For the first time, at least in recent memory, the Colorado Symphony will not serve as the pit orchestra for Opera Colorado’s latest production.
Because Opera Colorado expanded its season to four offerings in 2007-08, the symphony was not able to fit all the company’s performances into its heavy schedule.
To fill in, the CSO oversaw the contracting of a 53-member, freelance pit orchestra for Opera Colorado’s production of “Don Pasquale,” which opens tonight.
The only full-time symphony member in the pit orchestra is Rachel Segal, who is serving as the concertmaster. Most of the other musicians have performed with the symphony as substitutes or extras.
“This year was really an anomaly in terms of the use of the orchestra,” said Greg Carpenter, the company’s executive director. He does not see such a situation arising again for at least a few years, because the opera is returning for now to three-production seasons.
Carpenter praised the symphony for its generosity in assembling a suitable substitute ensemble.
“We have some very fine players in the orchestra,” he said. “I’ve been very pleased with the sound.”
Stephen Lord, conductor of “Don Pasquale,” said he had concerns at the first rehearsal, because the musicians had never performed together as a group.
“But as the day progressed, they got better and better, and they’ve actually come miles within one day,” he said. “And I know by opening night, they’ll have a really wonderful, cogent sound.”
The main challenge, he said, is teaching the musicians Donizetti’s distinctive musical style, which is less familiar than that of Beethoven or Puccini.
“So, you find yourself with no rehearsal time in a group that doesn’t play together trying to teach them a style of music that they don’t play,” Lord said. “Nevertheless, they are good musicians, and they are picking it up.”
Kyle MacMillan
