O Voto Tremendo from Mozart's Idomeneo

We were rehearsing Mozart's IDOMENEO at the Met when 9-11 happened. 2 days passed before we could continue with rehearsals, and when the chorus sang "O Voto Tremendo", it would never have the same
meaning.( Oh tremendous vow! Horrendous, Spectacle! Death now reigns and opens wide the doors of the cruel abyss.) Every performance, with tears in our eyes, we looked out into the partially filled audience. The music created such a depth of anger and sorrow in us when this was sung, and an innocent child lie dead on the stage. I think of how we have grown stronger spiritually since this horrible event.

carolyn sielski