Professional orchestra rehearsal schedule

highbrassplayer · Veteran Member Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 332 Location: TN

Does anybody know how much rehearsing a professional orchestra does to prepare for a concert series?

SAnderson · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:16 am Post subject:

Typical Classical week in Detroit Symphony is:

Mon: Off
Tues: 10-12:30 reh
Wed: 10-12:30 reh and 1:30-3:30 reh
Thur. 10-12:30 reh and 8pm Concert
Fri: 8pm Con.
Sat: 8:30 Con.
Sun: 3pm Con.

Nonsense Eliminator · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:57 am Post subject:

Four rehearsals is certainly typical for contracted orchestras on main series concerts, but for pops or family concerts, or in a pickup orchestra, it's often only one or two rehearsals.
_________________
Richard Sandals
NBO

Don Herman rev2 · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

I believe the local symphony here (Colorado Springs Philharmonic) has four rehearsals around two to three hours each before a weekend performance. Of course, individual players practice extra for some upcoming works, additional rehearsals may be added, and as Richard said sometimes two or three are enough.
_________________
"After silence, that which best expresses the inexpressible, is music" - Aldous Huxley

SAnderson · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:44 am Post subject:

Richard is right, for a pops concert our (DSO) schedule resembles:

Mon: off
Tues. off
Wed: 10-12:30 reh
Thur: 10:45 con and 8pm con.
Fri: 8:30 con.
Sat: 8:30 con.
Sun: 3pm con.

deleted_user_56590f0 · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

The orchestras that I've played in (Houston, San Diego, Rotterdam) had 8 service weeks: 4 rehearsals and 4 performances. It wasn't uncommon for a conductor to only rehearse a few spots in traditional repertoire, leaving the rest of the time for unfamiliar works (even those that appeared later in the season).

Rotterdam had 40 subscription weeks (plus 2 weeks of whatever), which was a huge load. 10 weeks of paid vacation helped to lighted the burden, however

Best,
EC

MrClean · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:59 am Post subject:

Four rehearsals, 3 to 4 concerts per subscription week sounds about right. Sometimes one of those performances is swapped out for a family or school concert with a rehearsal, or some kind of "special" show. In the summer at the Bowl, our typical schedule is Monday off, Tuesday rehearsal 9:30-12:30, concert Tuesday night, Wenesday off, rehearsal Thurs. morning (different program), concert that night, rehearsal Friday morning (different program) with concerts Friday and Saturday nights. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Mikeytrpt · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:02 am Post subject:

MrClean · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

Mikeytrpt · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:09 pm Post subject:

Judging from the comments I've heard, you do quite well...........

MrClean · Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:28 pm Post subject:

You didn't hear that from CZJ, did you?