Coro, Coro, and more Coro

Last Tuesday night was the big Choral concert for the UCO PRESHCO Coro. What an experience that has been! (And I won't lie, I don't really mean that as a positive) For two weeks prior to the concert we had hours after hours of rehearsals. This was not what I signed up for. Good news is those mega rehearsals are over now and did provide moments of bonding with the Spaniards in the coro who were also feeling the long hours wear on their stomachs and patience.

The day before the concert (Monday) we rehearsed from 7pm till midnight and then the next day was the big day. Dressed in all black the 65 person chorus took the stage at the Conservatory of Córdoba. The concert had some good moments. We performed with some really impressive flamenco musicians. After singing a classical mass piece, El Credo, we moved into the main section of the concert which was the flamenco section. It had some good moments and I am really starting to like flamenco music, but it went on too long. I did have one of my friends film parts of the concert (a special thanks to Sarah Basile!), so here is one song for your viewing pleasure:

After the flamenco section was a short final section of the concert which was comprised of American music. We sang "Think of Me" from Les Meiserables, "Tonight" from West Side Story, and then "Moon River." Unfortunately I do not have this section on tape at this moment, but I must say this is the part I would most like to share with the world. It was just so insane and terrible at the end, that it is hard to describe. A little bit into Moon River the two soprano soloists (who both are amazing by the way) began talking with eachother as if complaining and describing a reason to be angry. Then suddenly the flamenco singer picked up her music and water bottle and stormed off stage. None of us knew what was going on and it was rather dramatic to have the chorus look as confused as the audience. I really did not think she was going to come back and she had a solo coming up! Turns out this had all been planned, we just hadn't been filled in on the act. After vamping for a bit, she reemerged in full flamenco garb, bringing the guitarist and drummer back on stage with her. Flamenco was back and sounding pretty great up until the unfortunate moment when she began singing the words to moon river in a flamenco style. Let me tell you, this was not a good idea! It sounded ridiculous. Then the chorus was supposed to come in on an entrance we hadn't really rehearsed. The guitarist came in in the wrong key and none of us knew what we were doing. It sounded terrible until the pianist made a gallant attempt to save the ending. And then, there you go. That was the concert. Quite the experience and I am quite glad it is over.