KEY POINTS:
The bus is now winging its way towards the airport where we will depart for home tonight. We have only been away for 5 days over here, but with the amount I have been able to jam pack into that time, it feels like we have been away a lot longer!
It's hard to imagine that we arrived on Monday night, and in that time we have done two concerts (with standing ovations!), two rehearsals, many bus trips, a tonne of awkward conversations in Chinese (well not really Chinese), a few shocking bargaining moments, and have seen so many amazing sights, including a couple of modern wonders of the world. It definitely feels like we have been here longer.
I was thinking while writing some of these blogs, how hard it must be for a lot of you to understand what our job is like, it probably sounds like a real breeze, tripping the world and seeing the sights.
(Click here for some photos of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's final day in China).
Our work life couldn't be more contrasted to that of a desk job. Our computer is a music stand with thousands of music notes on it (well the violins have thousands of notes, I am in the high 50s), our office is a 2,000 seat concert hall, our desk is a stage shared with 90 other people, our boss is almost the youngest person in the company and English is his second language, and our weekends are usually Mondays and Tuesdays, and yes we always have a concert on at the same time as an All Black test. t's really just another job, except that 2,000 people watch us do it, and we can't hide the mistakes with twink.
Before I got on the bus to the airport, Sacha (a bassist in the orchestra) and I decided to get massages, so I am feeling very relaxed in writing this final blog, although I must admit to finding some joints, in the massage, that hadn't been moved in a while, and a few muscles that that might never be the same again.
The concert last night was one of those moments that you will remember forever. Performing in a foreign country with friends, to a great audience that loved every minute of it.
The cheer that Simon O'Neill received at the end of Nessun Dorma could have been heard in Wellington, and hearing this good old Ashburton boy, turned world-class singer, fill the hall with his incredible voice, was a spine tingling experience.
It's amazing how many young NZ singers are making it huge in the world at the moment, and what an inspiration to young kiwi singers it must be to have Simon singing in all the great opera houses in the world, and showing kiwis that anything is possible.
The whole concert was a huge success, and we headed back to the hotel for some final night celebrations, which included a meal and a couple of beers. It was great to see Keith Quinn in the audience and at the party afterwards, and it was awesome to meet and have a chat with him.
Many orchestra members asked him questions, anything from his love of music (he was taken as a kid to the NZSO conducted by the great Stravinsky!) to how many Olympics he has commentated at (8!), to Mahe Drysdale's toilet issues on the day of his race!
It was a great evening and a fitting end to a hectic and extremely rewarding experience.
It was interesting seeing Beijing again, 18 months after my first trip there. The city has been transformed, with many new and architecturally incredible buildings and structures. The culture and feel of the city is as I remember it, but it's like it has had an extreme makeover. The city is cleaner, and even though the traffic still feels as though everyone is driving away from a tidal wave, it is noticeable that there are fewer vehicles on the road.
My checklist of things to do in Beijing was almost complete on departure, although was gutted that the night markets (where you can get deep fried scorpions on a stick) was closed. Not sure if I could have actually tried them, but I think I would have man'd-up and crunched my way through them.
I cant imagine the amount of hours that went into organising this tour, from the logistics of travelling 100 musos and instruments, to finding the money, the halls, the advertising and promoting, it is a enormous operation, and one of the sad things is that a lot of people who did so much to make this tour happen were not able to travel with us. The fact that the tour was such a success is a huge credit to them.
Well I am finishing this up now (I am the slowest typist in existence) and am at the airport almost ready for the flight home to Welly. I hope you have enjoyed reading these blogs; we have had a fantastic tour, a landmark event for the NZSO, and an amazing experience for me.
We are back to work next week, and the next tour, throughout September, involves concerts featuring one of the finest trombone players in the world, Christian Lindberg. He is a genius and I can't wait to hear him live. I am sure a lot of you would love it, so hopefully see you there!
Til our next overseas jaunt,
Dave Bremner - NZSO member
Pictured above: Backstage looking at the auditorium monitors during the final concert. Photo / Mable Wong
Click here for some photos of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's final day in China. Photos / Mable Wong
For more information visit the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra website
