want! I know the brass section and this alarms them so much that dirty games are suspended because they know I will catchen and it will cost them lots of money.... problem solved!
It takes an hour to get everybody settled on the platforms and scores given out to the assembled shore chorus. Sound tests and balancing take another hour to which I use it to go through the score with 2 orchestras, 2 chorus' and about 6 000 on shore singers. During this time I understand that we were broadcast live over the radio as we will be tonight. As a final test and trest to those already watching us from moored boats and on shore I go through the Halleuja Chorus complete and the sound is fantastic! over 6000 voices and 2 orchestras in full flow. Cheering and applause greet us when we finish and we ajourn to meet up for the concert.
Hot soup, hot drinks and an early dinner is served back at the hotel which is welcomed by alot of cold people. Other guests in the hotel have now heard that were are performing live at the harbour, space is at a premium and they are dashing out through the main entrance muffled up to the eyebrows to get a good place! after eating and drinking we reboard the coaches and a procession of coaches with performers of 2 groups and a police escort go back to the harbour and get ready to perform. The harbour is packed with expectant people. It looks like the entire of Hamburg has collected on the side of the river.
The broadcast begins. The concert starts on time and the first notes of the overture float out over the harbour. the place is crammed full. The waterbus service is halted, all river traffic is stopped every river and seagoing abomination is round. the river police are out in force and as the Overture is played it seems that the entire harbour has grown still and listens to the music. The 2 platforms are floodlit with anatmospheric blue light, puncuated by the white lights on the music stands of the Orchestra. Small white stand lights are provided for the chorus' on the platform and it looks like stars.
What a performance. The entire of the harbour holds it's breath untill the final note and then errups in a huge sound of cheering, clapping and horn sounding from all the ships, boats, yachts around. the sound is amazing. 2 huge cruise liners wait to go out into the North Sea with their passengers blast away with their horns and their decks are filled with the cruise passengers who have enjoyed an unexpected and free performance.
After this we go to the Rathouse to be greeted by the mayor for an official reception. and it's late when we all stagger into the hotel.
I'm tired so it's bedtime for me
Snap