First rehearsal

Today we had the first rehearsal for the opera La clemenza di Tito.
Sir Colin took us through the recitatives and arias with the soloists. This is music that Sir Colin really enjoys; he is a master at it. I’m really looking forward to the performances in Aix-en-Provence in July.

Listening to the rehearsal was the young conductor Robin Ticciati. I first met Robin when he was a small boy in the second violins in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain where I was coaching. Robin always had a twinkle in his eyes. Watching his hero Sir Colin this morning his eyes were twinkling more than ever. It’s nice to catch up with Robin.

Today was also the birthday of our colleague in the LSO Mike Humphrey which signals his retirement from the 1st violin section. After 29 years in the LSO he will be greatly missed. As we are a self employed orchestra we have no built in pension and with retirement we face big changes.

With the law changing in the near future, making it illegal to force someone to leave because of their age, it raises the issue of how to end one’s time in an orchestra such as the LSO when age can’t be used as the reason.

For many years now I have had the pleasure of playing on a fine Italian violin loaned to me by the LSO. It was made in 1703 by Carlo Tononi. It will be sad to not be playing it any more but I think it’s time for someone else to have the chance. I’ve taken it to be cleaned up professionally at Guiviers ready for the next lucky player. Today I heard that it will be staying in the 1st violin section.