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Staging a choir and orchestra concertDate: March 18, 2013 by Tina Harris  Views: 492
Hello, like many schools, my choral and instrumental departments share a Christmas and Spring Concert. Being a creative sort, I always try to mix it up a bit - sometimes the choir is in the first half, sometimes the orchestra - often we perform together, especially at the end of the concert. This year, we're also thinking about mixing the ensembles together more - a few instrumental pieces followed by a choral pieces. We have a fairly large stage; large enough for the full orchestra with the choral risers and shells placed behind the orchestra for join songs. What I don't like is having my choir so far up stage, away from the audience (and the piano) if we perform with the orchestra chairs and stands in place. I might be able to move the choir in front of the orchestra, but I'm not crazy about that either. I'd love to hear how you manage your space with various groups. Thanks.
John Howell on March 18, 2013 4:56pm
Tina: The choir-behind setup is very standard for large-scale choral-orchestral works, simply because it WORKS! But it is a choice, and no single setup is perfect for everything. But if you have platorms that allow your singers to be seated when they aren't singing, it's probably the best compromise. Robert Shaw--a perfectionist if there ever was one--even taught his singers how to stand up and sit down without making noise!
The main thing to keep in mind is sight-lines. Both choir and orchestral need to see YOU, and you need to see THEM. And the audience needs to be able to see both.
I even have the same problem with a small early music ensemble--about 12 singers and a small baroque orchestra--and I have to think through each and every concert because each one has its own demands depending on the music.
All the best,
John
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