Eves and Days

Is it weird to enjoy the rehearsals more than the concerts?

From “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird” by Wallace Stevens:

V
I do not know which to prefer,
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of innuendoes,
The blackbird whistling
Or just after.

When I was young, I loved Christmas morning. If you celebrate Christmas, I bet you did, too. I can still feel the magic of coming down the stairs, with the tree lit up and presents under it.

But now? I kind of prefer Christmas Eve. All the bustle of tomorrow will be fun, but today I get to enjoy the moments, spend time with the people I love, and maybe read a bit. (Thanks Jolabokaflod!)

And the same is true of making music with my ensembles. As much as I love the concerts, I love the rehearsals more. The hustle and bustle of concert day gets in the way of the music, to my way of thinking. I love especially the luxurious moments in rehearsal when we can go deep on a single musical phrase, or teach a principle via our music. Concerts are magical in their intense energy (Christmas Day) and rehearsals are magical in their spaciousness (Christmas Eve).

What do you prefer? the eve or the day? The beauty of inflections or the beauty of innuendos? The rehearsal or the concert?