Tanzen und Springen (Kassel)
June 6, 2024
TENET Germany Travelogue, Day 5
ENRICO LAGASCA, Bass-Baritone
The title of my first ever travelogue post (like ever ever - so, please bear with me ) is also the title of one of my favorite madrigals by Hans Leo Hassler (please read with Lady Whistledown voice from here on. We love a Julie Andrews) and it sums up how I feel on day 4 of our Germany tour. We are singing and dancing and leaping and prancing (insert Prancercise meme here) and I am so lucky to share these #moments with dearest friends. And also #thrilledtoannounce that Tenet’s been a HIT amongst our German friends!
I have an eclectic taste in music, and while I of course sing classical, mostly, I love listening to a variety of music, which keeps my palette fresh and ears open to other sounds. (Here’s a recommended recording of the Hassler by our friends in The King’s Singers).
So while I was thinking of how to make this post sound like me (read: to “spin” this post, as influencers call it), I thought I’d pair some recommended listening for you as a guide through the ramblings on my head, my dear readers.
If able to play the songs when recommended, while reading, please do, or save for later! Come All Ye Songsters!
A PERFECT SPRING + GRIMMWELT + BÄRENREITER
We love colors and flowers and great weather - Thursday was exceptionally gorgeous. We’ve been lucky to have the most perfect Spring weather (may or may not be refusing the thought of Summer, and it just isn’t yet here in Central Germany).
Some of our friends visited the Grimmwelt and explored everything about the Grimm Brothers and family - from their fairy tales to their dictionary project, and more, add a cute rooftop moment!
I took the morning to myself and went to the Bärenreiter headquarters here in Kassel. To those who don’t know Bärenreiter, it is possibly the most well known music publisher of classical music at present. And it was founded here in Kassel.
Hear Timothée Chalamet sing Pure Imagination here.
I went to the headquarters without any expectation nor any plan at all on what to see/do/ask, and so were they - in fact, they were so surprised by this stranger knocking on their office doors (it’s giving tourist vibes). But I simply wanted to see what this place is! And the folks at Bärenreiter were so kind to let me in and show me around and it was just so cool. There were only 2 people (both editors), as most of the employees work from home. But stacks of papers and those trademark sheet music/music books (I personally love). Photos you’ll find below are the early engraving tools used in the early years of the publishing company. In the before times, they used these metal plates to engrave music and had to write them from right to left (!!!) before they press to print on the machine.
AN EXTRA BIT
The Bärenreiter headquarters resides on this street named after one of our favorite early music composers, Henrich Schütz. And en route, I stumbled upon other street names, named after some other lovely early music fellas!
SISTER ACT 30TH ANNIVERSARY
But but but, let me press rewind a little bit! Earlier in the morning, I picked up my daily espresso from the cute little coffee machine with fresh beans from the lobby downstairs (song of the summer here!), and started off my day watching all these trending Sister Act 2 30th Anniversary videos/posts that featured performances from Whoopi Goldberg and the cast (sans Lauryn Hill, unfortunately). Did make my eyes teary a little. I grew up with Sister Act! Perfect way to start the day. Joyful joyful your way through the performance here.
SELFIES & A GOLDEN HOUR PHOTOSHOOT MOMENT
And speaking of all joyful, I hard subscribe to great selfies and photoshoots paired with the most perfect weather. Look at all these beautiful friends + I got a solo pic with my awesome awesome stand partner, Steve - we’ve been singing together for more than a decade now and it’s just always a pleasure to make sounds with him ! (Bey x Madonna moment / “release your mind, release the stress / vogue”) Can’t resist not taking these photos especially during thee “golden hour” light. And florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking!
LITTLE TOWN!
Unsere stadt ein ruhiges Dörfchen (!) Our concert venue was about an hour's travel from Kassel in this charming town called Bad-Sooden Allendorf. And what. A. Cutie. The architecture all around, all the flowers, and most especially the lovely folks of the town who came to see our show!
I LOVE A TRIO!
Last night, we also witnessed the “premiere performance” on tour of O si quis daret concentum by Luigi Rossi. Ah! Our lady trio sounded fab - a really lovely piece! A must hear and an incredible highlight of the program! During rehearsals (and sure, the performance), I can’t help but to also have the final trio between The Marshallin, Octavian, and Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier play in my head. There are a lot of awesome performances out there but here’s a fave (Fleming, Bonney, Graham!). Message me your personal favorite. And if you have more treble trio bits that you like, send them over. Because yes, from Destiny’s Child to the Rosenkavalier finale trio, I love a trio (had to say one more time).
A+ TEAM
I love the #bts teams. They make #allthethings happen before, during, and after all the shows we do! Here’s an appreciation to our friends in Kultursommer Nordhessen (Katharina Dunkel, Mirco Blumenberg, Hannes Tänzer, and our lovely driver for the day, Peter!) for being with us yesterday! Play this as we send our dancy vibes shoutout to all those who work behind the scenes to make our concerts a huge success through #allthetimes. WE thank you for your work and we appreciate all of you!
THANK YOU, BAD-SOODEN ALLENDORF!
Our concert venue was at St. Crucis-Kirche, and come on, let’s pause for a sec to appreciate some European stage lighting (takes notes). We were so well lit! And the space looked and sounded divine, too!
Sooooo I am clearly not good with this writing stuff, etc, that’s why other people write them (check the NYT- I know, I know, I know, but this might be the only time I get an NYT mention so indulge me + I’m still over joyful I got married and it’s Pride month so give me a pass 🌈), but seriously, I appreciate you making it to the last few bits of this post and gracing me with your time listening to these #bops that I picked - I hope you did, it’ll make you dance and prance (insert Prancercise meme again).
Sending you off with a tune from my fave, Gypsy, which revival production I am so excited to see in the Fall on Broadway! Honey, Everything’s coming up roses!
Tschüß!
Enrico