Here I am on a rainy Monday morning trying to find words for a day of sunshine and autumn light, filled with music and stories and pictures and so many lovely people.
Yesterday the two “Ella Bella” concerts took place after months and months of preparation and hard work from many, many people. I was extremely nervous before. Would the paintings work out on stage, live on the big screen? Would I remember my words? Could we sell 1000 tickets? In the end there was a huge surge in sales on the day itself and, astonishingly, the concerts were both sell-outs.
As I said to the orchestra manager, Gabby, I feel incredibly lucky to be able to indulge myself with a 75 piece classical orchestra. But of course it isn’t about me or Ella Bella at all, it truly is about the orchestra – and they were magnificent yesterday – and the music: Tchaikovsky. I have fallen in love with his music all over again – being on stage and hearing just how cleverly put together it is, is incredible.
As for the storytelling and art, you would have to ask the audience, although I was swamped with people after both shows, saying how much they enjoyed it and how children from 3 to 16 sat rapt throughtout.
Again, I must impress that this isn’t me. It’s the music. Those who think Classical music too long or complex for children would have been entirely proved wrong.
Afterwards I signed books for hundreds of people: Ella Bella and Swan Lake sold out after the first concert. The books I had with me as gifts for people had to be purloined and sold after the second!
Of course I was incredibly grateful to everyone who came – without an audience there would be no concert. Lots of friends were there, along with some of my students from
Cambridge. One woman travelled all the way from Brighton, while an utterly delightful family came all the way from Glasgow, specifically for the concert; their daughters are huge Ella Bella fans! (Hello Madison and Charlotte). I can honestly say that hearing that was the biggest honour of the day (possibly the whole year). There were dozens of girls dressed in Ella Bella pink tutus. They were rewarded with the encore when I painted Ella Bella along to a dance from Swan Lake!
But as ever I have to tell you about all the brilliant people who don’t get flowers and Champagne at the end, but who make it all possible: So thanks to Maureen Irving and all at the St Albans Children’s book group, who have supported the events tirelessly for the last four years. Thanks to Robin Browning, the brilliant and passionate conductor, whose shading and pacing of the music made it sound dazzlingly fresh and vivid. The few hairs I have left were on end for almost the entire concert. The Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty; the colossal finale to Swan Lake (tears in the eyes for the final bars of that)… it was unforgettable. Robin’s a lovely man and a wonderful and generous colleague. My thanks also to Gabby, the orchestra manager and Kathy the treasurer, who have kept the concert on the tracks despite dangers of derailment. And to Richard the leader (a brilliant solo violin piece for him in Swan Lake). And all the members of the orchestra for their warm comradeship and good humour. Backstage James and Lucy the technicians, and the theatre team who sold tickets and organised raffles (all the art produced was raffled). And my dear friend Nadine who (as always) provided spectacular cake! Orchard Books of course (thanks for coming Fritha and Liz!) Thank you all. We make a great team!
Today I feel a warm glow: partly relief (well, it was a colossal undertaking) but mainly absolute joy in the moment. All those children longing to listen to Tchaikovsky, jumping up and down in their seats in time to the music. That’s what it’s all about. In all honestly, with everyone pulling together, it felt like an absolute triumph and it’s a day I am proud beyond words to have been part of!
Thank you everyone who helped, participated and came: you are fabulous and I am so lucky to have worked with you.
As for next year? Let’s keep our fingers crossed.
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