From the Post Dispatch review of Winter Opera St. Louis’s performance last weekend (of Massenet’s Werther):
In the pit, Scott Schoonover offered rather choppy conducting of the lush score, but the 22-piece orchestra did a good job, with some really lovely moments.
I’ll absolutely take credit for those “lovely moments” as concertmaster, though I really don’t see how the reviewer was able to notice “choppy” conducting when the orchestra didn’t reflect anything of the sort. Either I’m just that good, or really, reviewers have very little idea of what they are talking about and need to fill a certain amount of room? I do think I should have been mentioned by name for my “really lovely” solos though 😉
I’m trying to bring a certain amount of aggression and confidence into my teaching, playing, and life. (I was testing it out in the previous paragraph!) My trainer is encouraging me to be more aggressive in my workouts, and I am trying to bring my workouts into my life. I could probably use a bit more aggression, or at least a bit more confidence and assurance, in my life…I guess I’ll add that to the list of “tweaks” I am trying to make! This whole adulthood thing just keeps getting more challenging. Or I just need to remember, no one is really paying attention to me after all, so no need to worry what they think. (But…are people reading my blog? Then YOU are paying attention, right?).
Save the date: February 28. Quartet concert at St. Margaret of Scotland Church. With members of the SLSO in addition to a couple of just awesome freelancers (including me). Time TBA but afternoon (baby steps, I know!).