Blog: News and Views

The cowboy and the farmer must get along Aug 18

This is my neighbourhood. Southwestern Ontario, about 2 hours from Toronto (depending on traffic) I am from them there these parts. OK, my family moved to the outskirts of Toronto when I was 3, but I still know this beautiful area so well. The rolling hills, the 'plant nutrient' smells and pig trucks rumbling through town made me feel right at home. This is a great town - er, city. Last night we saw a standout performance of Oklahoma here at the Stratford Festival and were mighty impressed. It's amazing how they're able to push it out every night for weeks, and for this show, months, on end. Puts a new perspective on our 3 Bard shows when they do more than 300!

So, today we boarded the bus at the early, early hour of 7:30 to make the short trip to Kitchener-Waterloo, or KW to the locals. There we met 120 or so singers and conductors from local choirs - like Goderich, Waterloo, and even some folks from Lindsay and Ottawa. These keeners were on the road at 5AM to make it for our 9AM start. Well, Diane ran us through a workshop that, at first, we thought would be too long at 4 hours, and it turned out there was still much to be done.

It was great to see so many of our friends from London's Amabile male choir and to meet so many other choral junkies too. What impacted me most though, was walking down the stairs and meeting my cousin, Stephen, who now lives in KW. I haven't seen him in about 15 years. He is a singer too, with Howard Dyck (yes, the CBC fellow). Singing must run in my family.... Then, as we were ending the workshop, his sister, (also a singer and a choir director), stopped by to say Hi.

That's the great perk of a tour. We get to meet family and friends across the country and it seems, the more we travel, the more friends we make! After a hearty lunch - with that great Guelph beer - Sleemans, we headed back to Stratford.

That evening, our Stratford Summer Music host, and my long-time friend, John Miller, and his partner Andrey, took my husband to be, Jim, and me, to dinner. We capped off the evening at his table at the Church Restaurant's Sold-Out Cabaret starting at 11:30. Diane joined our table after seeing the hit Oklahoma and has new ideas for our finale at the Bard. See, we get ideas everywhere. Back to the Cabaret...what a show. OK, Bruce Dow (a Vancouverite and friend), performed first and zinged us with little-known tunes. The show also included an amazing tribute to Noel Coward. So, off to bed we were by 2 AM, with the Noel's words still fresh... It was a marvelous party.

A big rehearsal AND concert tomorrow, with aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends coming to hear the choir. It is truly amazing how music brings family together.
--
Submitted by a humble baritone,

David Love

Posted by David Love on August 21, 2007 at 8:32 AM
Filed in: Performances; Tour Diaries | Permanent Link

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