first performance

This virtuosic group also gave the first performance of Andrew Yee’s “Trees of Greenwood” in its full string orchestra version, with soprano Laurel Irene intoning the names of trees like an angelic voice from beyond, as though reminding us of members of a long-lost forest.

Already, it’s all paid off: Eleven days before the first performance, the show broke even, setting records for the theater’s season subscriptions and single-ticket sales — a rare return in today’s regional theater landscape.

On the first performance, you’re wondering how the audience is going to respond to the art, but the response was great and the standing ovations happened and I just felt like a big relief.

The singer performed the song on "Saturday Night Live" for her first performance on the sketch show in 40 years.

“But the caliber of these musicians is amazing. When it’s time to go live, they just shine. I’ve done shows with an orchestra before, and everything comes together during that first performance. It’s an extraordinary experience.”