A very long flight, 9 hours in the air and several hours going through security and passport control has left its mark on the faces of the musicians on arrival. The time difference gives everyone ”a new day” for free, the only problem is that it's without a good night's sleep. But the sun is shining, the temperature is extremely pleasant, spring has come to California with the DR Symphony Orchestra.
The hotel staff are friendly and welcoming, they are excited to host an entire Danish symphony orchestra, the many pale winter faces don't have to spend many minutes in the sun before they turn colour, and it is an energetic orchestra that meets Maestro Fabio Luisi for the rehearsal at 10.15 in Santa Barbara's large concert hall, the Granada Theatre. A classic American concert venue opened on 9 April 1924 and beautifully restored very recently.
The concert is the premiere of the tour, and at 8.00 pm, almost all 1550 seats are filled as the chairman of the city's classical concert series welcomes the audience. He is clearly delighted to present the Danish orchestra with its new chief conductor Fabio Luisi and soloist, soprano Deborah Voigt. The president kindly reminds the audience that the last time the DRSO was in Santa Barbera was in 1984, he humbly asks us if it is possible to come by a little more often. This statement is met with spontaneous applause from the audience.
And then it's time for the concert, the Helios Overture by Carl Nielsen leaves nothing behind, the sun rises beautifully, colours the horizon and ends with a magnificent cascade of light. Nielsen gets it right. Deborah Voigt is from Costa Mesa and thus almost local, she is greeted with great warmth, the heartfelt love songs, Wesendonck Lieder by Wagner, are made to continue where Nielsen and his sunrise left off.
There's lively chatter during the break, the crowd is clearly excited and after the break comes the explosion.
Mahler's 1st with Luisi and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra is an unrivalled display of delicate and highly sophisticated orchestral playing. Nothing is left to chance, Luisi leads the troops with elegance and great energy and power. The American audience gets a big, warm and very well played Mahler and they respond with standing ovations and rhythmic applause.
The fourth time Luisi comes on stage to receive his deserved applause, he elegantly raises the evening's concertmaster, Christina Åstrand. Christina turns to the audience and starts Jakob Gade's Tango Jalousi on her magnificent Stradivarius. The enthusiasm is great, many know this world-famous piece of Danish music, redemptive and wonderful with a solid Danish tango after a great concert programme. There are smiles on stage and in the auditorium.
After the applause, the audience, musicians, conductor and soloist head out into the beautiful, warm Californian night. Back to the hotel, while desperately trying to figure out what time it is back home in Denmark right now. Many are too tired to guess correctly. Then it's back to bed and sleep, tomorrow we're off on a five-hour bus journey into the desert, to Hotel The Saguara, for another concert.
The tour has started well, more to come.
The DRSO tour to the USA is funded by AP Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal, Carl Nielsen og Anne-Marie Carl Nielsens Legat and Knud Højsgaards Fonden.