In the orchestra where I work, practicing prior to rehearsal and at intermission is common. I can't speak for my colleagues, but passages on the week's program (or upcoming ones...) feel differently played in our hall than at home. The hall, the temperature is usually correct, whereas at my home (at least) it may only be 60 f.
Also - loud passages 'back up' on one in a small room filled with carpet, chairs, and such. Playing them out in the actual hall is a sort of 'final analysis' I find crucial to entering performance with a sense of readiness. The only person in our orchestra that ever gets the kind of ultra-rude treatment your concertmaster tossed out is one of our violinists, who often gets 'jazzed' by a performance, and will play backstage after the show and play concertos, Bach, or whatever crosses his mind. I love it (especially as he's quite amazing...) but it's not uncommon for people to yell at him to go home... I understand that, in a pit gig (8 shows a week...and NOTHING changes...), you'd all want some peace. My guess is your horn player was dreaming of getting an orchestra job...and never having to be a horn playing galley slave again. Sandra Toledo _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
