I can't really explain how much I loved to be there.
I understand quite well what you say, but not from personal experience, only from the experience of others I have been close to (I worked for a while in two big operas in Romania and saw a lot of rehearsals and performances).
I think this short sentence of yours explains everything that happened. Truly special moments. I'm glad you were so happy. I think it is a reward for your work, so emotional and tiring, but so beautiful!
It was tiring as we worked a lot for this but the feeling you get, as you say like a reward, is absolutely worth all of that effort. I arrived home recently, from another rehearsal, we went through the repertory and added two new pieces. One by Verdi, from the opera Nabucco and another song that I got from the director, like surpriiiiise - 10 minutes of practice and I had to play with them already! It is never boring at my side 😂
Boredom is one of the most unpleasant feelings. Anything that banishes boredom is desirable and I'm sure you're glad you don't have time to be bored.
There is a "dolce far niente" that we sometimes want, but this is something, very necessary for our health.
Our best friend is a piano teacher. She didn't play classical music after graduating from the conservatory because she fell in love with a fellow rocker, they made rock bands in which she played keyboards for about twenty years. Now, in her sixties, she gives piano lessons.
I've seen her on several occasions reading a score for the first time and found it quite difficult. So I understand what it was like when you had to play after only ten minutes of practice!
Oh, that is cool that your best friend is a piano teacher now. Sight reading is also fun and a challenge. The thing is to catch the main lines, it can't be played everything perfectly, but the essence. Later, when there is time, it has to be practised of course. For this performance on Friday, it will already be moulded under my fingers :))
I saw how she read the score and it happened as you say. Then follows rehearsals, deepening, and interpretation, each in their style. Very nice! I saw a concert on TV with Daniil Trifonov. Extraordinary. He played the whole concert without a score. Sounds superhuman.