...and away
While their fellow students were performing in the Britten Theatre, 12 RCM instrumentalists headed to Washington D.C. to play under Lorin Maazel in performances of "The Turn of the Screw" and "Albert Herring". It’s business as usual here in week 3 of the Castleton Festival 2009. Our time has mostly been spent rehearsing for Albert Herring and some of us have been involved in an “orchestral masterclass” concert, where the conducting students have had the opportunity to perform a piece of their choice. We were treated to a range of overtures and arias - which also gave some of the singers a chance to shine away from the operatic stage.
In his final weekly report, horn player Sam Pearce describes an adventurous few days in the mountains:
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We have also managed to secure a little time off in the past week. On a scorching afternoon (36 degrees!) we headed into the Blue Ridge Mountains and did part of the famous Skyline Drive, a road which winds its way from north to south at heights of up to 4000ft. The views and wildlife were incredible – a baby black bear even made an appearance!
There are now only a few days left of the festival with three performances of Albert Herring, and one final orchestral concert on the closing night. It has been a fantastic few weeks, a unique experience and one we will keep with us for a long time. It’s certainly going to be difficult to adjust back to real life in London…
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The performances have been attracting excellent reviews:
"A sparkling production of Benjamin Britten's comic opera "Albert Herring"... The orchestral accompaniment, provided by musicians from London's Royal College of Music, was spot-on throughout."
- The Washington Times
"Last night I was so lucky to attend the performance of Albert Herring at The Castleton Festival... I was absolutely overwhelmed... The music was flawlessly performed by the orchestra from The Royal College of Music in London, that in itself was unparalleled."
- Piedmont Virginian
