Ever since my poppa took me to see Henry Mancini lead the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in a pops program, I have always dreamed of conducting an orchestra. Last night in Groningen, with the Metropole Orkest and Cécile McLorin Salvant, it finally happened.
I couldn’t have asked for a better way to make my orchestral debut. The Metropole has been phenomenal to work with, with an inspiring commitment to the music, attention to detail, and, perhaps most impressively, a friendly, ego-free rehearsal environment.
Conducting a full symphonic orchestra* is easily the most difficult thing I have ever done. (As Frank Zappa once said, even just playing a C major triad, orchestras sound *so good* that if you stop and listen to them, you’ll f*** up!) But I am thrilled to have this dream-come-true opportunity to work with this incredible ensemble, and take this music on the road with them. (The hang on the band bus on the way back last night was very fun.)
And of course, I’m eternally grateful to my dear friend and collaborator, the incomparable Cécile McLorin Salvant, for believing in me and entrusting me to arrange, and now conduct, her desert island ballads.
We have three more performances coming up in The Netherlands:
Feb. 4 – Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg
Feb. 5 – Amsterdam, Concertgebouw
Feb. 7 – Eindhoven, Muziekgebouw
Feb. 5 – Amsterdam, Concertgebouw
Feb. 7 – Eindhoven, Muziekgebouw
See my Events page for details. If you are nearby, I hope you will come to one of these performances. These arrangements have been a labor of love to write and rehearse, and now I would love for you to hear them!
* For the orchestra nerds in the room, we are 2222 2220 timp+2 hp v gtr pno cb ds str (87654)