It was a weekend of RED for the Bergs, thanks to the homecoming festivities at Carthage – and aside from the football team’s inexplicable collapse and last-minute loss to Elmhurst (they gave the game away like one might throw a quarter into a Salvation Army kettle) it was a perfect weekend, filled to overflowing with two things especially precious to us: friends and music.
Carthage’s homecoming festivities typically begin Saturday morning with a rehearsal of that year’s alumni choir – which brings together the current Carthage Choir with singers from the past (whoever chooses to come back.) What drew back an especially sizable contingent of alumni from Kathy’s era was the return to campus of Tom Vignieri, who is among the top two or three musical shining stars in Carthage’s history. For many years he had a top position with Tanglewood- and after that was manager of the Handel-Haydn Society of Boston, America’s longest running musical organization – and now is producer for an Emmy- nominated public radio/ public television program that showcases brilliant young musicians in performances at Carnegie Hall. And on top of all that, Tom is a fine composer – and Carthage invited him back to showcase those talents by performing his “Hodie Christus natus est.” Seeing Tom again was a great thrill. So was being surprised by the completely unexpected entrance of John and Vickie Tobin, two of Kathy’s closest friends, whom she/ we had not seen in almost twenty years. (I’m pretty sure Kathy and I were not yet married at the time.) They are enduring an inconvenient separation because of John’s military service – one of them living in Olympia, Washington and the other in Georgia – but they were bound and determined to be back at Carthage for Tom’s big occasion. I wish you could have seen the looks of delighted amazement on Kathy’s face when the Tobins walked into Saturday morning’s choir rehearsal (a few minutes late) – I don’t think she could have been more surprised and pleased if Oprah Winfrey and Barbra Streisand had walked in arm and arm singing Carthage’s alma mater. That’s how big and splendid a surprise this was. Stir into the mix other Carthage friends like Leslie (who stayed at our house) Jon and Ted, plus local loved ones like Polly and Mark, Carrie and Steve, Brian, Paula . . . and you have the makings of a wonderful time.
Saturday night we had all of the above friends and family over for a humdinger of a party that Kathy planned and executed flawlessly. I’m only sorry that I had to slip off for my Kenosha Symphony gig, but when I returned the Tobins, Tom Vignieri, and Leslie were still there – along with faculty colleague/ alum Peter Dennee – and we sat in the living room and talked long into the night about all kinds of things, although music was first and foremost.
The grand finale of the weekend was the annual Alumni Recital, which is a fun cavalcade of Carthage alums – plus a rousing finale featuring the Carthage Choir joined by visiting alumni. The first part, as usual, was an interesting array of performances which featured the typical mix of alumni who come back every single year (or nearly every single year) to perform and a smattering of more recent graduates who seem to hunger for the chance to be back in their familiar haunts, making music again. Part of me wishes that these recitals would draw a wider array of graduates back instead of the same few over and over again . . . but on the other hand, those familiar faces and names do give this event a powerful sense of historic continuity. Two things are worth singling out. First of all, the quintet from Musici Amici who sang “the Promise of Living” with the KSO the night before signed themselves up to sing for the alumni recital and it proved to be a perfect finale to the first half. And for the first time in several years, a group of friends from Kathy’s era got together and prepared a couple of pieces for the program, including John Rutter’s “The Lord Bless you and Keep you.” In introducing the latter piece, I told a story which I’m not sure too many of those particular singers had heard before. Back in the spring of 1999, John Windh’s impending retirement was commemorated when the Carthage Choir performed with the Racine Symphony Orchestra in Siebert Chapel. At the end of the concert, RSO general manager Jeri Smith and said a few words to honor Dr. Windh – – – and then she turned to address the members of the Carthage Choir and said to them, in effect, that the very best gift that any of them could give to Dr. Windh would be to continue singing – – – in community choruses or their church choir or wherever and however the opportunities might present themselves. And as I finished saying those words, I looked over at that group of alumni who love to sing so very much – and I couldn’t say another word, so choked up was I. (And the whole point of me doing the talking at that point was because my wife was afraid she would start bawling. I guess that didn’t work out too well, did it?) Unfortunately, at least one alum in the audience jumped to the conclusion from my tears that I was paying posthumous tribute to Dr. Windh. No, no no, I assured her at intermission, Dr. Windh is very much alive and well. And his legacy of music lives on so potently in Kathy and Polly and the others who have all chosen to make music and singing a very important part of their lives. What made that especially poignant was when we realized that the second of the two pieces they sang, the Rutter benediction, has been part of both weddings and funerals in our respective lives.
The finale of the concert featured the Carthage Choir and alumni singing Tom’s “Hodie Christus Natus Est” with organ, brass and percussion accompaniment. . . and I was privileged to be the baritone soloist. And for once, I had no need to hold back – I could just let fly with all of my voice, which is a truly exhilarating experience. The piece was a spectacular success, and the crowd was on its feet cheering- and not just because so many in the audience were from the Vignieri family! The whole audience seemed delighted by it all, including Tom’s father, who is now confined to a wheel chair and contending with a whole host of ailments. But he was there and thrilled to be there to hear this work of his son’s performed. And we were thrilled to be singing it – and afterwards, when Tom came forward to accept the crowd’s enthusiastic ovation, he did whatever he could to divert the applause and attention away from himself and directly to the choir. What a class act – and what a delight to be able to sing this piece with good friends.
Which brings to mind what in some ways was the sweetest moment of the whole weekend. We spent part of Saturday evening rehearsing the two pieces that Kathy & Polly & Co. were going to sing on the recital – – – and as that rehearsal finally finished up, it was Leslie Gluck who said to everyone within earshot “I feel sorry for anyone who doesn’t have friends with which they can sing.”
Amen to that, Leslie. Amen to that.
pictured above: the alumni rehearsing in the studio at our house. At left, beginning closest to the camera: John Tobin and Jon Marschall. At right, beginning closest to the camera: Kathy Berg, Vickie Tobin, Polly Amborn, Mark Amborn, and Ted Repsholdt.