Very recently, I have been giving my services as an accompanist to an opera company in the south of the country. As one of Repetiteurs, It was my job to help the soloists and singers to learn their parts, help memory, practice with accompaniment and in general, be on call for whatever came up musically. Despite the 11 hour days, it has been an absolute thrill to be working with an outstanding orchestra and beautifully voiced singers. Every day for three weeks I trudged my way to rehearsals, to be bombarded with 19th Century Opera, drinking coffee regularly to keep my eyelids from clamping themselves shut.
Staying in the cathedral city where it was being held, meant that on weekends, we the instrumentalists and the cast, could wander freely. So on my first Saturday in the city, I met up with an old friend from years ago. We walked and talked, reminiscing about old times, talking about all the mutual acquaintances we had. We had lunch, and then proceeded to the cathedral. To say the cathedral was beautiful would be an understatement. With a soaring roof, and equally long nave, the ancient stones remain a temple to God's holy work. The organ was resplendent, and when one of the scholars started practising, the entire building rang and reverberated by the bold and powerful chords of the music and the organ. Me and my old friend wandered under soaring buttresses and vaulted ceiling and stained glass as old as the cathedral itself. We slowly wandered out the building again, to leave the many strains of music still filling the cathedral.
After we had parted, it struck me how much we need friends in our lives, not only to share our problems and old memories, but to have someone there who can just be there. Due to this gut feeling, we resolved to meet again in the next couple of weeks, in between my long hours at the opera. Later this week, shows begin, and I can only imagine how tired and exhausted I will be after the many rehearsals and show times. It is all part of a musician's life, and I am no different to the next person. As they say, the show must go on!
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