Indirect Routes

I don’t often have time to write int the summer. But I have been journaling like a fiend (thank you, Artist’s Way, again.).

Maybe that means that I’ll start writing here in a more regular manner? No promises. But there are a few things on my mind, and I’ll give the cliffs notes here in the hope that I’m able to flesh them out in the coming days.

Firstly, a bit of a humblebrag. As someone who heads a department that specializes in classical arts, the wins haven’t historically been frequent. But this weekend we had three shows- one small, beautifully nerdy recital, one straightforward orchestral concert with a brilliant young pianist and Holst’s The Planets with projected images from NASA and one a showing of a Star Wars film with orchestra.

Over two nights, more than FOURTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE showed their love for classical music.

Hot damn.

The news in operatic and orchestral circles has not been great lately. And the folks who are affected are friends and colleagues, so it hits doubly hard.

But also, I will celebrate this win, for it is a win. Everyone who came through our doors is more apt to try a classical music experience again, maybe with us, maybe somewhere else. I’m glad for that, because I feel strongly that what we have to say in the classical arts is valid, important, and serves a purpose: to give voice and weight to those feelings and thoughts that don’t necessarily have an outlet in our wired, highly scrutinized lives.

I got into music because it gave voice to the feelings that, as a young person, I didn’t really have words to describe. It has been a partner, a friend, a translator, a tool, a comfort.

The longer I work in this field, though, the more I realize that it’s the people who keep me in the game. Classical music folks are awesome. They are people who see the big picture, but aren’t afraid to dig into the multitudes of tiny details. They are always striving to improve some aspect of their craft. They are eager to make connections. They are able to navigate the demands of others while keeping their internal focus true. And they are the most flexible, collaborative people I know. (If you have a problem, your best collaborators are Artists: when a problem arises they will ask if everyone is ok, generously ask what they can do to make things better, and then put their heads together to find a number of possible solutions…and the best ones will also communicate clearly and transparently throughout.)

I’d love to say that everything is running 100% as planned this summer, but my colleagues who do this kind of work would call me out as a fibber! Not because things are going badly, at all! But the course of producing, like that of true love, ne’er did run smooth.

So I’ll raise a toast of pure gratitude: to my colleagues and artistic collaborators who approach the work and each other with generosity and care; to the audiences who spent their hard- earned dollars and gave their precious time to be with us this weekend; and for the opportunity to do it all again next week.

(After a sleep-in and a nap, that is.)

For more info on our performances, you can visit wolftrap.org for a full calendar.