Today was all about making the sponsors happy. During this entire tour, I’ve been trying to figure out how this organization can pay for 100+ people to travel, eat, sleep, and get paid. Now, I understand.
The Baltic Youth is sponsored by a gas company called Nordstream. They are going to build a pipe line under the Baltic Sea that connects St. Petersburg, Gotland (I think), and Northern Germany. Sending 20-30 year old musicians around the Baltic countries playing concerts (of music composed by natives) is their way of unifying the region culturally. So, in other words…we are the poster kids for the corporation. Nothing like blindly supporting a huge environmental issue!
This final “hurrah” for the tour was an outdoor concert in the park adjacent to the Church of Spilled Blood (a famous cathedral…one with onion shaped towers and crazy colors!) The entire area was blocked off when we arrived, and we had to go through security to even enter the park. The stage was set up as if we were rock stars…intelligent lighting, massive video screens, and huge floral arrangements surrounding the proscenium. The VIP audience was given stadium seating, while the public had to stand about 100 yards away! (We realized later that it was because at the end of the concert there was a huge fireworks display in the field!)
The rehearsal on the stage was unbearably hot. Even Kristjan’s clothes were saturated with sweat. We were only playing the “B” program at this venue….so even though we are all on stage for the entire program, only half of the winds, brass, and percussion played on each piece. I have many photos of people sprawled out on the floor napping between and during each tune’s rehearsed (myself included)…may not have been the most professional thing, but rest was necessary given the conditions. We prayed that the weather wouldn’t be so bad for the concert.
The concert itself was so “Russian”. The VIPS (CEOs of Nordstream, Russian politicians, and other filthy rich ambassadors) filed into the area dressed formally and drinking champagne. Classical music was filling the area through some speakers as we waited to enter the stage.
The evening was initiated with numerous speeches given by the VIPs of the VIPs. Then, they invited 10 members of the orchestra (one from each of the countries represented in the group…not including America and New Zealand, haha) to plant a flower in the gardens in the park. It was very cheesy, symbolic and awkward! But, that’s show business!
At first, as we began to play, the crowd wasn’t responsive at all. However, as the progam progressed they loosened up, as did the orchestra. We played the program much better than in Riga, and I had a lot of fun. Following the 15 pieces representing this “cultural initiative” the firework display was huge! They played really loud groovy music through the sound system and everyone in the orchestra was dancing and sharing hugs and congratulatory remarks. It was quite a sight!
Immediately after the show, there was an outdoor reception along the walkway in the park. A massive amount of cold and warm food was served, along with some free champagne, wine, and vodka (of course!) I had a glass of champagne and chatted with some friends before the staff came around to collect everyone. We had to get to our actual dinner venue, and we were already running late (at this point it was about 11pm!) On our way to the dressing room and buses, Danish Maria and I were stopped by a VIP man and woman. They thanked us for our concert, asked a little about our studies, and then told us about the helicopter pad they just built near their house in Gotland. Good thing they told us about it, I have been looking for a place to store my helicopter in Sweden.
We were taken back to the hotel for a quick change quick of clothes, driven to a restaurant for dinner, then hauled to the river to board the “party boat”. We gave Kristjan and the staff a few gifts, and had what I call a “Kumbaya” moment…the people in charge said that they were so happy about the results and thanked us for our work…then everyone huged and felt good about the accomplishment. Gotta love the performing arts! As soon as all the mushy stuff was over, the boat docked so that the first group could head back to the hotel (it was now 2am) I had to leave because a taxi was to pick me up at the hotel at 3:45am.
When I got the hotel, I packed and showered and was in the lobby in plenty of time to meet my driver. Ellen had given me the license plate number and name of the driver to meet.
As soon as I stepped into that cab, the worst travel day you can imagine began….....
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