The trip from the UK (where I sang war-related music by an American composer) to Iowa (where I sang war-related music by a British composer) was unusually grueling. After a long day of socializing and running errands around London, dragging my colossal suitcase up and down stairs in the Underground, I finally took off from Heathrow around 5pm, landing in Chicago around 8pm local time. Next, a short flight to Des Moines where I picked up a rental car and drove fifty miles to Grinnell. I drove with the windows down and the radio blasting country music so that I wouldn't fall asleep (apologies to any country musicians for using your music as smelling salts). Although it was only a little after midnight by the time I pulled into the parking lot of the Days Inn at Grinnell, it felt like 6am to my body clock, and in my groggy state I forgot that I wasn't even booked at the Days Inn, but rather the Comfort Inn about a quarter mile down the road.
My landing in Grinnell was softened by the charms of the Saint's Rest coffee house, where I went every morning to pull myself together. Besides having terrific coffee and a mellow yet convivial atmosphere, their scones are world class. Here's a photo of the best scone I had in London:
(Wasteful packaging aside, it actually wasn't so bad.)
And now here is the beautiful Saint's Rest scone:
Due to the large number of musicians (orchestra, chamber orchestra, choir, children's choir, three vocal soloists) required for the Britten War Requiem, we performed it it a gymnasium.
We were on the Visitors side, and the audience was the Home Team.
A few hours before the first performance, I had a minor crisis because I forgot to pack the studs that stylishly fasten the top four buttons of my tuxedo shirt. I made some frantic calls to the tenor soloist and the two conductors, but couldn't reach anyone. Being a small town, Grinnell lacks a 24/7 tuxedo shop, but it does have a humongous Wal-Mart. I had to explain to several friendly employees exactly what kind of a stud I was looking for, but it turns out that this is one of the few items that they don't sell. I was actually not too worried because I have a long history of forgetting things like studs, ties, cuff links, dress socks, dress shoes, etc. and over the years have become sort of a MacGyver of improvised haberdashery. You may be surprised what can pass for formal wear if the stage is big enough:
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