At 6pm this evening, we took our first deep breaths as Maestro Inkinen delicately gestured the opening bars. After the disappointment of the previous night's cancelled concert, at last we were rehearsing with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
As in previous times I've been lucky enough to sing with them, I was blown away by their amazing quality of sound and passionate expressiveness. After a 7-hour wait at Wellington Airport yesterday, and an unusual flight experience today, they were still breathtaking.
Yes, the Air Force transported our national orchestra - over a hundred players and their instruments - in a single flight so they could perform the Verdi Requiem in Auckland. We were lucky there were no major search and rescue operations under way, and that missions to Antarctica are over for the year. I think that's a pretty good use of an air force, and I'm sure our capacity Town Hall audience would agree.
Even with the reduced rehearsal time, we came together at the critical moment to produce a beautiful, moving, spirited performance. Music is always a collaboration between composer, conductor, orchestra, singers, support people and audience, but it is not often the ensemble stretches to a P-3K2 Lockheed Orion. Three cheers for RNZAF No. 5 Squadron!!
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