Monday, February 25, 2008

medée

anns


Our chef stepped lightly over the front row's feet and made her way towards the podium. She had on a pin striped jacket with a baroque pink-ribboned bustle, and her frizzy hair had been straightened until its bouncy ends. The outfit lasted till the end of the prologue. Her hairdo flattened entirely now by sweat and her shapely arms visible in a black strappy dress, the designer bustle had been cast off and so had we.

For three weeks now I have been sitting right under the stage, under the spitty diction of some of our greatest singers, in particular the Swedish Godess - clad in a red Adidas T’shirt and long green silk skirt - Ann Sofie von Otter. Her vocal expression as she degorges Medée’s vengence or sucks in her loneliness, has been a thrilling thing to witness so close, her professionalism sharp as a Sabatier. How dare Le Monde say she is hiding her aging voice with over dramatic pianos.

The first night rolls, and rocks. There is a lot of silk swishing around on stage. Our continuo player uses a vicious palette to colour Medées jealousy, muscled gestures for the King and sexy shimmies of the left hand for Aiglée’s adoration of Thésée. We, in the basse de violon section, know the tunes by now, and we ride our rope thick strings with confidence. When they kiss I am sure someone farts. Ah, the joys of being up close and personal.

The audience’ reception is mad: Rhythmic clapping, hysterical shrieks, an ovation….

Afterwards there is what the French call a ‘Pot’. The foie gras, jamon, home made tarama, burgundy, cheeses and tarts plentiful enough to feed the entire court of Versailles but rather over the top at midnight in Paris must have cost the theatre about 10,000 euros; the same theatre who refused to pay eight out of town musicians’ hotel or subsistence because it was ‘hors de budget’.

On the way home I give my change to a man in the metro in a dirty pin stripe suit without a baroque bustle but with an accordian, singing La Vie en Rose.

as2

10 Comments:

Blogger Dale said...

(o)

5:56 PM  
Blogger Rosie said...

The joys of performance.
I am sorry but I have tagged you for a meme to make up 7 weird and wonderful facts about yourself...again maybe? I hope not

6:51 PM  
Blogger katydidnot said...

i'm looking forward to reading more of you.

8:49 PM  
Blogger Jean said...

Ruth, I see you've removed the post that followed this one, which was delightful. I've removed mine too - sometimes I wonder who writes my blogposts, they come so directly from my subconscious :-(

7:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One accordionist from the Paris Metro is my hero.




He would play a lovely legato melodic line in his right hand, and comp secure, placed chords with his left. But he could also - with the very same left hand- take loose change and drop it into his pocket .... while keeping the chords going.

No chasing down invoices for this , the complete, self-determining, liberated musician!

2:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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3:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

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9:46 AM  
Blogger gfid said...

i've just followed you from Granny P's Rockpool in the Kitchen. i've enjoyed the visit very much. your prose is like music.

3:58 PM  
Blogger JoeinVegas said...

It sounds so nice, Paris in the winter in the music.

2:47 AM  
Blogger Admin said...

That's a great article. It reminded me the great Children of Paradise film

5:51 PM  

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