#PragueSummerNights

[classicalmovements]

New for 2019, students accepted into the #PragueSummerNights Composition Program will spend three action-packed weeks immersed in the study of composing for fully-produced opera, symphonic orchestras and various vocal/instrumental chamber ensembles. In addition to daily private/group lessons with #PSN19 faculty composers, students receive public performances and archival recordings of their works, as well as instruction in score study, rehearsal preparation, career development and more. 🇨🇿 PragueSummerNights.com (at Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt6AYxsAMWa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ua3h84ulfo13

[primalaska]

#Pragueastronomicalclock #praguevideo #praguenow #praguenights #praguekabinet #Praguewedding #pragueoutlet #praguespring #praguesquare #praguecoffeefestival #praguetattoo #praguerestaurant #pragueproject #pragueriver #pragueparty #pragueguy #pragueplaces #pragueyouththeatre #praguemanicure #praguemetro #praguemall #praguemorning #praguetime #praguetower #pragueofkafka #praguelover #praguesummernights #praguecakefestival #pragueweddingvideo #pragueculture (at Independence, Bristow) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Mx9BwnlsW/?igshid=12wnmsuql1wei

[heathgoz]

Day Four: The First Concert

Today, we basically spent the entire day rehearsing. I got up early to practice a couple sections, and the orchestra rehearsed from 10-1 on all the pieces. Some of the rehearsal was dedicated to the PSN Opera Singers for their accompanied solos, but the majority of the time was spent rehearsing the Durulfé Requiem with the Anchorage Concert Chorus. Before the choir arrived, we rehearsed with an amazing conductor (who had a pretty incredible resumé). Unfortunately, I can’t remember his name, so I don’t want to write about him until I do. 

After rehearsal ended, some of the musicians went to the National Museum’s cafeteria, located just several floors beneath our rehearsal room. The food is pretty decent and really well priced so I’ve been there a couple times now. I had a Czech dish of braised chicken and rice that was pretty tasty. Last time I went, I tried a burger there. Apparently in Europe, instead of ketchup, they have this sauce that’s similar to ketchup but not quite the same thing. It’s orange and sweet (almost sweet potato like) but thicker like mayonnaise. It was different than what I’m used to, but I liked it.

I rode the metro “home�� after lunch to try a different route and explore the city more. My roommates, Maya, Diana, and Emily, and I got ready for the concert together. Maya and I needed a few more minutes to gather our things, so we decided to meet Diana and Emily at Smetana Hall. 

We hadn’t been to Smetana Hall until the dress rehearsal before the concert. Maya and I accidentally got on the wrong street car, but didn’t realize it until we went further west than the concert hall. As soon as we realized our mistake, we got off the street car and tried to find someone who could give us directions. A young man in a suit carrying a briefcase passed us, so we stopped him to ask if he knew the best way to get to Smetana in the least amount of time. He knew the way, and mentioned a family member of a friend was in Prague right for a music festival. The person he mentioned ended up being in the cello section, so he came into Smetana with us to say hello. He wasn’t initially planning on attending the concert, but since he met us and the cellist, he returned to the concert hall that night with a date. The person he mentioned ended up being in the cello section, so he came into the concert with us to say hello. It really is a small world after all.

Smetana Hall, as you can see from the pictures, is GORGEOUS. Easily the most unique and beautiful place I’ve ever performed. The hand-painted murals and statues were so incredible, it’s hard to imagine that someone was able to create them with such beauty. I think what I liked most were the acoustics in the hall. The way the sound bounced off the walls is indescribable unless you’re actually there, but it created such a pure, rich sound. There’s a perfect amount of echo where the hall feels big and small all at once. I can still hear the music ending, the slight echo, and then the applause that followed. The only two words that come close to describing it are magical and surreal. 

We rehearsed from 4:30-6:45 and ran through all the concert material with the singers. As we were waiting in the wings to go onstage, someone bumped into me and I dropped my violin. I’m not exactly sure how, but when I picked it up, the bridge was still intact, the strings were only slightly out of tune, and there weren’t any (visible) cracks. I tried to tune it the best I could before we began the concert, but I couldn’t get the strings to stay in tune with each other, making it even more difficult to play the challenging music.

We began the concert with the “Marriage of Figaro” excerpts which went extremely well. The orchestra and chorus has so many talented, young musicians who filled the hall with rich tones. Then we performed the Mendelssohn. The score is so beautiful that the hall made the music alive and magical. It felt like I was performing in a dream because it was to amazing to actually be music I was apart of. The Anchorage Concert Chorus performed some of their own music that had.... interesting song choices. One was so “American” that Maya burst out laughing during the first line, and laughed for the entire song. I looked over at her for a second and she was crying from laughing so hard, so I really had to focus on keeping a straight face. The audience seemed to enjoy the music anyways. After performing the Requiem, we performed the Bernstein as an encore. The PSN Opera members performed solos in the song. The sound from the combination of the choir and orchestra in Smetana Hall brought me to tears (literally crying during the concert it was so amazing, beautiful, surreal, electrifying... I could go on forever). The only way to possibly describe it is like this: this must be what going to heaven feels like. It sounds the way heaven probably feels. It brings me to tears and gives me chills again just thinking about it. I’m so grateful we have another concert there because it lit a fire in my heart (and makes me question why I don’t play violin professionally). 

A big group of musicians all went out after the concert. We walked for a long time trying to find an open bar (since it was already pretty late), and finally found one. The workers didn’t speak much English but they were friendly and accommodating. I tried a beer called Gambrinus, which is now my new favorite. We took the street car home, and parted ways, but I’m sure we’ll be going out tomorrow night, especially since we have a free day (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Tomorrow, I’m hoping to visit a local violin shop just to make sure everything is okay, and maybe test some of their instruments for fun :).

Dobrou noc,

Heather

[classicalmovements]

We’ve extended the deadline for #PragueSummerNights. Don't miss your chance to join the ultimate #opera & #orchestra experience in the most glorious venues: PragueSummerNights.com/Apply LIVE: Accepted until audition day, as space allows ONLINE: Sunday, February 24 (11:59 pm EST) #PSN19 #ClassicalMovements (at Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtTZggiggIg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=m7cargpo16wf

[classicalmovements]

Inspired by a passage from "A Course in Miracles," Helen Schucman's curriculum for spiritual transformation, premiering @greg_sandow’s captivating new work, "The Remembered Song," at Suk Hall on July 4th made for a deeply moving experience these four #PSN18 strings students won't soon forget. #PragueSummerNights (at Rudolfinum)

[classicalmovements]

Lovely, inspiring evening for #PragueSummerNights Manager Alex Plueckhan and CM Senior VP @jjlvanzyl supporting @chiartshs! Always a treat reconnecting with Gail Melick, too—one half of the #PSN18 #Melick & #Hart Instrumental Scholarships. #SupportScholarArtists #WeAreChiArts (at Chicago History Museum)

[classicalmovements]

The Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival is thrilled to announce that Rosalind Plowright, OBE-awarded soprano and 40-year veteran of the world's leading opera houses, will join our faculty to work with students on their dramatic interpretation and audition techniques! Apply for #PSN18 before December 15 for a reduced fee: PragueSummerNights.com/Apply

[classicalmovements]

#ClassicalMovements knew @sopranolinist Jen Lindsay was a double-threat as far back as 2015—both in the #pit as a violist in the #PragueSummerNights Festival Orchestra and on #stage as #DonnaAnna in Mozart's #DonGiovanni. Love seeing this uniquely talented alumna of our #PSN program "go viral." #Sopranolinist, indeed. (at Marina del Rey, California)

[classicalmovements]

While at Prague Summer Nights, Platea Magazine sat down with our own Sherrill Milnes...and it's a good one here, folks. #PSN17

http://www.plateamagazine.com/entrevistas/2931-sherill-milnes-los-cantantes-de-mi-generacion-somos-ya-piezas-de-museo

[classicalmovements]

What do *YOU* do when your props for Mozart's #MagicFlute finally return home from #PragueSummerNights? 🦁 🐼 🐒 #PSN17 (at Classical Movements)

[classicalmovements]

#ClassicalMovements has arrived in Tábor for #PragueSummerNights Young Artists Music Festival! 📷by @cshiley3 #PSN17 #Czechia🇨🇿 (at Tábor, Moravskolezský Kraj, Czech Republic)

[classicalmovements]

After numerous years, Neeta Helms and Classical Movements founded the Prague Summer Nights Festival to expose young artists and help them build their profile in the opera world. Now in its third year, Helms has the program growing, with the event set to expand to Salzburg this summer. OperaWire had a chance to speak with Neeta about the development of the program and about the major challenges of putting on a festival like this one. #PSN17 http://operawire.com/qa-neeta-helms-on-classical-movements-the-prague-summer-nights-festival/

[classicalmovements]

Tickets are now on sale for all four Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival performances in Salzburg, Austria! From FRIDAY, JULY 7 through SUNDAY, JULY 9, don't miss Sherrill Milnes directing Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro (for the first time ever), Arthur Fagen conducting Die Zauberflöte in the city that heard his podium debut (at age 18), as well as Amit Peled performing Dvořák's Cello Concerto (on Pablo Casals' instrument) under the baton of #PSN17 artistic director John Nardolillo—all in the Große Saal of the Mozarteum. http://www.mozarteum.at/programm-karten/kalender-aller-konzerte.html?id=27&sub=27&month=7&year=2017

[classicalmovements]

World-famous cellist and Peabody Conservatory professor Amit Peled will join John Nardolillo and the #PSN17 Festival Orchestra in Salzburg, Austria for masterclasses and a concerto. But what piece will Prof. Peled perform on Pablo Casals' 1733 Goffriler cello? We'll just let him tell you. A cellist, yourself? Apply at www.PragueSummerNights.com.

[classicalmovements]

3 cities, 18 performances, 30 days, more than 450 kilometers . . . and 4 big Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival faculty announcements! #PSN17 http://conta.cc/2o9ljj5

[classicalmovements]

#DMV musicians and singers, tomorrow (Mon, Jan 30) our #PSN17 Live Audition Tour comes to @johnshopkinsu and @uofmaryland. Walk-ins welcome! #PragueSummerNights PragueSummerNights.com #DC #Maryland #Virginia #YAP (at Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival)