Bach in Beirut!

This is the Assembly Hall where we sing tonight.
The light is the rosetta leaded glass window reflecting on the  pipe organ;
an amazing sight!  

The walls of Assembly Hall on AUB campus have been bursting with music these past two weeks!  AUB choir with orchestra and soloists are about to perform JSBach's St. John's Passion, less than 4 hours to go; tonight and tomorrow nights.  After our performance tonight, the President of AUB, Peter, and his wife Kathy (from Vashon Island) have invited the entire ensemble to their home for beer and sandwiches. They happen to be choir members too, and sing tenor side by side!

What a great experience this has been!  We began preparing  in September, and are now ready to perform Bach for 2 and a half hours straight. When we met the orchestra 2 nights ago, I felt sheer joy: 2 flutes, viola de gamba, harpsichord, 2 oboes, bassoon, 2 cellos, bass viol, 9 violins, and 3 violas. One tenor soloist, Randall, just arrived from NY and has a wonderful voice, so expressive. Bass Ashraf is here from Boulder, Colorado, and has the power of Pilate!  Alto and Soprano are equally incredible. Alto Megan has been invited to sing with NY Met.  These soloists are beautiful, YOUNG, and fit. It astounds me to see this new generation of opera singers.  I was relieved to see lyrics being projected on the walls, translating the German to English and Arabic for the audience.  And the music?  It's magnificent.  We know our parts, and are ready to bring it to life.  I wish you could be here.  I'm in musical nirvana.

Yalla!  Let's go! on with the show!