“Moving a symphony orchestra around Europe might not seem daunting at first,” writes Janelle Gelfand in Thursday’s (8/17) Cincinnati Enquirer (Ohio). “But then consider all the stuff that the 102 musicians of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra are taking along on their three-week, 11-concert tour in six countries, launching next week. Crews are loading 482 musical instruments and assorted pieces of equipment, adding up to nearly 19,000 pounds…. From unloading to stage set-up, to reloading and moving overnight to the next city, it’s all choreographed to coincide perfectly with the orchestra’s travel schedule…. When snafus occur—such as a canceled flight or a delayed bus—that creates a domino effect that can impact an evening’s concert performance. But [Heather Stengle, the orchestra’s director of operations] says, ‘We have experienced folks … so we’re well equipped to handle the unforeseen.’ … Last month, Stengle went on an ‘advance’ tour along with the orchestra’s technical director, Ralph LaRocco Jr., and a representative for the musicians, cellist Ted Nelson. They visited each stop on the eight-city tour, where they met with officials who would be presenting the orchestra.”
Pictured: In preparation for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming Europe tour, CSO Stage Manager Brian Schott and Technical Director Ralph LaRocco position a box holding the podium for conductor Louis Langrée. Photo by David Sorcher / Cincinnati Enquirer
Posted August 18, 2017
