notes on the dress rehearsal

mmmmkay,
so making a singer sing for a 9:30am rehearsal is NOT the coolest, but that's how it happened today. One session in the morning and the dress rehearsal in the afternoon.
So I actually sang through Zerb twice this morning, then ate a light lunch, and then came back for a third round.

After the 2nd time (with twice on a few sections, so maybe the 3.5th time) of the morning rehearsal I could feel that I was beginning to grab a little at the top, meaning larynx position was compromised, meaning, I needed to calm down from the excitement of getting to do it w/orchestra!

Notes didn't suffer, but it could have felt more 'free and easy' as opposed to ...hmm..I'll say 'placed', but that's not the right word.
Just...careful...maybe...versus free and easy.

Dress rehearsal notes to self:
The section I think is most easy (so war), is the most hard for the orch. ensemble-wise. I had better pay attention to the Maestro's 2, AND have fun.
First section I love--free and easy with piano and orch coming in.
Noch glaub- watch some ends of held notes in the middle-high passag. like Ds and E's. I can very easily let them bloom and just as easily drive them a bit too much so that they sound flat at the ends of the pitch when I don't feel free and easy about them.

Things I liked:
My pianissimos, my TRRRRillls! Seeeriously, I have not thought about the importance of these before, but DANG! They are fun and I KNOWZ that I'm doing them Ree-aaally well.
My audible 'fun' 'acting' voice within my 'voice' 'voice'
My deutsch.

Things I didn't like:
Driving those middle notes as stated above.
The second to last notes of long phrases where all I care about, seemingly, is to get to the end of the phrase w/enough breath and therefore give up too much on the penultimate note and it's under or under-supported.


Places to watch out:
Grossmachtige:
suuussssss
Fraaaaaau
verwandt--LUNGEN (after that whole long frikkkin phrase)

noch glaub:
nothing? really nothing? I liked it all? YEA I DID!!!

so war:
ah's right before Das Ein Herz.
HERZ (first note)
sich SELber (sel)
2nd run DOWN of cadenza

als ein gott:
Stirn
Gott (gefangen)
kam JeEEEder gegangen (the SLOWWWW part, approach from bottom)


Plans for the evening:
ZERO! Relaaaxxx because I am still exhausted added to the obligatory exhaustion from having to wake up early (AND my body waking up at 6am again..SO. NOT. COOL).

cooolest room ever

Well yay for swanky gigs!
I just checked into my uber-cool borough hotel.
It's really bright and light, I have a balcony, there is a SEE THROUGH GLASS SHOWER that's HUGE (well, with a curtain when you want it, but who wants that!?!, and in general it's really slick and modern and I love it.
If this is how you get treated on concert gigs--bring it on!

I kind of want to have a party in my hotel room!

got meme?

In the spirit of being too tired to think of something original or update the blog about my final rehearsal before the performance, I'll respond to ACB's tag/meme:

But back to the meme. Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

Uh- oh, though, my nearest book is not in English.
So I'll have to do my best to translate:

Isaac watched the movie and a few days afterwards left for the city. As a novice journalist, in order to try and interview Paul Newman he knew he would have to find him in the port city filming Exodus. All of the journalists, old-timers included had gone through the same process.


Ok, that was very random, and not as interesting as ACB's explanation of her food odysseys.

UP NEXT for me:
Swanky hotel in a 'borough' of NY, rehearsal Thursday, hair cut Friday, concert Friday, hang out with tons of family that will be there, but not TOO long, beeecause-- Opera Saturday!

2:21am...

Not doing much better tonight in terms of that whole..getting to bed thing.

The sitz today was lovely. (shhh, I recorded most of it on my minidisc player)..but it doesn't really matter--nothing that can be excerpted because we had a bunch of starts and stops PLUS the smart-alecks that were pressing record for me decided to have fun little conversations into the recorder--DURING the musical interludes of the arias--thanks guys. I appreciate your language and your topics of discussion.

This week is going to be a bit crazy..but only in terms of transportation to and from the city--not performance-wise.
I have to be here for rehearsal tomorrow, tuesday and wednesday, get in my car wednesday and drive to nyc, have a really really and I mean REALLY early morning rehearsal on thursday, another rehearsal thursday afternoon, and then perform in concert 1 on Friday, say hello to the family and friends that are congregating from ALL over the place to see this (better not screw up! haha), hang for a bit after the show, go to some donor's house, try to sleep (probably impossible)..since the NEXT day I'll be driving back for opening night of current-opera!

Oh yea, with an added competition that I have to drive back and forth to the city on Tuesday.
I'm still debating that one..but I really should do it. There is no reason not to, really.
Already in the semifinals.

ps- do you know how many infomercials are on major networks between the hours of midnight and 3am? I guess I do now!

BORING. Why can't I get a channel that has perpetual law and order episodes that I
a.have not seen
b. do not remember the end
c. think i have not seen and then realize during Trial Part 49 (chung chung...) that indeed, I do remember that cross examination and verdict.

it's 1:45 a.m. ...

why am I awake?
WHY NOT?
It's the week before the show opens so why wouldn't my sleep pattern be completely insane?
I'm so not tired.
Because when I got home from rehearsal earlier, I NAPPED---the evil nap. It ruins my entire sleep schedule.

Tomorrow is the sitz and I'm really looking forward to it. It's fun to do things for the first time with orchestra and see how they'll evolve in the few rehearsals I have left with them.

Off to bed. Or at least to try to go to bed.
Lucky I don't have to sing a note until 3pm tomorrow.
I will surely be sleeping in.

25 things

Ooooh, can I play too? Lil'Ms.Bossy via some other fun blogs and lists came up with her 25, so here is my attempt:

25 (or so..we'll see if I can come up with around that number) things to do--before, no, not before I go, but just to do. In life. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

1. Learn how to bake a dessert that will make everyone that eats it ask for the recipe, henceforth becoming known as 'coloraturaaah's dessert', and served among their friends and families to the delight of all of the guests.

2. Rent a car (learn how to drive stick) and drive really really fast on the autobahn in Germany and then stop at cute towns that the express/intercity trains never stop at to be a tourist for an afternoon.

3. Publish my book (this requires finishing writing and editing it first).

4. Spend a summer visiting as many of my 'facebook' friends as possible IRL (in real life).

5. Play in a celebrity tennis tournament.

6. Spend one week as a 'survivor' on some island in some tropical locale (and then be promptly picked up by boat, ON time, by the company that offers that kind of 'extreme tourism' package).

7. Raise a lot of money and support for a cause that I believe in.

8. Have three, beautiful and healthy blue-eyed babies (preferably 2 years apart each).

9. Live in The City. Live in The Burbs.

10. Have the opportunity to work abroad and the excuse to live abroad for one year and split my time in Paris, Milan, and Munich. (And visit everywhere else on the weekends).

11. Overcome my fear of rollercoasters, ziplining, and parasailing. (heights?) But really, I don't think I'm scared of heights in general...hmmm...

12. Speak fluently and accent-less to 'native speakers' in all of the languages I speak and study.

13. Release a cd of Porter, Gerswhin, and Berlin songs for jazz trio: voice, bass and piano. Maybe drums. We'll see.

14. Fly first class on an international flight.

15. Write poetry again, like I did when I was a kid and didn't even know what I was doing.

16. Perfect one Chopin etude on the piano. And Beethoven's 6 Bagatelles.

17. Learn to love high heels. (thanks to the hotttness of Armani on sale)

18. Go to the gym 3 days a week for one whole year. (hahahahahaha....)

19. Sing Zerbinetta in a crazy European (but not Euro-trash) production that involves acrobatics and upside down singing- preferably on very high notes.

20. Start the libretto for my opera. Finish the libretto for my musical.

21. Tell the ones who count how much I love them.

22. Find someone to leave love-notes for underneath his pillow.!!

23. Print out all of my digital pictures and put them in albums and scrapbooks.

24. Drink hot tea without first putting some cold water in it.

25. Fall asleep (as often as possible) to the sounds of the waves from the Mediterranean.

tech and patience

Last night we had our first tech in the theater.
That means full sets and dealing with everything that has previously been make-believe and according to a line of either red or yellow tape, depending on which act I'm in and whether I enter on the 2nd floor (my room and balcony) or through the first floor.

These rehearsals are always long, and almost always frustrating--for me, at least. Because I've worked so hard for x number of weeks to feel comfortable with every little move that I make, and then all of a sudden- BAM! The stairs are rickety, there are more of them (than the tape had indicated previously), they are set apart at bigger levels, there is more space here, less space there, that exit needs to be totally re-timed, that entrance was way too late because I had to get there by climbing up to the 2nd floor from offstage via wobbly ladder....ahhhh---it's just never the same. And after the initial shock of having to actually be very 'present' physically as opposed to just continuing to 'do my thing' in terms of character development, voice, comfort, I can get frustrated with it very easily.

I think I've written about this before. Whether it was the underground lift into Queen of the night that shot me up in the air, the huge heels and double-y large costume for Olympia, the sitting onstage for 20 minutes because there was no entrance once the act started...
surprises everywhere.

I have to learn to be more patient, I know..but these nights somehow feel like it's back to square one...like- what was the point of staging something if now it totally doesn't work (well, until we retime, re-set, re-spike, etc).

At any rate, last night I got annoyed to the point of comedy.
When a scene that has been completely 'staged/blocked/choreographed' (Bricconi, birbante...) just falls apart onstage with the new cape, the new shaving cream, the new sheetmusic, the new everything...that it becomes hilarious.
We all just stopped and said--uh, can we do this again?
So we stumble our way through the staging again--this time not choking the Bartolo (as much), and all of our nerves of 'crazy' seem to wane a bit, as we understand that everyone is going through the same thing.

Yes, we have to re-spike, stop so that everyone knows where they have to be standing while the set rotates from inside to outside and then back to inside during the storm scene, to readjust everything that we have been 'used' to doing in the rehearsal space that is now flat out just not going to work here.

Tonight is tech-take-2.
It will go more smoothly, I'm sure.
As will the rest of the week leading up to the performances--and at that point, this post will seem so so long ago and irrelevant.

g

competition today

The past 24 hours or so: (after singing a run-through of current-show last night until 10pm).
12:45am- finally make myself get in bed and set the alarm for 5am. Ouch.
3:45am- wake up because my body refuses to EVER let me have a good night's sleep before important things the next day.
4:59am- wake up a minute before my alarm (duh).
Shower, blow-dry hair which is getting REALLY long, and, sidebar- should I get it cut in a bob or should I deal with the length and cut layers into it? Hmm...
5:25- get all my things together, make sure I have my music, my rep.list and I know where I'm going.
5:53- arrive at bus station (yes, I decided not to drive into the city so I could sleep for a bit--sleep-on a bus-HA).
6:10 bus departs, all of a sudden, air conditioning is on full-blast. NOT cool.

Sometime between 6:10and 9:55- me waking up, me being cold, me being tired, me thinking I'm going to sound like CRAP, me wondering if I'll get there in time, me eating an apple.

10:05- arrive at Port Authority. Get in a cab.(YES, a CAB). Drive to UES for competition.
Got there early, so I walked to the park and warmed up outside.
People walking by and staring, etc. etc.

Was in my audition dress, and (of course) sneakers...so I'm sure it was even stranger than usual.
Walk by a construction crew- twice--once in my hoodie and black sweats (whistles and catcalls) once in my audition dress (same)--guess you CAN look like crap and they'll still think you're hot.

Sang- Zerbinetta. When I announced my piece they freaked and needed to make sure that I was not about to sing for 12 minutes. Yes, I assured them, I would be starting from "so war"..
ARGH! Get over it people! I sing long songs and no, I'm of COURSE not going to sing the whole thing, are you crazy?!
You just let the girl in front of me sing all of o leggiere hirondelle and THEN asked for the recit to Norina! COME ON!


-breathe-
But it sounded good and felt good. And afterwards one of the old ladies said that she really enjoyed it and thinks that I'll get a call....which means..NOTHING..but it's still amusing to hear. These competitions, I swear, are ALL run by the same people.
I have decided there are SEVEN total people in NYC and CA that care about giving money to young opera singers.
And they all run all of these competitions.

Basta.
I made the noon bus back, and now I'm here, insanely tired, and trying to pull it together for the first night in the theater--first tech tonight.

Eek.

Passover, abridged

Family time! I'm so lucky that this year I got to celebrate Passover with a majority of my family:
mom, aba, middle brother and his gf, grandparents, cousin from TX, cousins from MA, aunt, uncle, 2nd cousins and their daughter, 2nd cousin's older sister, and bff from undergrad!

I'm used to being away from my family, not being able to see them very often, but one of the hardest parts of the vagabond singer lifestyle is missing big events like holidays where all of the rest of your family will be together, or weddings and other celebrations where bunches of friends will be reunited...and you'll probably be in a chorus rehearsal for the young artist program that you got into that summer.
(oooh, bitter much?)..No, I'm thankful for all of the opportunities that I've had, wouldn't change anything, but am doubly and triple-y thankful that this year I got to see my family on this important and celebratory evening.

And now, a run-down of last night (abridged, and fit for print)
By Michael Rubiner

Opening prayers:

Thanks, God, for creating wine. (Drink wine.)

Thanks for creating produce. (Eat parsley.)

Overview: Once we were slaves in Egypt. Now we're free. That's why we're doing this.

Four questions:
1. What's up with the matzoh?
2. What's the deal with horseradish?
3. What's with the dipping of the herbs?
4. What's this whole slouching at the table business?

Answers:
1. When we left Egypt, we were in a hurry. There was no time for making decent bread.
2. Life was bitter, like horseradish.
3. It's called symbolism.
4. Free people get to slouch.

(Heat soup now.)

The four kinds of children and how to deal with them:
Wise child—explain Passover.
Simple child—explain Passover slowly.
Silent child—explain Passover loudly.
Wicked child—browbeat in front of the relatives.

Speaking of children: We hid some matzoh. Whoever finds it gets five bucks.

The story of Passover: It's a long time ago. We're slaves in Egypt. Pharaoh is a nightmare. We cry out for help. God brings plagues upon the Egyptians. We escape, bake some matzoh. God parts the Red Sea. We make it through; the Egyptians aren't so lucky. We wander 40 years in the desert, eat manna, get the Torah, wind up in Israel, get a new temple, enjoy several years without being persecuted again.
(Let brisket cool now.)


The 10 Plagues: Blood, Frogs, Lice—you name it.

The singing of "Dayenu":
If God had gotten us out of Egypt and not punished our enemies, it would've been enough. If he'd punished our enemies and not parted the Red Sea, it would've been enough.

If he'd parted the Red Sea—(Remove gefilte fish from refrigerator now.)

Eat matzoh. Drink more wine. Slouch.

Thanks again, God, for everything.

SERVE MEAL.

twice in one weeeeek?!!

This is just getting ridiculous.
Just got asked to fly and cover an adele because of a 'situation'.
Same night as opening night here and then three more days.
ARGHGHGHHGHGHG.
No.Can.Do.

Wow. At least I feel the lurvvv.

back to normal

Day 'o insanity being over, it was rehearsal as usual today.
We had a fun time for the past 2 rehearsal blocks doing some recitative blitzing.
Usually this happens a bit earlier in the production, but due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to get the show blocked and now we're taking the time to go back and really blitz musically.
There's a LOT of recit (not for me---wooo hoo!---but for Figaro and others). Well, I do have quite a bit..but not that much compared to everyone else.

Blitzing musically first is a game I totally enjoy. For barbarina last year (in both languages)...we blitzed and I made a game out of it--whoever can say as many of their recits IN scene and act order, WITHOUT breathing--wins.

ie, take one big breath and go:
buongiornosinorfigaro..simuordinoia..ah,ahmifateridere,chemiservelospiritochegiovanla..
bellezzasechiusaiosemprestofraquatromurachemipardesserproprioinsepoltura...

etc.etc.

but the breath actually goes much much longer because there is more recit and you just ignore what comes in between and say your whole big phrase.

Am I weird for thinking that's a fun game?
Hmm...
Either way, I like winning it. And I have good breath support!

Last year's one in English was something like:
thepavillionontheleftside, isitthisone, nothatone, supposehedoesn'tcome...theyweresostingyintthekitchen..theyonlygavemeanapple,apear,andapastry..
and'whoseitforyounglady'?oh foracertainperson..'justasithought' 'ahwell'...

etc.
And in that way I never forget recits.

the 411---real part I

Ooook. Yesterday started just like any other day.
Rehearsal begins at one, and me trying to decide whether to haul my butt to the gym or not at any point before then.
Order of events via text between me and my agent:
12:something
A: why are you always in a production when they need a last minute Zerbinetta?
Me: dammmmmmit....seriously?
A: Yes.
Me: Booooo...When/where?
A: Brazil- Now.
At that point, a phone call to share more info.
Another agency heard about this last minute replacement through a S. American agent, my agent doesn't have more info. because the other American agent is in a meeting, but if I want to be submitted, they can submit me.
Me- ok--I know it would mean giving this up right now, but Zerbinetta is the role I really need to be singing in my career, and WILL be singing in my career--so, if the decision has to be made about pulling out of this contract, it may have to happen.

Fast forward to the hours between 1-4pm (I'm in rehearsal, but really only paying attention to when I'll get the next text)
Texts:
A: I'm submitting you. Don't know the chances. Will get back to you
M: Guess I have to get the score and brush it up!

More calls to let me know that:
-They can't take an American citizen because of visa issues, do I have my "other nationality" passport? Yes--but not here--it's a 5 hour car ride away.
-It's 80% sure, it's 90% sure, you may have to talk to your director and exec. director about this contract.....it's 95% sure.

Me, in the meantime--after rehearsal, and going to the local U. music library and getting the score...(FREAKING out with excitement!!) OMG. Zerbinetta. Ok, well I've staged and sung the entire commedia act. I've coached and 'scene' staged the rest, but it's been a while. Can I really revisit these FORTY pages of Strauss insanity/recit? AND memorize it by a performance on Thursday night?
OH GOD.
And what about what I'm doing right NOW? How do I just leave them? Ok, no, this happens ALL the time...I mean, people get a call, they get a call. They leave one place for a better place. They leave for more press, bigger house, more money--I can't believe this is happening, and it's already happened like FOUR times already this year with NONE of those times working out..and NOW, the ONE time where I'm freaking out that it's happening because this is my 'hometown' opera company and I really wanted to always have good ties with them and do a good job and feel like I give back to them as much as they gave to me during my younger years just starting out.

Now,
Who can I tell about this while the frantic text messages and emails are flying?
NO ONE!
My parents are on vaycay in the Bahamas, everyone I know is at work, my coach is coaching...and there was NO one that I could run this by...it didn't need to be someone in the business..it just needed to be someone with AN opinion...preferably a calming one...that yes, I could do this, Yes, I SHOULD do this be it offered to me, and YES, everything WILL BE OOOOOKKKKK!!!

....later that night...after checking out the score and convincing myself that yes, I could re-memorize the Vorspiel by Thursday night....
9:30
A: Call the exec. director. This is pretty much happening unless they can't fly you down there or pay you enough to do it
ME (ohmygodohmygodohmygod): ok.

AND THEN---at approximately 9:37----
NOPE. It's not happening even though they were ready to put me on a plane.
Complications that shall not be discussed here...but suffice it to say, I impressed the people that needed to be impressed, and although it didn't work out this time, who KNOWS about next time (when it's actually SCHEDULED and not a last minute substitution)

I'll have you know that I was excited/freaked/nervous/happy/anxious and any and every other emotion throughout the entire day.
And for dinner (since I was too crazed to eat lunch or dinner) I treated myself to a large glass of chianti AND (DO NOT JUDGE) a Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich.
I'm NOT a fastfood girl, EXCEPT for this ONE scrumptious sandwich which I ONLY allow myself a few times a year when I'm on really long road-trips.


And just like that, a 95% percent certainty was back down to zero again.
This life is LOCO and I LIKE it!

O.M.G. ---teaser....pre-part1

When I do get around to writing about my absolutely exciting and amazing and ridiculous and crazy and have I mentioned just insane day...it will be a good story- PROMISE!

Bottom line for tonight- I'm not on a plane to Brazil.

More tomorrow.

career/life

I've had conversations recently with a few different people about having a career and being in a relationship.
I've heard things like-
wow, with all that traveling, you must be lonely.
it must be so amazing to travel so much.
how often do you come back to nyc?
how often are you on the road?
where is all of your stuff?
where do you see yourself in a few years?
what is the ultimate goal for you in your career?

At first, after I explain my 'cool' and 'artsy' non-9-5 lifestyle that involves living mostly out of 2 large suitcases, being in different cities for about half of the year, living on friend's couches, subletting in nyc, traveling some more, rehearsal process, how you can have between 1 and around 8 or 10 shows after only 3 weeks of rehearsal, etc. etc., everyone thinks that's so cool.
Wow, doing what I love. Having an agent. Getting 'gigs'. Meeting people, traveling, how do you memorize 400 pages of Italian.

And then it's- well, how do "I" (meaning, they) fit into this picture--or could possibly fit into this picture--depending on the friend or situation.
It's the 'where do you see yourself' question.

Where do I SEE myself--meaning, in the 'best of all possible worlds'?
Or which direction am I realistically hoping to be working in?

Best of all possible worlds:
I get hired by one place in one city for 3/4 of the year or more (and by place I mean a famous opera house in one of TWO ...or maybe three...cities in the US, and one of five or six cities internationally) to miraculously sing a NUMBER of roles in a NUMBER shows in their season.
I can make my home in that city of choice (which is already a 'choice' city on my list), make enough money to be calling what I'm doing a career for most of the year, meet the man of my dreams, be in the same city, pop out some kids and still have a full-time career (after the kid-popping that is), visit my family (and most likely his, too) abroad in the summers, and continue with 'music love' and 'life love' forever more...and they lived happily ever after, the end.
A girl can dream, right?

More realistic of all possible worlds:
I get hired to sing a NUMBER of roles in a NUMBER of operas a year, each in a different place. I leave for a month and a half, every month and a half. I rely heavily on the hope that people do still believe that long distance relationships can work. Even from the beginning stages of a relationship. What I can 'come home' to is, hopefully..a someone..or a someplace...could be anywhere.
What seems most certain to me about career/life right now, is that the career has a leading role. I always want it to have a leading role. And I'm quite content and even excited about the prospects that next year and the NEXT year bring as well!
But being a gal that wants it all, I'd like all of those other 'best of all possible worlds' things to happen too.

still!

this is getting unacceptable.
No more real symptoms, but still a general feeling of not-wellness.
And I'm supposed to sing at some donor event tonight.
Ughghhg...
NOT. COOL.

the time has come

yes, it's time for Robitussin.
My nose has been stuffy for three days, it hasn't gone down to my throat, but NOW I have a dry cough...NOT cool. If I don't nip this in the bud right now, it could easily get worse.
Luckily, I was able to sing my audition today. I woke up early, felt ok, warmed up, and the only thing that I really noticed was that because I was stuffy my m's and n's got a bit stuck. Otherwise my voice sounded fine (I assume..I mean, no problems warming up, no holes, no nothing out of the ordinary) and I sang a nice Zerbinetta and Oscar.

Headed back for rehearsal here and things really started to deteriorate. Nose always stuffy, eyes watering (is this ALLERGIES now?!!) and throat itching/dry cough...shoot, does sound like allergies.

But what can I do besides push fluids, and alternate as much mucinex and robitussin (now) as possible?

I hope I can avoid coughing. I usually can. But I want to SOOOO badly.
But I won't.
I'll try.
Boo.

I don't even FEEL that badly....I can SING! Except I need like 4 tissues a minutes.

fighting it

Two members of the cast got sick last week. This week, it seems to be my turn.
Sunday night after the audition I started feeling a bit bla, Monday I was stuffy and tired, today I was the same. It would seem that I can easily sing on this (although I'm not testing that theory out), it's not really "bad", or in my throat. It just seems like my nose is stuffy, then running, then stuffy, then...etc. etc., my throat doesn't hurt, I'm not coughing, but I do feel generally yucky and not so excited to warm up and see how long I can sing for without something starting to take its toll.

So I've taken my mucinex, emergen-C, bought the OJ, downed water, tea, throat coat, tomato soup, theraflu, and cough drops. I have no surefire method of kicking things but what I do know is if I don't feel like I have to pee every 5 minutes, I'm wrong! I have to be drinking fluids ALL the time and flushing this out of my system.

The thing is, if I HAD to sing right now, it would be fine. Better than fine, but not my best. It would feel kind of stuck in my nose, and I'd probably not feel super great afterwards.
So that's the upcoming question--I'm supposed to have an audition on Thursday morning in the city. Yes, that's two days from now.
I haven't gotten WORSE, so it could only get BETTER, and it's "fine" for singing right NOW, so that's ok, riiiight?

I think so.
If I had to warm up and do an audition right now I'd do a light, careful warm up that was SHORT and sweet and to the point, sing the audition, and shut up for the rest of the day.
So assuming that things keep getting better and not worse, I'm going to go for it (since it involves driving back into the city for 3 hours, staying over, waking up earrrrly, singing, and then driving back to rehearsal all in the span of about 12 hours).
And I'm sure it will be BETTER than fine...great even. Like Sunday.

driving machine

I drove to my audition in the city today---3hours and 20 minutes there, 3 hours and 7 minutes back (yea, that's how I roll!---cruise control on 73 mph).
Needless to say, it was very very worth it.
Sang Chacun and Una Voca. Felt REALLY good about both- esp. since the Rosina is being asked for more and more, and I feel really comfortable with it.

Now I am tired. And hungry. And can't see straight because of so many hours of concentrating on the road in the dark. And also the throat is starting to act up a bit--not a big surprise since half of the cast has been sick for the past few days...it's just making the rounds.
Better now than during dress or show.

audition

I have what I would consider a pretty important audition coming up this weekend.
And how did my brain and body want to deal with it last night?
By having an awful nightmare in the early morning hours that involved:

Driving around NYC, not finding parking and being late for the audition.
Realizing I left my red audition dress in the closet (where it is now) and not having anything to wear.
Realizing I left my heels also in the suitcase that I have here and not in NYC.
Remembering that I had a pair of other black heels, patent leather (which I do in real life) and that they were conveniently..at this consignment shop...that I had to stop by and pick them up, and then I got there and couldn't find them.
I'm driving all around NYC and have to cross the park and there's tons of traffic and I can't find a parking space and then suddenly I'm not with my car.
Then magically I'm at the audition at 5:45, the exact minute I'm supposed to sing.
I haven't warmed up, but thank god they're running late (as usual). I don't have a pitch pipe and have this weird feeling that the G isn't going to come out easily today since my throat is burning.
Someone walks out of the audition (a girl I recognize from about 5 years ago who looks at me like I'm some insignificant twit who is bother her by asking her if I can borrow her pitch pipe), she doesn't give me the pitch pipe but I can hear someone inside singing an aria that I know, and from their note, I get my notes.
I walk outside and try to warm up and make sure I have the g before attempting to have to sing it since I'm starting with Chacun le sait.
I can't sing it, or I can for just a second--not good enough.

And then I woke up feeling just AWFUL. Throat burning. Tired. Body Aching.
So much for going to the gym this morning.
I stayed in bed until about 30 minutes before I had to be at rehearsal (1pm), and felt like I could sleep for an eternity.

I feel better now, but sheeeesh! Thanks for that mental anxiety, brain! Not.
Ugh.
I suppose I'm looking forward to it and don't really think that it will be anything out of the norm, except that I'll be offering a lot of Italian--that I always offer, but still, the odds of it getting chosen this time are much much greater than normal (due to person that I'm singing for).

ughghgh..I hope I sleep well tonight.
Can't take these crazy dreams.

the process

Days at gym: 2 out of 3. Not horrible. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Healthy food eaten: 3 out of 3 days, plus some M&Ms when I went to see Juno (finally) at the THREE DOLLAR theater.

Rehearsals are going very smoothly and I think that this is going to be one cute and funny show.
We're in the middle of staging the Finale right now (not of the show, of the act, you know, that long one with all those words).
And breaking it down and giving each repeat a meaning, or a movement, or some definition really makes this stuff stick in my head much easier!
And here I wasn't sure how well I actually had it memorized! Well, after 3 hours this afternoon going over and over AND over it, it's definitely memorized and then some!

Not much else to report except that I did a bit of work on next-show last night, and I'm excited for this character, the show, and the fun times ahead.

Now if I could just get myself to do anything productive in the evenings after rehearsals (meaning, from 10:15pm to 1am when I go to sleep)...that would be nice.
I feel so drained afterwards (I'll get into the swing of things eventually, but right now it's draining), that I can't really do much that's useful.

Back to refreshing the email and waiting for some e-love.

30 day projects

I'll jump on the bandwagon here for 30 day projects.
Why?
Because this production period conveniently officially begins tomorrow, which is pretty close to April 1st, which is easy to count the days down until May, and the circumstances seem right for the following.

Eating better- I'm in an apt. It has a full sized fridge. It has a full sized range and oven. It has all of the spices and pots and pans and plates that I need. I can cook. I should only buy fruits and vegetables and some ground lean turkey tomorrow (to make spicy turkey burgers that are really yummy and really healthy).

Working out- there is no excuse not to go to the gym daily since rehearsal blocks here only begin after 1pm every day except Saturdays. Plus the gym is maybe a 5 minute drive away. NO EXCUSE!

Learning things- nextopera is 2.5 months away and once I get down with this one and feel comfortable, I WILL make myself spend some quality time every evening on the next project. NOT watching re-runs of law and order that I've already seen..(yet only realizing that I've already seen them around 20 minutes into the show).

That's it. Nothing so lofty and SO out of the ordinary. I just really want to attempt to stick to the above for 30 days and to see what happens.

so close

Why do last minute gigs always come up at times when I'm already contracted to do things?
Did the universe not get my memo on that?

MAN- this would have been SUCH a fun one too (summer random-repeat)! But nooooo...I'll be in week-before-tech-week for current-show.

So what can I do? Nothing. I did request a release since it's a semi-staged concert version (again) and would only require missing 5 rehearsals..half of those would be my cast...but the answer was no. And that's acceptable. Really. I'm only bummed because of the actual role and how I just love singing it anytime, anywhere.

I'm already pushing it with current-show though...doing this role premiere as well as a NYC concert premiere at the same time in the first two days of opening nights.

So I guess third time's a charm can't really apply here.

Oh well. I suppose I'll just have to hope that our 'dear master's experiments' will work out sometime again in the future.

countdown and clothing

Ok, so I officially need to know things.
And guess what? I DO know things!
The things that I know include ALL of the recits! And ALL of the ensemble-y things! And, of course, arias and duets.

The other things that I know are that I have a lot of clothes for every season, yet I somehow manage to wear the same few things for an entire season.
Except--why give away clothes that fit, look good, and are still stylish--JUST because I haven't worn them in a year? (or two?)

Being a full-time traveler/goddess of packing, I have my favorites for every season and every show.
Two pairs of jeans, two pairs of black pants, three pairs of capris depending on the weather, and an assortment of workout/yoga pants.

That's usually what I bring with me for a gig--however--I have ALSO a NICE pair of dressy grey, brown, and dark brown pants..as well as some OTHER nice black pants...as well as TONS of other workout clothes!
But why start bringing grey and brown into the picture? It will just make me need to pack more pairs of SHOES! Right?
Ok, so I haven't worn 4 pairs of pants in 2 years. Does that really mean I have to give them up? Or will they remain folded in the suitcase marked "Winter" until I have an actual closet to put them in one day?

Let's not get me started on jeans.
My current faves are flare dark 7s from a September Mall run. Except I recently bought 2 more pairs (that need to be shortened), PLUS I still have 2 other pairs of jeans that I bought in December (and completely forgot about because, they too, needed to be shortened)..NOT to mention the four or five pairs that have been my 'favorites' for the past 2 years! I LOVE jeans! But I can always only bring two pairs with me...I want to wear all of my jeans!!

Ok, so the bottom line is that I'm currently surrounded by clothing--on the floor, on my bed, in the closet-- with two open suitcases that are getting dangerously close to being over the weight-limit for checked items, and I want to pack so much more than I can--even though I know I'll keep wearing the same things.

One day when I'm a real adult living in a real apartment of my very own, maybe I'll have a closet that has room for all of my clothes and not just the ones that have conveniently been packed and re-packed for gigs in winter/spring, or summer, or fall/winter.

I'm as cool as Dawson! A cappella! yea!

NYTimes profiles a cappella music! (kinda)

Favorite quote from the article :

“When you’re in it,” he said, “you do think you’re a rock star. But you have to ignore the majority of the population who don’t want you singing jazz standards at their dinner.”

Article can be found here.
Oh, the good old days.

My update- been REALLY good about getting those last 2 pages of recit memorized. I THINK I'm ready! Yea!
Also, back to packing up my life..but what else is new?

technology

While I'm being swept away by the enormous coolness of my new computer, I can add that I have also recently added two AWESOME new videos of performances to my super secret online stash--it's accessible on a need-to-know basis..(and you don't need to know! lolzzz)
Umm, yea, so there are video clips of me from live performances. I shall not divulge how I obtained said video clips. Let us just say they exist, they are on a video-sharing website, and they can't be on MY website due to the obviousness of their origin--plus the orchestra would be way mad for no reason (ugh, copyright union stuff). They are not under my name, they are not under their own title (ie, un-google-able), but there is a method to the madness, and whosoever holds the key (ie, password) can view them at their leisure.

I sang in a competition back in November and just noticed that the competition website put up clips of the winners.
I saw the clips and wondered if indeed the whole thing existed. Lo and behold- it did, and now I'm the proud owner of a KICK ASS Glitter on dvd with the high F thrown in, with great acoustics, with spot-on acting (if I do say so myself), as well as a Queen. Ok, I don't care as much about the Queen because I already have a recording of that on my website. But both are so fun!
There was a great acoustic in the hall, the angles are nice--I don't even need to complain that the camera adds ten pounds--because all looks good.

The funniest part of watching this video is remembering that I had to buy the gown at the last minute (thank you Loehmann's upper west side, sale $66 dollars), since we had just one day in between the semi's and the finals, and I didn't bring anything fancy with me to town...and so the gown is NOT hemmed (and thus, the normal 3 inches too long), the tags were still in it (JUST in case I decided to return it the next day--I didn't), I didn't have the, erm, undergarments (read: backless corset bra) that the dress required, and even STILL I managed to look surprisingly put together! Even in Glitter where there is definitely MORE than one opportunity to insert a twirl, a reference to my nice 'threads', etc, all looked 'in place' :) and I'm really happy with the performance--something that is rare for me.
I may even try to burn the audio off of the clip just to have something to send in on CD's that is better than what I already have (oh, except for the take with ORCHESTRA which so so so many companies are now refusing unless I have permission to use it)...really? I mean, I'm using it to apply to your singing competition! Not to sell a cd of my greatest hits with orchestra and not pay the union!

Oooh, a heated post for another day. Now back to some fun with my new mcbk.

500th post AND inaugural new computer post!!

WHHEEEEE!
I knew that there should be an occasion for the 500th post, and it happens to be that I just bought a MACBOOK!
Yes, 13.3 inches of pure joy, 5 pounds of lurv, with an added superdrive and extra RAM for all of my future computer needs.
And all for about the price of my tax return (which has yet to be deposited into my account, but WHATEVZZZ).

I feel like a little kid on Xmas morning...hmm..only I wouldn't really know how that feels--but this must be close enough!

I love new shiny things!
Who says diamonds are a girl's best friend? My new macbook is just as shiny, and I didn't need to wait for a boy to buy one for me!

Yippeeee! Happy 500th post to me!

499th post

Oooh! Fun!
What can I report about?
The double-checking of memorization is still at a bit of a standstill, HOWEVER it shall be remedied--why? Because over the next 2 days I'll be on a bus for a total of 8 hours--allowing PLENTY of time for line review and memory checks.

I decided to take a quick trip up from NYC to Boston to visit some extended family and also accompany my cousin up there to do an important audition for her acting career.
I think 8 hours of nothing but flipping through the score may just do the trick.

Oh yea, lesson number three.
Worked a bit on the intro. to Zerbinetta. Then offered an insanely high/modern/contemporary/crazy/and have I mentioned insanely high? piece to work on just to get an opinion...the resounding advice was yes, because maybe only 4 or 5 people in the business could sing it at all right now.

I have two more coachings before I'm on my own with the score and rehearsals begin at the end of the month. I think I'll use them to go through as much as I can and just try to be comfortable about the whole thing. What I DO need to remember is that even after just the beginning of rehearsals, I do have a whole MONTH to still make it my own and get it into my body with the staging, etc.
So however low or middle or tentative on cadenzas it feels right now, I think I'm really going to have a stronger idea of what I want when I meet the cast and begin working under directing and conducting.

OK, looking forward to a nice forced-study session on public transit.
And the 500th post.

tiiiiime is on my side...yes it is

Ok, so I have about 15 days to convince myself that I have this opera memorized.
DO I have this opera memorized?
Hmm...let's see.
First recit section- sure, why not
first aria- yep.
next 2 recits and duet- yea
all that crazy finale stuff that goes on for way too many pages--ok, maybe not ALL of the sung interjection-type parts, but the words, repeated words, repeated parts of phrases of words, and that fast stuff...pretty much.

The next act is where it's kind of shady. Sad recit and then angry recit and then mini-trio and then marriage recit are still murky. Some days I know them, some days...not so much. Plus I have the score within eye-sight the entire time I'm quizzing myself which also leads to some cheating, I admit.

SO. 15 days to solidify the last act is totally do-able, I think.

Just need to stop distracting myself with other fun things like possible shiny new computers (yes, ibook might become a hand-me-down to my parents, and macbook may be on the way!), and other distracting activities (no additional info. provided here!) that have been recently taking up my time :)

shhhh

I love when there is some semblance of possible futures and I can't write it out here because it's unofficial and totally not set...but a possibility..in life.
I have to try to write an entry to describe what it could be, without giving it away--because, after all, in this business, it easily could turn into --couldn't be, or could be something else, or never was, or whatever...

So.
To describe these two things in these two places in these two languages AND different genres:
A. gastronomical capital of country where I studied abroad during college.
B. a visit to my cousins.
A. I'll have to make my diction 'razor'-sharp.
B. I'll surely be seeing 'stars' when I sing.


If I read this post next year and have no idea what I was talking about, it means it didn't work out~ lol.

lesson number two

Met with new-teacher yesterday for lesson number two.
It's so amazing to hear and see and feel progress---in 2 45 minute sessions.
After the first session, I had three auditions, recorded 2, and was impressed with how different-in-a-good-way it sounded. Rounder. Polished.
After yesterday, where I ended up working through the three arias that are most "me in auditions" right now, I felt like I could keep singing for hours and hours, and that it just got easier and easier.

So what can I say to describe how I need to think about the sound?
As usual, eyes and cheeks--smiling.
The eee vowels is in an 'oh' mouth--or a tube--but still "above" something, not right on it inthe middle.
Expansion like fairy wings in the back.
Leaning on the front column of air and keeping it pressed out the entire time.
But NEVER holding. ANYTHING. Always moving. Always air flow. Always vibrating. And ALWAYS easy. No space-making, no tricks, just saying it, relaxing, and passaggio F/Fsharps are smaller than I want them to be. So are top notes. Always sing from a place where I can start a trill.

And....go.

feedback from one

as reported to my agency over brunch:

IF they were taking a coloratura, they would have taken me as number one.

Ok, the good impression was still made, and when THEIR coloratura does get sick or move on, maybe I'll be next in line.

MUST GET UP....as it is noon, and I slept from 3-8, let the painters in, and then slept from 10-12.

It hurts to be awake right now.

giddy in the city

No details for you the public, but some reminders of a lovely weekend:
Old friends, new friends, great food, great company.
New outfits, skinny jeans, cuban infusion, credit cards, middle eastern, outdoor concerts at midnight, the wind in nyc, catching up over brunch, two hours of sleep, many hours of afternoon 'catch up' sleep, and a return to my new upper west side abode--for the next bit of time.

Tomorrow- another lesson with hopefully repeated good technique-learning, yoga class, and maybe another outing.

the rain in spain...i mean, nyc...

Stays mainly...on my head.

It began as a light drizzle. I was walking out of an audition yesterday, overflowing bag as usual so I couldn't close it to avoid the drops hitting my music binder.
And then the downpour.
By this time I had changed into outfit number two for the evening.
It got so bad I had to go into the Gap just to pass some time (I ended up buying a 16 dollar umbrella there), and into B+N to be able to hear a call on my cell phone.

Still like that outside today, and I'm dreading the trek uptown/crosstown to my new place of residence for the next week.

Audition/Competition recap:
well, I already wrote about the first.
So, competition: Sang Chacun and DurchZ. Did really well. Felt the energy of the room. WISHED that I had brought my minidisk recorder up there because it was SO easy to set it up in the little cubby of the room before I walked out. Oh Wel.

Audition yesterday:
Zerbie and Queen (yes, it was for Germans).
Felt great about the Zerb. ONE note--the most important one, that I sing forte and then pianissimo--that was good, and then I got artsy with it and it didn't want to cooperate on the way down. Nothing major, just a tiny little non-connect between that note and the next. Note to self: just sing it...stop thinking about it.
But in OTHEr fun news, I now officially don't take a breath between the held/trilled B for ten thousand measures, the descent after it, OR the arpeggio UP after that---something I had been fooling myself into thinking that I needed. I don't need that breath. And it feels good.

Queen- the panel said they just wanted to hear the first section to make sure I had an F, and I replied that if they wanted a G they should have picked chacun le sait (insert laughter).
Went REALLY well too. This piece is just so easy for me, that sometimes I think it should be more dramatic and start to over-dramatize it...both gesture and voice.
I stayed away from that this time, and lo and behold- it was as clean as ever, and easy as ever too.
Note to self- JUST SING IT.

This week- If I don't seriously make a dent in upcomingrole2, and seriously seriously test myself to make sure that I know upcomingrole1, I will put myself on my own angry list.

alphabet of things

a. I need to practice upcomingrole1 more.
b. I need to CRACK OPEN upcomingrole 2.
c. I bought 2 pairs of 7s today AND a cute 'date-y' outfit.
d. I have an audition tomorrow
e. I sent in my taxes today
f. I have to pack...again.
g. I had amazing risotto for lunch today..except lunch was at 4pm, and I didn't eat anything before that.
h. I almost bought really cute shoes today--and still may...tomorrow.
i. I REALLY need to get an i-something to act as a line-in to my laptop.
j. I really neet to get the above, then transfer my minidisk files, then...
k. I really need to send in those two applications for competitions. By the 15th.

Really? Only 'k' amount of things?
O..K(!) then!

audition a.m.

After a sleepless night (WHY do I always get the crappiest non-sleep when I have to audition or perform the next day?!!), I finally decided after being awake for 2 hours that I may as well get up at 7:30, 15 minutes earlier than I had planned. Got in the shower, had to be quiet not to wake the world up around me.
At 8:45 I got to a quick practice room for a 20 minute warm up and then I was off to the NYIOPS at Riverside.

Couldn't really decide what piece to start with, I was kind of leaning towards Chacun as of yesterday's coaching..but I went with my normal "starter for European people or things that could actually cast me" (rather than my normal -competition starter)..which is Zerbie.

I can absolutely feel the work that I've done in recent coachings and lessons creeping into these arias..and I LIKE it! I recorded myself at Riverside and wow--the sound is just...surprisingly round, lovely in the middle--I really am enjoying this..and it's all EASY and NATURAL which is the bottom line for me when doing any tweaking of my singing. As soon as it begins to feel laboured, I'm doing something wrong.

THEN they asked for ROSINA!!
(this is the 2nd time it's been asked for)--I pretty much put it on the list because I saw that they were trying to cast a bunch of other rossini operas, like Viaggio, etc.-- It's usually not on there..MAYBE for competitions.
But I sang it well--again, felt the new middle voice/low voice difference, rounded out those legato lines EVEN on the coloratura..and in general felt awesome about it (especially the last F that I hold forever).

AND THEN one of the panelists asked if I sang Flute, and could I take 5 minutes breather and come back in and sing Queen.
WELL SURE I COULD!

So I waited one singer more, drank some water mixed with emergenC, (my breakfast of champions since I DESPISE any type of food in the morning when I have to sing)...and I was back in the room.

Queen sounded nice as well. I was a bit tired by this point, so I COULD have sung those grace note sixteenth pickups to the coloratura more cleanly..and I ALSO could have sung a few of the D's in the coloratura better--but the F's were all there, nothing was out of line...and...
(the best part)

AFTER I was finished the dude asked me IN GERMAN where I learned German..and I answered IN GERMAN that I studied in Munich in the summer at the Goethe Institute! And I think I even used the KIND OF right pronouns for everything!!! HAHAHAA (three thousand dollars including the flight WELL spent for just that one answer).
And then.....
wait for it...

he said---ihre deutsch ist sehr gut !!! OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT--which pretty much means I RULE.

NOW I'm calming down for another hour..because the competition is later today--I sing at 3:15. Have to be there at 2:15.

I'm in my pjs. Drinking some "Naked Green" juice, trying not to fall asleep, but trying to relax.

YAYAYAYYAYAYYYYY.

bad blogger

I blame you, New York City! And all of the exciting wonderful things that I've been doing here.

Meeting up with friends for brunches, in the park at Union Sq., for impromptu sushi consumption in the middle of the day, coachings, lessons, weekend activities that included a lot of Middle Eastern food around the West Village (twice in one very late night), as well as karaoke (even later in the night/morning)--the perfect combination of fun!

I've been exploring a few new social avenues lately and am all aflutter (is that word allowed ONLY to be used in My Fair Lady? or is it fair game here?) with the possibilities that are ahead for me.

And now, to share the greatest possible offer that one could be offered in NYC:
HOUSE SITTING.

This fell in my lap last minute and will replace me bouncing around between friends for the next few weeks.

9 days. I have to water the plants on Tuesday, and let the painters in every day (weekday) at 8:30. And in the apt. downstairs (2 couples going on a joint vaycay) I have to feed the cat and have free reign on the GRAND piano and multitude of scores for the entire dayyyy (not to mention the lovely view of the Hudson).

YAYAYAYAY! Add free internetzzz to piggy back off of, and I'll be a happy camper. So- POSSIBLY more posts more often are coming your way!
This means YOU!

temporary housing

Well, it's been 9 days of New York City living, learning, coaching, hanging out, taking advantage of the city. I'm still in transit where my lodgings are concerned, although thanks to very generous friends I'm able to avoid paying rent for the time being.
I will be here next week, and have the pleasure of being put up in a hotel for 4 days courtesy of a competition. And then the NEXT week I'll be house-sitting on the upper west side...so all in all, not a bad way to spend three and a half weeks in the city, saving money (is that possible here?) preparing for the next role, and getting a chance to catch up with old friends whenever possible.

I think the next time I'm here for a long period of time (possibly the entire fall?) I'll definitely look into a sublet. It's wonderful to have friends with open doors, couches, beds, kitchens, and other various amenities--like hairdryers, and visitor guest passes to their gym...but I can't really imagine being in transit like this and NOT being in opera rehearsals with provided housing..somewhere.. for more than this period of time.

Up next- coaching, audition, competition, lesson, coaching, lesson, discussion panel, and very possibly some social activities that may involve....gasp...dating?

you can teach an old dog new tricks

Today I had a consultation lesson with a possible new teacher.
Let me explain.
I have had the same 'teacher' since high school. I saw here every week from the age of 15-18.5.
She then handed me off to my undergraduate teacher, with whom I continued to mostly sing art songs, and once in a while, go over an aria or two that I had learned in high school...it was about getting materials ready for juries, not so much doing auditions for young artist programs.
In grad school I had two teachers that were more like coaches. We talked technique, but it was always about the role that I was currently working on. Sometimes about singing open, singing here, there, high, low, etc...but all for the upcoming role.
In year-round-yap I had no teacher.

And so, throughout the years, I have always gone back to my first, high school teacher, to check in. Make sure everything is clear and easy. Send her recordings, and get her feedback.
The wonderful thing about working with her, is that I can always return to that light, easy, free singing.
But what I can't do with her, now, I'm finding, is incorporate the bit of a bigger voice that I have now, with what her ear is used to hearing--which is me at age 18.

And so, I took suggestions.
There are SO many teachers in NY and the surrounding areas.
I listened to some sopranos, I listened to my agent, I read lists and lists of pros and cons on the websites for singers, and I decided to try it out.

And today, I'm really very glad that I did.
What I was expecting- complete talk of overhauling technique, possible harshness, possible talking up of said teacher's technique..and just to wonder whether it would work.
What I got- an honest and insightful interpretation of my singing technique in words.
To put it simply, this teacher said I didn't have very far to go in terms of singing in the 'technique' that she teaches.
She said I was a quick study, she'd be happy to continue working with me, and I felt like I WAS a quick study. And what I changed was so minor, but so simple to do--and yielded a pretty big difference in my voice and the way I felt about my production.

The bottom line is, I'm looking for beauty of tone throughout the range. Who isn't?
This person showed me in 45 very short minutes that it can be easily done. It does not have to sound manipulated, produced, or like any other singer.
I let go a bit, I feel the breath lean out a little bit more in the middle, and I can sing high G's and well beyond that, while feeling like I'm hanging out around a C.

And it's bright and brilliant and all of the GOOD adjectives.
And it feels the same, if not easier.
It makes me laugh.

However, most importantly, this teacher gave praise where praise was due- to my first high school teacher.
Who taught me: (in not so technical terms) smiling eyes, laughing cheeks, relaxed jaw, and speak the words to me. Just say it and make me believe you.
THAT was my technique and IS my technique.

She said that there was nothing wrong. There could only be things that could be done better. I don't have to unlearn anything. I don't have to overhaul--and I believe her, because I felt it and heard it.

The prospects of spending the next 3 weeks before upcomingrole1 studying with a new teacher and a new coach, both of whom I respect, and feel like I'm making great progress for, is really making my day.

little girls, little girls, everywhere I turn...I can..hear them

Does every soprano have that little girl voice? The voice that you started with? That white, clear, silvery, crystal, easy thing that you just had naturally every since you can remember?
That voice whose qualities were praised by teachers as a natural gift.
The voice that got you through age 15-18 and all state choir and high school competitions.
The voice that got you into undergrad and a cappella.
The voice that then began to grow and be shaped and suddenly, around age...22...ish...find itself again. This time a bit more vibrato, a bit more roundness, a bit more...plummy...than that white angelic boy-soprano/chirpy thing that was.

So you think you said goodbye to it. But really it's still there. For me, it's on the eee vowel. HELLO 15 year old! You just totally ruined that nice legato line that I was trying to sing by popping into your old self and just sounding a bit--girlish and young.

What to do to say g'bye to that voice (even though it's what your ears really want to hear, and the only thing that really sounds like 'you', to 'you') :
Conscious thoughts about eee.
Every time there's a word or an approach to it on a decently high note.
Think about freeing it from it's close-jawed cage.
Opening or dropping JUST that tiny bit so that it is in line with everything else that I've learned since then.

I hope.
The more I learn this LOW role, the more I learn about what the potential for my voice is.
And I'm excited by what I'm working towards.

for laughs

Go to abc.com.
Watch videos of Sarah Silverman and Matt Damon, and response by Jimmy Kimmel and Ben Affleck. Repeat.
Laugh.
Repeat.
Laugh.

Oh, and then go study my new cadenzas.

omgjkttyl

New York makes me busy. No time to blog!
No, not really.
I actually didn't have my trusty mac with me, hence the non-bloggage. Now we are re-united and it feeeeels so gooood.

Music Update- coachings have been going smashingly. I love it.

Music Theater update- went to see Legally Blonde. Thought it would be NOT good, but actually it was MORE than amusing, and the songs are still stuck in my head. Guess that's a good thing.
Diatribe to come about the current state of belting on broadway, but I think there's just been a shift from what I remember falling in love with in high school, and what has come out since for the soprano belter voice.


More later, as I'm down to 12% battery and I haven't yet unpacked the charger.

culture weekend

Ok, I'm going to admit that I completely wasted the snow day away by staying inside and watching movies all day--even though I was hungry and there was no food. I did not go outside.
And then it was dinnertime, and I was hungry, and I had to step outside.

But TODAY and tomorrow and I'm having a culture weekend.
First, I had a wonderful brunch at Rare Bar and Grill (Lex b/w 37 and 38)--the French toast with bananas is amazing.
Next I visited the Morgan Library and Museum, mostly to see the photography exhibit of Irving Penn.
A glimpse into the artist's view of the artist--all of the shots were of famous writers, artists, performers--and so in addition to the construction of the shots, the faces of these geniuses were so interesting to glimpse--a moment of their limelight captured on film.

Tomorrow I'm going to attend the MONCA National Finals at the MET, where 9 young lucky and talented singers will get to compete for national recognition, possibly a place in the Lindemann program, and I'm sure national and international attention by agents, opera companies, and the likes.

THEN I'm going to a master class, AND to see Il Barbiere the next night.

So, I suppose what I'm saying is, that I don't feel so badly about doing absolutely nothing yesterday.

recorded history

I knew there was a reason to tote around that bulky minidisc player for the past 4 or 5 years...the reason was, that one day (this past weekend), I'd be rummaging through the myriad boxes in my basement containing everything from high school, college, gradschool, summeryaps, yearroundyap, and all of the packing and unpacking in between--that I'd find three minidiscs. And of course, wanting to re-use said discs, I popped them in the machine, and started to listen.

Blast from the past- the Mad Scene staging rehearsal, circa September 2005. I remember this day clearly. I came in wanting to record the rehearsal so that I could review the blocking later on. What I didn't realize was just how much it would all make sense to me--every nuance, every move, the director didn't even say anything about move here move there--he let me feel it out, the cadenza, the space in between, the bloody sheets, the strewn flowers left over from the wedding.
There's ONE interjection about moving a whole section stage right, but otherwise, it was a go with the flow type of situation. I can hear now how the room was silenced by some of the things that I was doing--usually there is the usual din in the background, or at the table--directors giving asst. directors notes, conductors fixing things, mouthing things, stressing more open vowels, other cast members doing their thing around the table where I had placed the recorder.
But what I noticed most was the quiet.

And so, even at that age, singing a role that I would LOVE to sing again at some point in my career, knowing that I was very young and very green but still giving it my all (AND knowing that if I sang it again tomorrow it would sound completely different)- I sounded, in all honesty, on.
Yes, it's young. Too young to be considered seriously on the large operatic stages. But not too young to be singing it correctly, with pathos, with a certain rawness and sweetness of an untested, fresh, and completely optimistic vocalism.

It was a nice refresher to what I'm trying to do these days--learning a new role that is in some ways also not vocally 'perfect' for my rep- after all, it was written for a mezzo!, but seeing that I handled it with grace and ease, and knowing I can do it again. Never pushed. Never darkened. Never did anything but open my mouth and say the words on the pitches that were written for it.

I'm unnerved by it, and also comforted by it.
A recorded history that I'm proud of and that I also can reflect back on, to see just how far I've come since then. And hope that I always keep a bit of that young bright-eyed optimism and purity of voice, while learning to maneuver in the larger and more supported instrument that I've tuned since that time.

MayMadMoney

I can either have a nice and relaxing end-of-May, doing nothing but preparing for upcomingrole2, OR I can apply to all of those competitions that take place in the last 2 weeks...(current count: 7 that DON'T overlap between May 12th and May 28th) and be flying all over the place.

The opportunities for connections and possibly winning some money are lovely.
The opportunities for frequent flier miles, last minute cancellations and missed connections, and of course, that odd May Sickness (that came upon me last year during this time and forced me to cancel 3 comps) are not so lovely.

Not so sure what to do, but I have to decide soon because deadlines and recordings will be looming.

finalmente!! (finalett-ti)

Note to ACB:

THIS IS NOT A FREAKOUT THREAD about the role!! :)

Yayyyy! It's magically there! In my head--the finale!
Woo hoo!

Here's what you do:
When you go to sleep, around 11 (because you have to wake up at 7am the next morning to get on a train for NYC for a coaching),
put the score on the floor to your right,
your ipod (after you listen to it once) to your left,
the keyboard at the foot of your bed,
lay on your BACK, with TWO pillows,
and close your eyes, and even though it's 11 and too early to go to sleep,
TRY...
and when you wake up---you will MAGICALLY have memorized the finale!!!

No, really. It clicked today and I couldn't be happier. Now, onto the other stuff, after that!

I had a kick-ass/ass-kicking coaching on Aria1 today, with RJ--my new mistress of legato/low/middle singing.
Things to remember:

Umm, even though I can do those tricks to sound like La Bubbles did, all light and floaty and childish, I CAN sound like a full (dare I say lyric?) soprano singing all of the runs, twists, turns, AND low notes as well--so, even though I love Belle and how she always makes me smile no matter what I'm listening to or watching of hers, I need to make mine a bit more mature so I don't pull the same old 'coloratura tricks' which include, NOT singing legato and not really attacking staccatti in full voice, etc. etc. (please now refer to index of life page 293., Early Vocal Development and being able to get away with having a young-sounding and incredibly flexible instrument).

finally kind of sort of better

No medication in the past 24 hours, and I was able to sleep without theraflu.
I even took a 40 minute brisk walk today (until it started raining on my head), while listening to Act I of upcomingrole1 that I need to learn (note: I don't even come in until minute 34 or so).

What can I say about this role? It was offered to me at the semi-last minute, and even though I have TIME to learn it, I'm feeling like I am not getting as much done as possible with it.

Aria1- memorized
Recits 1-3ish- memorized, but not well enough or fast enough for what I want to do with them on stage eventually.
Duet1- memorized WITH alt. cadenzas that I want to do
Recit4/5- maybe 60%
FINALE1- NOT EVEN CLOSE. It's so fast, it's so wordy, it's so filled with random interjections at times...in short, it's driving me crazy. And it's 100 pages long.

I can't even look at memorizing anything after it, because I'm so FLUSTERED by it!


I know that I need to break it down into itty bitty pieces, and just write out the one or two lines that fly right by, and NOT think about the next 96 pages or so, while I'm trying to fix one section.

Truthfully, I do know more than I think. I just don't know it all 100 pages in a row.

Back to new memorization games.
I have many, many of them.
And apparently the one that I've been playing so far is NOT working for this finale.

I may have to resort to pacing/skipping around the room with different pieces of colored paper in my hand...lifting the right hand for when I KNOW things, and reading off of the left when I don't.

Strange, I know. But it works.
Back to being 'fredda e immobile'

3.5 down, 312.5 or so..to go

Recit, today you are the bane of my existence.

Sometimes you are just so easy...you roll right off of the tip of my tongue. I look at you ONCE, ONCE!, know the context of the scene that I'm in, and it just makes sense.
Of COURSE I'd say: si,si,lavinceropotessialmenomandargliquestalettermacomedinessunquimifidailtutorhacent'occhibastabastasigilliamolaintanto.
etc.etc.
It ROLLS! I read it once, I got it.

And then there are those that just don't come at all. Neither the pitch NOR the words.
I can play it 5 times. I can read it 5 times. I repeat it slowly, I repeat it quickly. speed up, slow down, cheat by looking at the score when I don't remember what comes next, and then (the WORST) break into recit from ANOTHER section.

That's the thing I have to be most careful of...and so I paced myself today by learning (and trying to memorize) 2 recit-y sections that followed one another, and then took a recit break and looked at the ActI/II (depending on Ricordi or Schirmer) finale.

I'm very far away from freak-out mode since I DO have time to do this, but I wish the process would go a bit faster. All of the finales, finalettos, ensemble pieces, are SO wordy and so long--even if they repeat the same two phrases over and over again, it's like tongue twisters on any note from A below middle C, to two octaves above that--and fast.
And have I mentioned fast?

From my mid-day liquid theraflu stupor...

Sometimes I think that I would absolutely not be able to do an "internet/phone" detox.
Seriously.
I woke up at 7am, still not feeling well. It is now 1:55pm.
The ONLY thing that I've done, besides drinking 5 cups of tea, 2 glasses of oj, sneezing and readjusting the warm blankets around me in bed:

Hotmail
Facebook
Nytimes
Gmail
Google
Blogs
CNN
Haaretz
LeFigaro
Corriere


Wash, rinse, repeat,and press "refresh" on all of those pages...basically waiting for people to email me, or for facebook to notify me that someone has done SOMETHING to me on facebook.

I know it's wrong. So very very wrong.

I'm finished now. I think the "nighttime" theraflu is kicking in. Time for a nap.
I've been a bad, bad girl.
When I wake up I'm REALLY going to memorize 3 pages of recit. For serious.

into the a-biss, piano music

Just added a new blog to my list of "websites i frequent while...not doing other things that I should probably be doing":

I've only seen and heard him play in one concert, April 2, 2006- Town Hall (Beethoven, Schoenberg, and Schumann,---enlightening), but ever since, Jonathan Biss, pianist-traveler-blogger has been someone I've been keeping my eyes and ears open for a return to any 'neck of the woods' that I happen to be in.

At that April concert, the tickets were sold out, and I remember waiting outside as the old ladies in fancy suits shuffled by (overly made up for an afternoon concert), and hoping that some kind soul would return a ticket to the box office, or have it for sale outside.

As it turned out, I did get in, but my seat was on House Right--NOT the place to be for a piano concert (I like to see the hand-y-work!), and so after the first piece I was able to move to an empty seat that I saw on House Left, with a perfect view (sorry, it was of your butt, too, but the hands were what I was looking at--I promise!)...(oh, and that guy who coughed profusely? He was right behind me--and I gave him that Halls cough drop--you're welcome).

And so, since he's just one year older than me, kicking ass at an international performance career, and has the best personal bio ..ever...(could only be surpassed by the "skills" sections of SOME opera singers that I've seen, which include: "touches tongue to nose"), and he UPDATES his blog more than half of the other links on my sidebar do, he gets added. So read and enjoy.

ps, it's official, I have something viral and I'm contagious.
SO glad I don't have to sing anything until Tuesday.

42 day project

Learn 316 pages of music to be memorized for rehearsal day 1.

vday

Not that this day has really meant anything so special in the past (well, maybe in 4th grade when I had my first crush on an American kid in an American school), but this year vday is a bit different than it has been in the past...4 years....for me.

Meaning, there is no one special to mock the holiday with me. I didn't get to buy a box of chocolates, eat the chocolates myself, and then GIVE said box of chocolates to said someone with a note inside that says something witty about the fact that this is a corporate sponsored holiday to make us feel bad about ourselves after a month of New Year's Resolution dieting, etc, etc,etc.

This is not a recent development in my life, just one of the days that I'm reminded that what I had thought was a comfortable and good thing for a very long time, did not work. And that yes, my life as a traveling singer (or traveling anything) had something to do with the added strain of keeping up a long distance relationship for over 4 years.

I don't tend to get too personal here, so I'll just end it at that.
No sympathy needed, just a bit of honest reflection.

Back to my orange juice.

still out of commission

While everyone else got to play in the snow or have a snow day, I was tucked into bed, drinking freshly squeezed oj, eating homemade chicken soup (and Matzah ball soup out of the jar before I got out of bed to buy the ingredients to make th homemade soup), and doing just about nothing.

Oh wait, I DID mark the cuts in my score.
Have I mentioned that when you get thrown into something like this at the last minute, how WONDERFUL it is to take all of the VIDE's that reduce your recit by a zillion, and neatly trim repetitive ensembles?
Lovely.

Of course I will eventually learn everything, in case the MET calls (hahahahah), but for now I'm just working on what I need know.


There was something else that I wanted to write about, but in my hot tea and warm soup full-tummy stupor I can't quite think of it right now.

It may be 9:32pm, but that's a good enough bed time for me.

Oh yea, I made a logo up all by myself for my new website/business. I felt pretty snazzy about conquering photoshop and html in one sitting.

good night.

serves me right

Late bedtimes plus nyc 'urban' air/water/filth plus not eating enough veggies plus whatever forces of nature decided to mess with me equals:

Woke up feeling like crap, ears and nose completely blocked, and even a sore throat!

WHY didn't I buy more packets of Emergen-C when I ran out last week?! WHY didn't I eat double the Flinstone's vitamins?

I think it's this weird virus that's been going around with everyone that I know. But I don't really get sick! I mean, I do ONCE in a blue moon--but I usually see it coming and then eat tons of pineapple and drink emergen-C like it's koolaide, and stay in bed, and rest, and...bla bla bla..I know how to take care of myself.

So this twice in a blue moon thing is NOT cool.

just another manic monday

It seems like I spent the day applying to competitions.
Oh, yea, I DID spend the day applying to competitions.
Went to the post office twice to get money orders (not cool that they only accept cash or debit for that--I don't have DEBIT! I have CREDIT!).
Trolled youtube for a bit to find some interesting arias and oratorio stuff that I may want to learn.
And was otherwise pretty unaccomplished in learning upcomingrole1. Ok, I went through the entire score, but that doesn't really mean that I learned things. By heart, that is.
I can definitely SING it all, minus the parts where I'm figuring out fun cadenzas.

And minus the parts that are still tba cuts.

bedtimes

I can feel the cycle of evil beginning already.
For the past 2 nights I have not fallen asleep until well past 2am.
NOT GOOD.

I'm going to try very hard not to flip my days and nights--this usually only happens leading up to and after a show! (getting home at midnight with tons of energy= 2nd dinner at 1am and bedtime at 3 or 4.

Even if I set my alarm early for tomorrow I know I'm going to be exhausted---so why set it at all if I don't have to "do" anything until well past noon? hmmm...

Ok, fine. I'm trying to go to sleep.
Now.
Say night night ibook.
-night night.

ok, we're friends again.

Except for the very very chilly weather tonight that followed the 5 minutes of snow flurries, nyc and I are bff's again.

"and it's funny how it switches like that"- (one of the greatest comedies ever, if you don't know the quote original, google it!)

Maybe it was something about the day of quiet,
being productive (well, a LITTLE),
having dinner with great friends and reminiscing about high school, college, a cappella groups, ex's, and chocolate--with all of the photo proof from the past 4 years to laugh and be amazed by,
and then walking my freezing ass home, since the subway (as always) was under construction in the evening, running express, and took me 20 blocks north of where I actually needed to be.

Up next for this week-
more legato work with a new coach,
a concert and dinner with more friends
some un-valentines day festivities
and we'll see what the weekend brings.

the big bad city

Once again I find myself in the NYC doldrums.

I'm excited when I arrive, I schedule coachings, see friends, go out, wander around in the frenzied city, and then all of a sudden it hits me (on a Saturday night)--I don't feel like doing ANYTHING. I don't want to see anyone, or even step one little toe outside of the door. I want to sit in the apt. all night, by myself, with my recit and the tv on in the background (Law and Order, obvie), and just burrow in blankets and be vewwy vewwy qwwwuiet.

I've always thought about investment property in NYC, and how I "have" to be here for at least 3 months of the year (audition season), so why not look for something and see if I could finance it (along with generous, generous, family assistance), and then sublet when I'm not around--but when I feel like I do tonight, in NY, those ideas suddenly don't seem that appealing.

I suppose I've chosen the life of a vagabond. Living out of suitcases. Changing apartments every month and a half, living in hotels, home stays, and then in my time off, I have a choice. Sublet in the city, rely on friends and crash in the city, or live in one of the 2,3,or 4 other cities I've spent substantial time/school/life in and get a sublet there.

It all seems so fleeting when you have just 4 weeks to spend in one location.

Ok, enough babble for one evening.
Bottom line is, there's a lot to do here. But sometimes it's nice to just spend some time looking at the bright lights of the city from indoors.

oratorio

I have to learn some new "sacred" pieces for a recording session this weekend.
I'm not quite sure why I haven't learned more of this stuff before- it's quite beautiful and moving.
But I suppose not having attended church except once or twice with friends from highschool (for FUN!), not having a Church job in college, and not really having sought out sacred music performing opportunities--there really was no opportunity for me to become familiar with this music.

Hopefully that will change soon, as I discover the beauty, not of just listening to these requiems on my ipod, but learning them with the hopes of one day having the opportunity to perform them.

3 pages, single spaced...

...of recit or "talky" ensemble interjections.
I can do that in 2 months, right???

This does not include the words to aria1, aria2, duet1, duet2 or any of the big ensembles that repeat themselves.

It's just the words in between.

It looks more daunting in a 488 page score than condensed to 3 typed pages.


I shall conquer you. First, though, I'm going to have an avocado and turkey sandwich on an English muffin. Because that is the only food I have left in the house (other than Cheerios, which I had for breakfast, and ice cream).

official

Well, it's official--my new website is up and running and so begins the official..beginning (I'm tempted to write begin the beguine...but that's so old-skool-music-reference) of a hobby/talent of mine turned into what will hopefully be some sort of business.

A majority of it will happen via phone and internet, some will happen in person when I'm available and in the right city.

I haven't added "meta" tags to it yet, so it's not yet google-able, but the site does accept direct traffic, and it also has an official "info@..." email address.

I suppose that now I have to look into incorporating, or somehow naming myself a taxable business...we'll get to that after my first official 'gig' FROM the website comes in.
Until then, it's word of mouth and previous contacts that I'm relying on to get the word out.

super tuesday and super scores

I didn't get enough sleep at all last night--due to, as usual, my body convincing itself that if it DID fall asleep that it would not hear my ridiculously obnoxiously loud alarm from my cellphone at 3:40am to wake me up before the taxi to the airport came to pick me up at 4am.
I tried, really I did. 12- in bed. 1- turn tv off. 1:20- put laptop away--and then I tossed and turned and woke up about every 20 minutes until finally getting out of bed and dealing with the face that I'd have to sleep on the airplane in the morning to catch up.

I arrived to a lovely present- 2 out of 4 scores that I need for upcoming gigs were delivered over the weekend.

I spent some quality time with a light blue Highlighter (MAN, that Barbiere score is huge), and now I'm watching and waiting to see what the democratic outcome of CA will be.

I'm literally just cracking this score open for the first time ever. I've only looked at the aria before, and more recently at the Lesson Scene and Figaro duet.
Umm, the finale of the Act goes on for over 70? 90? pages.

I'll probably do my crazy scene/page breakdown in my head tomorrow.
Pages, and how many I need to learn each day, memorize each day, what to start with, how to learn the Finale of the opera first or second, so that by the time I get that far through the score, there is something recognizable by the end.

I'm excited to put this together, and also have other things to take up my time when I need a study break, such as ItalianRole2 that I will be singing less than a month after this one.

All good things ahead.
Up next in the very near future:
Audition, competition, coaching, recording for competition, and more coaching.

ah, 'twas not to be

Audition part 2/2 went very well today again--Sang durchZ, asked for Oscar.
I could have done better on the 2nd run of DurchZ.
The Oscar felt connected and cute- but for me, that piece shows nothing except that I have a low and middle voice. I suppose I offer it because it's Italian, short, a role that I've sung and gotten great reviews for, and I know I could jump in anyday anytime and do it. Maybe not the best for a judging/competition panel though. Although- I can't just be known for singing high notes---so maybe it IS a good choice?

Oh, if only audition panels didn't hate Glitter and be gay so much. I really really love that piece and would have loved to sing it, but alas--twas not to be--and so my time here comes to an end. (not that singing glitter would have gotten me to the next level--just that I wish I'd sung it, comma, my time here has come to an end).

So- onward to the next task of learning ItalianRole1, ItalianRole2, and preparing for the next 2 or 3 competitions in NYC.

What have I gotten out of this experience?
Well, first 15 more singer friends to facebook!
Of course, the opportunity to sing for this level of opera house is an honor--and to feel like you represented yourself well is important.
I got to see two great operas, visit a new city, see old friends and new, and introduce myself and what I do to a knowledgeable panel who had never heard me before, and will hopefully remember me in the future.

So all in all, a great weekend of new faces, 4 arias, 2 operas, and one very content singer.

tear...

Well, I guess it had to catch up with Boston fans at some point.
Too many football, baseball and basketball wins in my lifetime.
But my grandparents, who have been season ticket holders to the Pats for 27 years (9th row, 50 yard line), have lived through the good times and the bad.
We'll come back. Just wait 'til next year.

Audition part 2/2 is tomorrow (actually, at this point, today).
I'm looking forward to starting with DurchZ.
I won't make guesses at which piece I think the panel will choose second. It doesn't really matter, because I love them both (that's why I offered them).

gameday highlights

Yes, I'm using sports lingo in honor of the SUPER BOWL.

Audition part 1 of 2:

"It's a great day for some opera singing today folks. We're glad you could join us.
The weather is nice and humid (not too fun for my hair) and all of the singers look great and ready to go. They're well rested and warmed up, so let's take you live inside REHEARSAL ROOM ONE (or 2 maybe, I don't remember)"

"Hi Pat, we're right outside door number one and we've been told that the acoustic inside is really great. Now, none of the singers have ever sung in this space before, so it'll be new for everyone, but they're confident and look fabulous in their suits and cute dresses--back to you".

"Our camera's weren't allowed inside, but we do have some insider information from one of the singers--here with the scoop is coloratur...aaah".

"Thanks Pat. Well, things started off well. I woke up just before my alarm went off (as usual), jumped in the shower for some morning steam and lip trills, and to steam my dress one more time. I had plenty of time, downed some Emergen-C (my equivalent of OJ for breakfast) and even managed to eat some food- a granola bar, before heading downstairs to meet my fellow singers and ride the shuttle over to the Opera Center.

Once there, I had plenty of time (I'm always early, very very early), so I chatted with a few singers who had already sung and were feeling good (and going to lunch-without me), and then it was my turn to find the coaching rooms at the very end of some very long hallways.

I did a few vocalises, got all the vowels ready, and then sang my usual warm-up song, DurchZ, on vowels. I was feeling pretty good, so I began to go through some repertoire. Zerbinetta (was considering beginning with this either today or tomorrow, and wanted to offer the whole thing--with the possibility of being asked to begin at a certain section), then a page or two of Glitter, some DurchZ on the words, Chacun to make sure I had the g (duh, I always do after warming up with DurchZ), and the first few measures of Oscar.

I took a breather, with 40 minutes left before the audition, and relaxed until then.
My ipod was on shuffle (as usual), and I got some Michael Jackson (The way you make(uh) me feel), and some other cheerful and pumped up music (Jtimberlake, The Killers, Ravel's vocalise, and then it was time.

Here's the play by play:
Walked into the room all smiles.
Offered: Chacun. Am loving where this aria takes me. I can see my buddies from the 21st regiment all around me and Tonio flirting back w/me in the distance.

Asked for: Zerbie from Noch Glaub.
Now, this is harder than beginning at the beginning. I know it, everyone knows it. When you start at the beginning of this piece you have this amazing momentum that takes you through it. It's a complete story, well, even more complete if I had the guys around me to do the whole commedia scene, but, ok, so even just the aria.
Ariadne has not yet checked out, so I have to do some convincing in the Noch glaub.
But who do I really have to convince of these true/false loves? Well, that's me, of course, silly.

I was feeling it. The piano was right there with me for the little nuances (that are written in my score, but this time he used his own Zerbinetta--I've seen 3 people do this before and I'm sure it's because of the fingering for some tricky sections..but still--it can ALSO be a bit dangerous when you've marked or circled things like Espr. or Rall. or have a big arrow to MOVE some phrase---luckily, all went smoothly.)

The breakdown:
I'd give chacun something like smidgens away from a perfect 10. And I'm not one to do that very often.
I'd give the Zerbie a 9.45.
Points off for me finding myself thinking about one or two phrases, instead of acting them.
Points off for not going as far as I usually do with the 'orgasm Ah's' dramatically or vocally.
But all in all, a solid performance on my part.

Looking forward to tomorrow, Pat."

ps- GO PATRIOTS

Here, Part deux

MUST GO TO SLEEP.

But I soooo don't want to!
I keep thinking about the great show that I saw tonight.
And the excitement for tomorrow.

And of course, the mixed nuts and cookies and chocolates from the goody bag are staring Evil-ly at me from the next bed over.

Haikus in honor of the hospitality committee that left this treasure trove of goodies in my room:

Ok, ONE Krackel.
Then I'm going to go to sleep :)
Melting in my mouth.

V8 and lager
Do people really mix these?
I'll stick to water.

Mixed nuts and cheetos
You are finger-lickin' good (stage instructions: "licks fingers")
Yep, I still taste it.

Caramel with nuts
I feel bad for my dentist
Better buy more floss.


Ok, and that will be all for my creativity this evening.
Music to fall asleep to will be Brahms variations on a theme of Paganini.
And if I still can't fall asleep maybe some Bach cello suites.
And if I STILL can't fall asleep, it'll already be light out, so I may as well just get up and listen to some show tunes to begin the day with a smile.

outed :)

Today was the first time EVER that someone came up to me and asked if I was "Coloratur...aaah". First I was thinking, yes, I'm a coloratura (that was in my head) and thennnnnn I realized what this person was referring to :)
So, yes, it's me!
But how strange, because according to my calculations of the people that know of this blog's existence, MAYBE 43 people read this per day. Ok, maybe 44. Seriously, I have the google stats on it.

No one in my family knows this blog exists.

I think I've told one singer friend --and that's just because when we spent time together I'd be tappity-tap-tapping away online and she figured it out.

Of my "real life friends" (ie, college, non singers), maybe 2? (Both blog and showed me theirs first!)

And so it's only through blogging that the world has become smaller:
I was re-acquainted with ACB--we went to school at the kind-of-same-time (well, at least the little freshman knew who she was from afar!!),
I was introduced to the blog of lil'missbossy (whom I met today at the first intermission!)
And I have gotten to read the thoughts and musings of singers, critics, directors, and dilettante's alike.

It's pretty exciting when you can read the words of wisdom and preparation from a consummate artist like Grecchinois and then get to see him in a wonderful and hilarious performance this evening--and know what he's gone through to get there and feel a certain way about his delivery, his health, his thoughts on the role, and take a peek into the life behind the person I saw on-stage tonight.

And so, if that is what this little journal experience provides for anyone (I'm talking to you, 43 and 44)--whether they know me or not, I'm happy to provide an all-access pass to the inner workings, or, backstage if you will.

Here, part I

I drove for 2 hours in the hail and ice to get to the airport--and hoped all the way that my "possible flight delay" status would not turn into a cancellation.

Luckily, it did not.
Flight number one left on time (I fell asleep with a Halls in my mouth and woke up 2 hrs later with most of it still intact).
Flight number two---OH, flight number two.

Boarding was a disaster (can't we all learn from Southwest please? NO one is going to listen when you say do NOT get up until your row is called).
Then we sat on the plane for an hour.
The first explanation was that the generator was offline and they needed to pull back into the gate to make it work..or something.
More sitting.
Ok, safety first, I agree.
More sitting.
Then we hear that the generator is fixed but there is no ground crew to be found to help the plane leave the gate.
Umm, HOW many times have you done this? You just BACK UP and Pull a U-ey! :)

Just kidding.
So the ground crew shows up and we're off, trying to make up some time, but still arriving 45 minutes late.

I'm here, the hotel is great, I got a lovely little welcome package of goodies, and I can't wait for the start of the weekend.

1am post

Of COURSE it's past midnight and I can't sleep.
Well this is no surprise---the crazy and completely unnecessary anxiety linked to whether or not I'll wake up with my TWO alarms set for tomorrow to drive to the airport, the 'did I pack everything that I need to', and the general excitement for the next few days.

I love this job and just about everything about it EXCEPT the travel.
Trains, automobiles- check.
Airplanes- not so much.

I have obviously gotten more nervous about it the older I get, but really--I mean, I'm flying inside of a tube of metal welded together lord-knows-how-many-years-ago--over the entire country? The ocean?

Takeoff and landing are the worst, and every time there is turbulence I have a mini-freak-session until it evens out.

I used to LOVE to fly !!!
Especially the 12 hours to visit family across the world.

Now? No.


PS- I think I may hold the record for keeping a Halls, or Ricola, or Altoid in my mouth the longest---the trick? FALL ASLEEP with it in your mouth!
You'll wake up 5 hours later and it'll stilll be there--and will have molded to the shape of the roof of your mouth.