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| Marion Wood and the Exeter Music Group Symphony Orchestra 4pm: rehearsal in progress |
Anyone wondering what all these photographs are about, will not be surprised to hear that something very special, and wonderful, has been happening here in Exeter recently.
On 25th May this year, rehearsals started for a unique performance of Mahler's Eighth Symphony - never staged in the South West before. The Exeter Music Group Symphony Orchestra packed into the Gymnasium at St Peter's School in Exeter to rehearse Part 1, 'Veni Creator Spiritus' with full choir. The choir worked all weekend, and were joined by the orchestra again on Sunday afternoon. Conducting - Marion Wood! (see details)
On 6th July the process was repeated for Part 2, 'Closing Scene from Goethe's Faust'.
On 7th September things really started to get serious. Marion convened the orchestra, full choir, and Devon County Junior Choir for a weekend of rehearsals of the whole work. Some of the soloists came to hear, and a great tubular bell was brought for 'Veni Creator Spiritus'.
A week later the countdown began. A full dress rehearsal started on Friday evening, and by Sunday afternoon everyone was 'match-prepared'. The whole orchestra and choir had a super-serious run-through in the Exeter University Great Hall at 3pm.
The incredibly energetic and resourceful Marion Wood worked tirelessly on last minute adjustments. A plan to have choirs in the gallery boxes had to be changed - the acoustics for the audience below just didn't work. Instead a troupe of trumpeters took up position in the gallery. Everyone would be able to hear them.
There was time for a leisurely cream tea (for the audience, if not the performers) before the Symphony started for real at 5pm. Eight soloists added their powerful voices to the already remarkable 'Symphony of a Thousand' and the show began.
The prayer 'Veni Creator Spiritus' with 'bell' and seven solo voices was impressive, grand, and serene. Surprisingly short, it was over in 30 minutes - but not before the trumpeters had regaled us all with their vigorous fanfare. The real drama started after the break. Faust, acted out in eight voices, with an overwhelming choir sound - plus the show-stopping Junior Choir, and incredible orchestral effects, was an absolute masterpiece.
Marion Wood controlled the entire army of musicians with calm skill, bringing out the very best sound. This was Faust as it has never been seen or heard before (in the south west of England anyway!) The audience loved every moment and let the musicians know it with their riotous applause at the end.
Equally important, the musicians had the time of their life. All agreed that the whole process from first rehearsal to performance had been a special and unique experience - the orchestra a family, the work a joy.
Equally important, the musicians had the time of their life. All agreed that the whole process from first rehearsal to performance had been a special and unique experience - the orchestra a family, the work a joy.
Will we have anything to match Mahler in the foreseeable future? With Marion Wood in charge, the prospects look good!
now read on . . .
FINAL REHEARSAL
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| Ruth Molins' piccolo solo |
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| Basses wait in the wings - Bjoern Fabritus |
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| Enter stage right - bass soloist Julian Rippon |
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| Marion Wood sings all parts |
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| The sopranos pay close attention - Tina Guthrie |
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| So do the 'cellists - Yvonne Ashby |
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| violist and administrator - Rachel Wieck |
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| clarinettist & chairman John Welton |
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| The rehearsal ends on a high note for soprano Tina Guthrie, |
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| violist Rebecca Springall (Devon Strings Workshop), |
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| first violin Jackie Baldwin, |
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| and orchestra leader Clare Smith |
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| EMG photographer Nigel Cheffers-Heard confers with musical director Marion Wood and Caroline Koegler |
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| A little catching up for 'cellist Carol Galton |
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| pianist Rebecca Willson continues practicing with great enthusiasm |
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| quietly confident - principal French horn Trevor Ives and ?Sally Maya |
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| a popular percussionist - Ali Board |
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| principal bassoon Prue Tasman runs over Paul Jones' contrabassoon part |
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| principal trumpet Brian Moore against Nigel Cheffers-Heard's video projection |
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| Exeter poet 'Roverti' (tenor Trevor Germon) with choir coordinator & soprano Lucina Swain |
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| Heading for the organ loft keyboard player (and new MD of 'Devon Baroque') Jonathan Watts |
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| strikes a baroque pose |
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| to the amusement of 'cellist Carol Galton |
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| Here to play the heavenly Dartington celeste, Janet Williams |
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| Time for cream-teas in the Terrace Restaurant -an enthusiastic audience member Kate McVie (Association of Open University Graduates) |
PERFORMANCE
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| Video running, Nigel Cheffers-Heard and Zoita Mandila prepare their equipment |
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| As show-time approaches first violins Jackie Baldwin and Ray Fane make their way briskly back to the stage |
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| Following close behind, flautists Ruth Molins and Sophie Brewer |
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| Taking her time, orchestra leader Clare Smith |
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| A special performer, mandolin soloist Jonathan Springall (Devon Strings Workshop) |
VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS
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| leader Clare Smith oversees the orchestra - minus keyboard players and vocal soloists |
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| The soloists arrive for Veni Creator Spiritus, bass Simon Trist, baritone Julian Rippon, tenor Graham Neal altos Juliet Curnow & Alison Kettlewell sopranos Iris Korfker & Catherine Hamilton (percussionist Steve Bentley takes over John McAvoy's 10' tubular bell) |
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| The prayer ends with a trumpet fanfare from the gallery centre - Jonathan Schrantz |
INTERMISSION
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| Performers mingle in the interval - soprano Maria Yiting Liu |
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| flautist, Sophie Brewer (South West Music School) |
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| Exeter School alumni soprano Lucy Bray (in the audience after a week touring with Scola Cantorum of Oxford) tenor - and trumpeter - Jonathan Schrantz |
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| In the audience. tenor and MD of the Starling Octet - Ben Pennington |
FAUST
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| Back on stage, leader Clare Smith resumes control |
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| and hands over to the conductor - Marion Wood |
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| Marion gently reanimates the orchestra - for Goethe's Faust |
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| A beautiful oboe solo - David Lotinga supported by bassoonist Gail Hicks |
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| harmonium - Robert Mitchell double bass Vivian Rivers (St David's Hillbillies, Phonic FM) Ben Hamilton, James Rintoul, David Gill principal double bass Lisa Thorne |
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| principal harp Fionnuala Somerville celeste Janet Williams piano Rebecca Willson |
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| A big moment for percussionist Sarah Hodson Looking on, John McAvoy, Steve Bentley |
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| Trevor Ives leads nine French horns - more than advertised! Susanna Stephenson far right |
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| Leading from behind Rachel Smith and the Devon County Junior Choir |
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| Tympanist Ali Board waits for her moment |
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| an eighth soloist - Héloïse West is Mater Gloriosa principal cor anglais: Kate Osbourne |
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| tenor Graham Neal is Doctor Marianus bass Simon Trist - Pater Profundus baritone Julian Rippon - Pater Ecstaticus Flutes: Ruth Molins, Sophie Brewer, Robert Stephenson, Susan Mitchell Principal Flute: Catherine Clements Oboes: David Lotinga, Jane Carrington Porter, Rhiannon Morgan Clarinets: Charlie Sheppard-Vine (Eь clarinet), Ros Fish, John Welton, John Walthew (principal clarinet), Linda Jordan (bass clarinet) Bassoon: Peter Dawson |
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| Sarah Hodson - tam-tam, John McAvoy - glockenspiel, Steve Bentley - bass drum |
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| A capacity audience, following in their scores |
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| principal cor anglais Kate Osbourne 3rd soprano Héloïse West - Mater Gloriosa 2nd soprano Iris Korfker - Una Poenitentium 1st soprano Catherine Hamilton - Magna Peccatrix 1st alto Alison Kettlewell - Mulier Samaritana (out of sight) 2nd alto Juliet Curnow - Maria Aegyptiaca |
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| Sounding brass: trombones: Raddon Stephenson, Jacqui Burden, EMG Treasurer Charles Dowell, Paul Rycroft trumpets: principal trumpet Brian Moore, Tony Hindley, James Bowden, Paul Vodden |
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| The final drum roll - tympanist Ali Board |
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| The last word goes to John McAvoy |
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| To thunderous applause, conductor Marion Wood & leader Clare Smith embrace |
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| Marion Wood thanks Junior Choir MD Rachel Smith bass Simon Trist, baritone Julian Rippon |
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| - and tenor Graham Neal |
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| - the orchestra - and the audience! |
EPILOGUE
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| Time to pack up - double bassist Vivian Rivers (that case is for carrying a double bass - not men!) |
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| principal clarinet John Walthew |
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| Devon County Junior Choir musical director Rachel Smith |
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| bass Andrew Odber (also pianist and regular at 'Classical Night' second Thursday of each month Bicton Inn, Exmouth) |
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| A familiar pose - flautist Ruth Molins with C-flute and piccolo |
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| 'cello leader Yvonne Ashby |
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| modestly accepts the admiration of - Natasha Iuchanka |
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