We're still in Hamburg, but this is our final day and we return to England tomorrow.
Music is still much in evidence round the hotel with individual practice going on in hotel rooms but no complaints being registered to my knowledge. I pass a room where a flute can be heard ripping up and down scales at warp factor 9 and then going through a very quick technical solo piece. We've 2 concerts today one for underprivilaged and orphaned children and an evening Classical "Last Night Proms" Spectacular finale to our weekend.
We've made the morning papers here in Hamburg with a two page photo spread on our saturday and sunday performances along with an advert for tonights spectacular. This is a real city of culture and we feel really appreciated.
An unscheduled performance breaks out in the hotel bar at lunchtime when the piano there is "liberated". A Scott Joplin Piano Rag springs out and soon a large "combo" is going as instruments start appearing with twenties style music much to the delight of lunchtime eaters and drinkers. Even the hotel management come in and listen with broad smiles. A second piano stool is found and the resident pianist joins in so four hands on the piano, string bass, a hastily set up drum kit, trumpets, saxophones, clarinet a few trombones. No music is aparrant and it's a real jam session with everybody playing from memory!
The afternoon "kids" concert features many styles of light classical, easy listening and christmas music. The Opera house is full of children and foster families and the noise in the auditorium is almost deafing.
We need to start off with something loud, boisterous and fast to get their attention...... what else could it be at Christmas time..... Khatchaturian's Sabre Dance! A local radio show celebrity hosts the concert and soon Disney Favorites, well known light classical and Christmas favorites has them all singing along...... Rudolph the red nosed reindeer in German!.... The kids love it! After the interval to the music of "Sleigh Ride" Santa puts in an appearance and throws sweets from his sack all over the auditorium - mayhem ensues and it's hard for us not to laugh on stage! These are the concerts I love to do becaus you see the audience enjoying themselves and joining in and don't look bored to death wih and a false look of intent listening on their faces!
Our evening concert was a "Last Night of the Proms" concert with seasonal additions and went down a storm! lots of singing, flag waving whistles and "last night" behaviour. Great fun was had by all with the Orchestra and chorus returning from the interval wearing santa hats and silly reindeer antlers, instruments dressed in tinsel and decorated stands. It's amazing what a strand of tinseland some blu tack can do! The Trumpet section wore flashing santa hats and bow ties that lit up and revolved when they played the trumpet feature "Buglers Holiday" much to the delight and standing ovation from the audience.
my last words on stage.....
"Thank you ladies and gentlemen for some wonderful gigs and fantastic music. The locals seem to be pleased as we haven't had any kind of vegetable or fruit thrown. Please help the stage crew wit hthe clean up, the more hands the merrier and then, the brewery bar is open and awaits us!"
you have never seen a concert stage cleared as quick!
Tomorrow sees a return to the UK. I hope the aircraft is large enough for all the stuff that has been "aquired"
Snap