I am writing this from this evening's orchestra run-through of The Flying Dutchman and it is with great pleasure that I introduce my first guest blogger. The idea was born rather spontaneously last week and from now on you might find some guest contribution here from time to time. Here we go:

Hello everyone, this is Sandra Horst, chorus master of the Canadian Opera Company. I am grateful to have this inaugural "guest" spot on Alexander's blog to let you know how the chorus is preparing for the upcoming operas.

It is a very busy time right now, and we are doing something that the chorus has not done in a long time, or possibly ever . . . three big productions at the same time. Fifty-five chorus members started preparation on March 4, three days after Otello and Carmen closed, and worked for two weeks on music and then straight into staging.

Tonight we head into the final orchestra rehearsal of The Flying Dutchman before the dress on Tuesday, tomorrow afternoon we review all of the chorus scenes in Idomeneo and in the evening we are back at the theatre for the first staging with orchestra rehearsal of Maria Stuarda. It has been a hectic and exciting time! It is very rewarding for the chorus to be performing this challenging and beautiful repertoire with excellent collaborators from around the world.

See you soon,

Sandra