Opera Karaoke: Thinking outside the box!

OPERA KARAOKE???

Seriously?

YES! --- It's true!

So... I was invited to sing at a local church, 

however I did not have time to connect with the pianist ahead of time!

I was slightly concerned because I was planning on singing

Puccini's "Donde Lieta," from the third act of La Boheme.

I had no idea if the church pianist was familiar with opera 

or with Puccini and we couldn't meet until 30 minutes before the service.

So, I began to brainstorm about how to make this work.

I was then asked - 

"Is there such a thing as karaoke for opera?"

I laughed and figured no - 

AND that even of there was, it probably wouldn't be any good.

Ma! (But!)  I was wrong!

Through an internet search, I found several options for 

Opera Karaoke or "Opera Minus Voices."

I found both piano and orchestral accompaniments.

Within just 5 minutes time I found an acceptable orchestral accompaniment

not only of "Donde Lieta," but several other well-known arias.

For less than a buck, I purchased this track and I was on my way!

So, after uploading this to my iPod, 

I grabbed my friend's iPod Sound Dock 

and pressed play!

I was so surprised to hear this beautiful orchestral sound 

bellowing forth from such small speakers!

I began to sing and knew all was golden!

Today I showed up, technology in hand, and sang!

The balance was perfect and while the tempo of the accompaniment

was a little faster than what I would prefer,

it worked out GREAT!

Now I know that I can sing anywhere!

From Italian to Russian

I am still in full Italian-mode - however for just a moment I want to talk Russian music!  Last semester, I took a wonderful class about the Kuchka (the mighty handful).  The Kuchka are a group of 5 leading Russian composers who were instrumental in the development of "Russian" music.  They are Moussorgsky, Balakirev, Cui, Borodin, & Rimsky-Korsakov.  I loved this class in part because I learned so many wonderful things about Russian music that I never knew.  For instance, Russian music was greatly influenced by Italian opera - namely the work of Rossini and the like.  Italian and French opera were huge in the development of Russian music.

So, recently I purchased a fairly new recording by Russian Soprano, Anna Netrebko entitled "Russian Album"  This is a fantastic album!  Her voice is equisit and soars with ease up to the high range.  It is just magical to listen to her sing this repertoire.  She has teamed up with longtime mentor Valery Gergiev.  The album was recorded at the historical Mariinsky Theatre.  If you have any interest in Russian music or simply in GREAT SINGING - pick this up.  It is worth it!

YES! I am still here!

Hello dear friends!

Sorry it seemed as if I dropped off the side of the earth!  I haven't!  After all that singing and performing - my body needed a rest!  SO - rest it is getting!

My latest challenge has been coming down off such a mountain-top experience.  As performers, we work feverishly toward a big performance and then it comes and goes with the blink of an eye.  Then what?  The life of a performer is such that you are then off to the next gig.  I am sure over the course of my life and my career there will be many gig's and people to accompany those gig's however - this was a truly special group of people and an experience that I am sure will be unparalleled to anything else in my life.  I will carry it with me always and it has forever changed me.  I am so thankful.  

Music is like that - but people make all the difference.  Singing Puccini in Italy is magical however meeting a befriending the people of Piobbico and those within The Professional Advantage was life changing.  We are impacted and influenced by people and relationships.  The people I met and befriended this summer gave so much to me both as an artist and as a person.  It was as if we knew each other for years.  And while that was not the case - it will be now.  These relationships will last far beyond Piobbico and cross way beyond language barriers.  I think part of why this happened had to do with timing and place in life, but also because of who these individuals actually are as people.  I have been so blessed to know them and they have deposited so much into my life.  

Grazie mi nuove amici e grazie Piobbico!

As for me and what's next... I am off to the next gig as they say.  It is time to start learning new music and thinking about the fall audition season.  There is always more to learn!  I also plan to join some type of Italian conversation group so I can continue with my language development!  I will keep you all posted as well!  Thanks for reading about my trip to Italy!  I hope you learned something and had fun alongside me!  Keep coming back - you never know where the adventure of music will take you!

ROME

ROMA!

Wow! 

What a contrast from Piobbico! Everyone speaks English, for one. I was in a cab and the driver kept speaking to me in English even though I was speaking to him in Italian. 

I finally asked him if we could speak “solo Italiano…” 

He agreed. 

Rome is a hugely historical city. 

The coliseum, the bathhouses, the ruins. 

WOW! It is HOT too! Of course there is the Vatican as well.  

It is amazing to be looking at something you’ve read about your entire life!

There are a bunch of singers from ASU 

at the Rome Festival this summer! Rome is the hot spot I guess. 

Everyone in Rome wants to talk about America. 

It is so interesting! Trying to see everything in Rome 

in one trip is impossible, 

however there are a lot of things you can see. 

It is a very cool and very touristy city in the summer!

Today is a new day!

More pictures of Venice

Other Pics

Wrapping up Piobbico

Well, I must say that Piobbico, Italy is one of the most wonderful places I have ever been to in my life.  If you are ever thinking of going to Italy - consider visiting it!  Piobbico is 20-30 minutes from Urbino and Urbania.  It is a small city with lots of love and heart to give.  

Some highlights and recommendations:

Where to stay!

- My parents stayed in a beautiful "agriturismo," called "Perbacco."  Perbacco is a property that has three vacation apartments on the grounds.  The apartments are like homes.   They are spacious, clean, cutely-decorated, and complete with all the kitchen and bathroom items one would need.  Mom stayed in the first apartment, Infernaccio.  This place has two bedrooms, a huge bathroom and a loft.  The home is located right in front of Monte Nerone (the Nerone Mountain) and has a gorgeous hill-top view of Piobbico.  You are a 5 minutes walk from everything in Piobbico.  The owner, Luisa, is a kind, hard-working woman who even baked us a fresh tart with the fruits from her garden!

- I stayed in another vacation apartment right at the base of the Castello Brancaleoni.  My address was

1 Via Brancaleoni

Piobbico, IT

- OR - you could stay the the "Albergo Montenerone" (Montenerone hotel).  This hotel is quaint, clean, newly-renovated and located in the heart of Piobbico.  It is awesome!

Where to eat!

The food and wine in Piobbico are absolutely PERFECT!  You cannot do wrong, but here are some recommendations.

Il Burchio:  cucina e vino

61046 Piobbico (PU)
22, VIA GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI
tel: 0722 986517

*This restaurant is the very best in Piobbico!!!!!!!!

Everything on the menu is excellent!  Brothers Andrea & Marcelo Paiardini are the owners and they will treat you like family!  This restaurant is tucked away in an alley, and that allows it to be both romantic and quiet and fantastic!  After your meal ask for their signature "Crema di Lemoncello"  You will never be the same!

Another great place to eat is

Ristorante Montenerone Da Carletto
61046 Piobbico (PU)
28, VIA ROMA
tel: 0722 986282

Fantastic location in the heart of Piobbico!  Excellent food!  Carletto is the owner.  Ask for either him or Dino and they will take care of you!  I often allowed them to order for me - just whatever was good that day!

Finally - one of my favorite places to get a cappuccino and check my e-mail was the wonderful, family-owned cafe:  Caffe del Corso.  They are located right next to the Albergo Montenerone on Via Roma.  This wonderful cafe is owned and operated by 4 generations of one family.  They are always open and serve the best gelato in Piobbico!  You must go by!

I do hope many of you will consider taking a trip to Piobbico.  You can take a bus from Pesaro in just about an hour.  It is a glorious place!!!!!!

More thoughts and reflections to come...

VENEZIA!

Well, as I said I plan to take a pausa and reflect on my time in Piobbico. However – in the meantime, I am in Venezia (Venice). Wow! Totally different than Piobbico! It is like a movie with all the Gondolas and the water on the canal. I love it! Today we went to Piazza San Marco, the Museo Correr and the Palazzo Ducale. We went sightseeing up and down the Grand Canal on a Vaporetto (water bus). We ended up in Lido, which is a separate little island near Venezia and we got rained on at the Rialto Bridge Marketplace. FUN TIMES! P.S. It is so hard to find your way around Venice. The city is like a maze and the maps are impossible to read. We got lost for over an hour twice today!

It has been interesting to notice the differences between Le Marche Region and Venezia. First of all, everyone here speaks English – even when you try to speak to them in Italian! I actually don’t like it (except when I am lost). I am trying to work on my Italian people! Plus, there are tons of tourists here (Americans, Europeans and Chinese mainly). There is also a LOT of seafood here because we are right on the Adriatic Sea. AND SERIOUSLY – there is Gelato on every corner (yum!) and of course lots of great wine! Mom, Dave & I had a very full day! It was fun to be tourists!

I slept so good last night! I think my month in Italy is catching up with me! I am pooped! After Venice, I will be heading to Milan and then taking some R&R around Europe with friends. Mom and Dave go back to Rome on Wednesday. I met a lot of really wonderful people in Piobbico and some of us are going to travel around Europe and see some sights before heading back to the states! Maybe Germany, France – who knows! The world is our oyster! I think this will be great for debriefing and reflection.

I’ll blog as much as I can. Thank goodness for Internet café’s!

Ciao!

Il Concerto a Urbania

WE DID IT! We had two glorious nights of Il Trittico by Giacomo Puccini. It was glorious. First, we had cast B present Il Trittico with piano accompaniment in the courtyard of the Castello Brancaleoni in Piobbico. I sang in the chorus of Suor Angelica and enjoyed watching my friends sing to the people of Piobbico. So many more people came than expected! It was standing room only! It was so special and personal because the majority of the audience was made up of members from the Scuola Italia and our friends and neighbors from town.

Next, on Friday night, we presented Il Trittico at the Teatro Bramante in Urbania with orchestra. I had the blessed privilege of singing Suor Angelica. It was a glorious and all encompassing experience. As a confessed perfectionist, my goal for myself was to do my best and just BE Angelica rather than get caught up in vocal technique and so forth. I can honestly say that I did it! I was so blessed to have the wonderful opportunity to enter into the life and pain and joy of a character such as Angelica. Through many months of reflection and many years of life experience and soul searching, I was able to find a very deep, real connection with Angelica and felt very much like I was Angelica throughout the entire production. It is so fulfilling to see growth and progress in yourself and your music. I received many compliments, most of which had to do with my acting and ability to convey the emotion of the character. This blessed me profusely because it was my very deep desire to do just that. I enjoyed every moment of the opera, which climaxed at the end with a small Italian child being brought out onto the stage to play the part of my son. When I looked over and saw this beautiful little one reaching out to me, I just lost it; I embraced the child and cradled him in my arms as the chorus finished and the curtain closed. My heart soured with thanks to God, both as Angelica and as Lindsay.

In the coming days and weeks I desire to reflect more on my experience in Piobbico, however for today I want to share my deep felt heart of appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity given to me on Friday night. Some incredibly talented and dedicated artists and now dear friends, who all collectively and individually gave of themselves way beyond the point of full capacity, surrounded me. I was so emotional Friday night, I could hardly stand up. I sobbed and sobbed throughout the evening as I reflected back over this month with my new friends and prepared to say good-bye. I have been so deeply touched and stirred and changed by this experience.

As I mentioned, I plan to reflect on this month a lot more and share many more wonderful stories here on my blog, but for now what I can say is that the production was a tremendous success and the opportunity of a lifetime. I am FULL!

Dress Rehearsal

Dress Rehearsal --- well - it happened! What can I say? I need to go back and listen to the recording before saying too much, however it was both exciting and scary working with the orchestra! Cast B performs tomorrow night and then we sing on Friday. My days in Piobbico are winding down and yet the memories will last forever!

Last night the mayor of Piobbico and several locals hosted a wonderful dinner for all of us at Il Burchio - which by the way is a FABUOLOUS resturant. It was a polenta party! They made polenta from scratch and we all enjoyed an authentic and scrumptious Italian dinner! My parents joined us and they just took in the beauty and the people.

Singing on the stage with the orchestra was a wonderful gift to me and I can only hope that Friday night will be even better once we have an audience! I am SUPER busy over the next few days, so if my blog seems slow - hang in there with me! I will share all my stories and photos in due time.

Cioa and Buona notte!

Teatro Bramante

Yesterday, we took our first trip over to Urbania to rehearse with the orchestra at the Teatro Bramante in preparation for our performance on Friday night. It was incredible. This quaint little teatro was the sight of the premier of Verdi’s Il Trovatore. The theater is ornately decorated with artistic design and filled with rich, vibrant colors. Just to be standing there on the stage was like a dream. It was one of the most beautiful buildings I have seen in Italy. I am thrilled to have the chance to sing there on Friday. The small, 20-piece orchestra played wonderfully! I sat and listened to the other two of the Il Trittico and I was just so impressed! Our Tabarro cast is absolutely outstanding and I could hardly believe it when I was listening to them sing. Again, the same is true with the cast of Gianni Schicci. The performance is going to be very memorable and quite a spectacular evening!

Upon arrival in Urbania, I received a message from an Italian man I had ever met before. He was looking for me because an old friend of mine, who is now living in Rome, found out that I was in Italy. The man asked – do you know Jason… and I was thinking – say what??? Jason and I studied together with Janice Yoes at the University Arkansas 12 or 13 years ago. He was older and left long before me. He now lives in Rome with his family and wanted to connect with me here in Italy. Janice must have told him I was here! The world is actually a very small place!

Today we have our last day of musical wood-shedding. Tomorrow night is the dress rehearsal with the orchestra, back in Urbania. We then have two performances – Thursday & Friday! This is what we have been working towards! WOW! - Have I said “Wow” enough??? I am in a constant state of awe!

Successful run-through!

Well, yesterday was a big day for me! We ran through the entire Il Trittico and my parents arrived in Piobbico!

First - the run through! Can I just say "WOW!!!!" I am so full you better watch out or some may get on you! I had such a fantastic time singing and just being in the moment of the music - I never wanted it to end! I was dripping with sweat and totally starving after - yet completely full and brimming with joy. It went really well and I can see the growth of the last two weeks. I love singing and being a part of the deep communication of music. I am so blessed on this earth! Tomorrow we drive 30 minutes over to Urbania to have our first rehearsal with the orchestra in the Teatro Bramante. Is this my life????? Why YES - it is! Words area pathetic excuse for communicating how I feel right now.

To top it off - my mom and Dave arrived in Piobbico yesterday!!! It has been a glorious 24 hours with them. What a joy to share this bit of heaven with them. Today I had the day off and so we drove throughout Le Marche, visiting Urbino and Urbania. We just finished dining at the most fabulous restaurant in Piobbico - Il Burchio. I am so blessed, words cannot say! This is going to be a big week and I just hope to enjoy and be present in every moment of it.

More to come....

I am speaking in complete phrases!

I realized yesterday that I am speaking in more complete phrases, rather than just shooting out words. Italians I have befriended here have noticed and provided encouragement! Woo-Hoo!

Last night we presented our second night of opera scenes and arias. I joined in on the encore "O sole mio," however other than that I was off in preparation for my big Suor Angelica performance this next week. The singers I am with are just fabulous and as you'll see from some of my pics, we had a wonderful evening!

My mom and Dave arrive in Piobbico tomorrow afternoon. They are here for the week and the opera and then we will all head to Venice. I am so excited to actually get to share this place with people I love!

I am still growing all the time: learning about how to use my body more effectively, as well as my instrument. I am studying my character and deepening my understanding of the language. I have realized (once again) that in order to really learn something and grow in something, one must DO IT! Living in Piobbico where most people do not speak any English has totally forced me to grow in my Italian - what a gift! Working on the opera all day, everyday has helped me to grow in ways that I just can't in a school environment. That is partly why things like this exist! If you are a young singer and you are reading this, I encourage you to attend a program such as this as soon as you can! There is no way to learn and grow like this at home or at school. In fact, being here has helped me to reexamine the steps I am currently taking to improve my craft and consider additional means of learning , growing and developing as an opera singer. *Yes, I am being intentionally vague. I have not figured everything out yet, but I promise to share once I do!

As I head into the weekend, I head into a very full time of rehearsals and the like. Tomorrow we will actually run the entire Il Trittico, straight through for the first time. EXCITING!

I'll let you know how it went!
Ciao mi amici!

How to enter into a character

With 1 week until our big production of Suor Angelica, I have been focusing a lot on how to really be my character and allow what I am doing on stage to be organic and natural - gripping and compelling. The last thing I want is to just stand there and sing! This story, if you are unfamiliar with it, is so powerful and dramatic and real! *Verismo! Angelica came from noble birth, however after her parents died and she and her younger sister were taken in by her aunt, she found herself unmarried and pregnant. She was forced to give up the boy for adoption and live the rest of her days in a convent. For sever years she has lived in the convent without any word from home. She has grieved and obsessed with her son and longed for someone to come and see her. Then - it happens. She can hardly believe it - a visitor. It is her aunt! However, she enters the room without as much as a glance toward Angelica. She is cold and neutral and unemotional. She has come only to have Angelica sign away her remaining inheritance to her younger sister, who is to be married. Angelica looses it. WHAT ABOUT MY SON!!!!! I have not had a word in 7 years - please tell me something! In a very callous and cold manner, her aunt informs her that 2 years prior, her son fell ill and died. Upon hearing this most devastating news, Angelica crumbles to the floor. She sings her aria "Senza Mamma" where she mourns the loss of her baby. She then envisions taking her life so that she can be with her son in paradise. She creates a poison to drink and drinks it without hesitation - and then.... Then she realizes she has just committed a mortal sin and will be lost forever. She cries out to God to save her and a miracle occurs - she is saved.

Emotional huh? YES! My goal is to not make all of this too "mello-dramatic" but to just be Angelica and be authentic. That is the goal. So, now that I have learned all the notes and rhythms and words, I am meditating on how to be Angelica allow what Puccini wrote to be received into the hearts of those in the audience. It has been an emotional journey for me - one that I welcome and love. I am being stretched and I am growing.

More to come....

http://operanotes.blogspot.com/

Italian Life Lessons

Life lessons

I would be leaving out a big chunk of my experience in Italy if I failed to discuss the deeper life lessons that I have been learning here. As I have blogged about in the past, we cannot compartmentalize our lives, our singing, etc. We are one person and our emotions, experiences, beliefs, etc. all go together along with our singing and musicality to form one complete being. There have been many, many times throughout the years where I have found that the very issues I am struggling with in my personal life are also the very issues I am struggling with in my singing – such as letting go or being afraid. If I, Lindsay, am seeking to be in control of all things at all times, it will show itself in my singing – like with the presence of jaw tension. Or, if I am struggling with fear of man in my personal life, I will stand on the stage and do the same thing. Therefore, all the lessons we learn (and need to learn) go hand in hand between our “personal lives” and our singing.

While in Italy I have had the great privilege of meeting some outstanding people. The other participants are professional, mature, serious about music and passionate about singing and opera. The coaches, teachers and other staff are likewise professional, deep, insightful and extremely knowledgeable individuals. Being around them and wandering in and out of conversations with them about life, music and so on has been a wonderful gift to me. I see more clearly how much I have been living in a box. I have not been putting myself out there as I could – due to fear. Yet – I will never achieve all that I hope to if I stay locked in the box of fear. I will never be the singer, actress and person that I want to be (and am on the inside) if I don’t step outside my comfort zone and take risks. A risk could be something as simple as trying not to sing everything forte. What would happen if I took a risk, in an attempt to sing pianissimo? Well – I might crack or not make any sound at all. OR – I might discover the path to communicating a new idea through my singing. One thing is for sure – I will never know if I stay in my little safe mezzo-forte/forte box. The point is – take a chance. You might fall flat, but then at least you learned something and can move forward from there. *I am talking to myself, of course.

Without divulging too much, I want to share how I have been learning from those around me and how it has challenged, encouraged and at times frightened me. It has been a very enriching time of seeing and discovering for me and I am forever changed by it.

Bella Italia!

I just had the most beautiful experience - some friends and I went for an all-day bike ride throughout the back hills of the Marche region.  It was so glorious - words cannot express it.  I am sure that the most people will never see the sights I saw this weekend.  It was so wonderful!

Today starts our second full week - and the beginning of the preparation for Suor Angelica.  I am so excited to dive deeper into my character and the music.  The coaches and directors on staff here are simply amazing and I am grateful for the chance to learn from them.  I am so fully in love with Italy and Puccini right now - I can't explain it!  Bellisimo!

More soon...

Ho cantato il primo concerto ieri sera a Piobbico

New pics

Ho cantato il primo concerto ieri sera a Piobbico. I sang my first concert last night in Piobbico.

It was wonderful! We performed outside in the courtyard of the Castle Brancaleoni, which created an intimate and fairytale-like atmosphere.

The evening started with a cute and entertaining chorus scene from Act II of L’elisir d’amore by Donizetti. In this scene Giannetta gathers around all of her girlfriends to share the exciting news that Nemorino has just received a very large inheritance. Giannetta and the girls become excited thinking of how they might benefit in some way from this. Each of them begins to dream of how he might choose them to be his love. Giannetta continuously tells the girls to be quiet so as not to let anyone know of this new secret. Next Nemorino enters the scene, unaware of the ladies. He is drinking from a bottle of wine, which he believes is a love potion (an elixir of love). He’s been told that by drinking this potion, all women will adore him. The ladies see Nemorino and begin to get excited. They rush to him and begin to gawk & flirt. Nemorino believes that the love potion must be working, however he is unaware of the fact that the ladies are pursuing him because of his inheritance. Soon afterwards, Nemorino’s true love, Adina, enters the scene. She observes the women with Nemorino and becomes very jealous. We also see the entrance of Dulcamara, the doctor who gave Nemorino the love potion. He is astonished at the apparent success of his concoction. The scene builds as each character expresses their joys, frustrations and wonders and ends with a grand exit of Nemorino and the ladies.

Next I sang the Sextet from Act III of Don Giovanni by Mozart and I ended the evening singing all of Act III from La Bohème, by Puccini. This was the climax of the night for me. I have fallen head-over-heels in love with La Bohème. The music is brilliantly written and is glorious both for the singer and the audience. My character, Mimi, has been up all night – anxious – wanting to speak with Marcelo. Marcelo is sort of like a big brother to Mimi and is the close friend of Mimi’s love, Rodolfo. Mimi is in deep pain and anguish over her relationship with Rodolfo and she cannot contain it anymore. She cries out to Marcelo for help. She explains, maybe for the first time out loud, how Rodolfo has been acting very strange. He has developed a very serious jealous spirit. Even when someone simply passes by or speaks a word to Mimi, Rodolfo assumes the worst – that Mimi is somehow untrue to him. She continues telling Marcelo how Rodolfo even watches her sleep and has said to her you are not for me. She does not understand why her soul mate and the true love of her life is behaving in this way. She acknowledges that she and Rodolfo must part and begs Marcelo to help her. Meanwhile, Rodolfo is searching for Marcelo and begins to come outside where Mimi and Marcelo and speaking. Mimi hides and Marcelo and Rodolfo speak. Rodolfo tells Marcelo of his anguish over his broken relationship with Mimi and though he tries to say that it is about jealousy, he confesses that it is actually because Mimi is dying. Rodolfo has known for a while that Mimi has a terrible cough and will not live long and in a sense of denial and mourning – he drives her away so as to avoid the pain of losing her to death. Rodolfo does not realize it but Mimi is listening to this entire conversation. Up until this time, Mimi did not know that she was dying. She becomes grief stricken over her own life and breaks down crying. Her crying exposes her presence and Rodolfo runs to comfort her. However, she begins to say goodbye. At this time, she sings her famous and glorious aria “Donde Lieta.” She tells Rodolfo she is leaving and asks him to gather her things from his home so she can have someone retrieve them. As she lists the items, she begins thinking of the beautiful bonnet that he bought her and her heart begins to swell. She tries to be strong and leave however he stops her. While they know they must part, they sing of their love and seek to hold onto each other for a little while longer. Marcelo has come back in with his lover, Musetta and their counter duet creates a sense of rhythmical and emotional contrast to that of Rodolfo and Mimi. The four sing what has to be some of the most glorious music ever written and then Musetta and Marcelo exit. The act ends with Rodolfo and Mimi singing their love duet and trying to hold on to one more day together before they know they must part forever.

Puccini and Bohème are simply magical. When I was outside in the courtyard of the castle singing – it was like a dream. As I have written about in the past, there is always the temptation as a performer to simply judge yourself all the time and focus solely on technical accuracies and the like, never entering into the passion and heart of the music. However I made the choice yesterday, as we all can, to let all of that go and just be Mimi and sing. I did not want it to end. And consequently, I felt the scene went very well because all of us just poured out our hearts.

Overall I felt the evening was a tremendous success. The people of Piobbico seemed happy with us and I think each of us were thrilled to have been given the glorious privilege we had of singing under such phenomenal circumstances. What a gift and what a joy!

Venerdi e Il Mercato

Buongiorno!

Piobbico e molto buono.  Mi piace Italia e mi nuove amici!

Today is Friday (venerdi) and that means it is time for the open market!  All up & down the streets of Piobbico venders spread their goods for all of us to purchase.  There were fresh vegetables (vedure) and fruit (frutta) as well as shoes (scarpe) and dresses (l'abbigliamenti).  You could buy fresh cheese (formaggio) and homemade meats (salumi).  It was a lot of fun!  Our Italian class went - sort of like a field trip.  It was a wonderful opportunity to practice my Italian!  A fun time was had by all!

We also had a very FULL day of rehearsals because our first performance is tomorrow night.  I am honestly totally exhausted right now & plan to sleep soon (Io stanca & Io vorrei a dormire).

I will write more soon after we have our first concert!  I am really excited about it!  

Until then -Buonanotte! 

Great Resources

As part of my training here I will receive a private coaching &/or lesson with each member of the staff. Yesterday I had a voice lesson with Soprano Amy Johnson. Can I just say - WOW! In one hour we accomplished so much I could hardly resist the urge to cry. We discussed technique and she gave me some simple tips that created enormous difference in my sound and body usage. I am still flored! I also had an acting lesson with Tenor Mark Thomsen. I feel so much more centred and confidant! It is simply amazing to me. I have been given some superb people to work with.

We are doing an evening of scenes on Saturday night where I will be performing the La Boheme and Don Giovanni. It has been exciting putting all of this together with people from around the globe. We have singers, directors and coaches from 8 different countries participating in this program. For my Boheme scene I am singing with two powerhouses, professional, experienced men (Marcelo & Rodolfo) and an up and coming Musetta. I almost wept after singing through this scene with them because it feels like a dream. To sing the glorious music of Puccini's La Boheme in Italy with professional singers alongside you is like a dream come true. WOW!

Once the scenes night is over I will be solely focusing on Suor Angelica. It is a glorious work and I love the privilege of singing it. This experience continues to blow my mind. It is almost indescribable and I am fully aware how weak my little words are describing it. All I know is I am the luckiest girl alive.

Thoughts from today

What am I doing each day?

My day starts at 6am with a run around the hills of Piobbico. I really love this part of my day because I get to enjoy the city early and all alone. I have my iPod and the sun is just starting to shine over the mountains. I explore new places and get my day jump started with a burst of energy. I then head home for breakfast, which can consist of eggs & toast, cereal & fruit or yogurt. The fruit here is sweeter than anything I have ever eaten in the US. The cantaloupe and peaches are especially tasty right now. At 9 I start my class at the Scuola Italia. My instructor, Georgia, is 23 years old and studies opera at the music conservatory in Pesaro. She is full of energy and understands all of us singers very well. Our class is very interactive (no English is spoken). After 2 hours of speaking, reading and listening, we take a trip out to the town where we can practice our conversation with the locals. We wrap up around 12 or 12:30 and then I typically have a break for lunch. The entire town takes a “pausa” or “siesta” from 12-3 and that means that shops are closed and we all need to be quiet. No singing is allowed – either in the rehearsal hall or in my own apartment. In fact, the Scuola can be fined if any of us is found abusing the pausa. Therefore, I usually make lunch at my apartment during this time and look over or listen to my repertoire. Afternoon rehearsals can run from 3-5:30 or 6 and then evening rehearsals run from 7-9ish. Not everyone rehearses at all times. We take turns running through scenes and parts of the opera. Restaurants are closed from 3-7 and therefore if you’d like to dine out, it must be after rehearsal (yes – people eat late here). I usually finish my day around 10:30 or 11.

What do I like best about Piobbico?

1.) I love the people!!! This town of about 2,000 is quaint and simple. People of all ages dwell here and everyone seems to be connected and know one another. You will regularly find people gathering together around a cup of caffe or sitting on the corner talking. Most people either walk or ride bikes to get around. There are numerous little shops where you can buy fruit, gelato, and fish or do your laundry. Most Piobbico residents speak only Italian. They very much encourage an environment where people like myself feel comfortable experimenting with speaking the language. In fact, many residents will approach you and start a conversation with you.

2.) I love the atmosphere!!! Piobbico is in a valley between two mountains and has a river running right through the middle of the town. Even though they have seen more rain this June than ever before (literally), typically the weather is ideal! The weather along with the architecture and mountains make for a peaceful, sanctuary-like environment. Every time you walk around you pinch yourself and blink your eyes because what you see seems unreal.

3.) I love the food!!! They weren’t kidding when they said that Italian food was fabulous! Fresh everything! The veggies and fruit are grown here – like in someone’s garden. The pasta is all homemade and the fish comes right from the Adriatic Sea. There is something for everyone! The wine is from local vineyards and the gelato is unlike what we have in the states. It is more natural – less sugary.

Prima giorno a Scuola Italia!

We started our Italian school (Scuola Italia) today. The director, Corinna, began speaking in Italian and did not stop. I have always heard that immersion is the best way to learn a language. I listened as Corinna described our next month and told us about herself and the other staff. I was so excited because I was understanding most of what was being said.

Next they took us on an official tour of Piobbico, concluding at the Castelo Brancaleoni, which is where we will rehearse and perform our scenes and arias. We have been able to meet and speak with many locals, which is helping my Italian immensely! The people of Piobbico are very cheerful, kind, family-oriented people. Families will gather around a table at the local caffe to share a drink and some laughs. And they are never in a hurry - meals last for hours!

We also had our first day of rehearsing today! It was fantastic and very exciting! There are no divas here. Everyone I have met is professional, kind and very down-to-earth. There is not one person here who is not prepared and ready to learn. We have participants who are 19 and just finished their first year of college, we have many who are just out of grad school, and even others who have their doctorates and are teaching full-time. The diversity in age and stage of life is a wonderful component to this group. It provides us all with a chance to learn something. *And boy can everybody sing!!!!!

We were also told more about what to expect at the end of the program when we travel to Urbania to perform Il Trittico with the Orchestra. The city of Pesaro has a wonderful music conservatory and is host to an annual Rossini festival. These musicians make up our orchestra for Il Trittico! WOW! We will have two rehearsals with them prior to the July 4th performance. Our performance will be held in the Teatro Bramante, which I learned is where Verdi's Il Trovatore premiered. The design is very much like any typical Italian Opera House, complete with four tiers and grand decor! WOW! I feel like I am dreaming.

The food has also been just incredible. I have eaten at some local restaurants and everything I have had is awesome! However today I also went to the Supermercato for the first time. It was so fun! I bought and prepared for lunch some vine-ripened tomatoes with fresh mozzarella, basil and olive oil and can I just say that I have never tasted anything like it in the US. I mean – YUM!

Can you tell I am having a blast! It is just wonderful here!!!!!!!!

Pictures!

I made it to Piobbico!!!

I am in Piobbico!

As I prepared to leave my hotel in Bologna, I stopped by the complimentary breakfast buffet, expecting muffins, bagels & coffee. However, to my pleasant surprise, I was greeted by meats, cheeses, eggs, bacon, pastries, cereals, and fresh fruit – any coffee drink I could ever want and over a dozen types of juice. They really do breakfast here!

Rachel & I then headed over to the train station where we boarded our train to Pesaro. The train ride took about two hours and as we got closer to our destination, we began to see green rolling hills, crops growing and even a castle! We arrived and the moment we stepped outside we could feel the change in temperature. It was a glorious 70 degrees with a light breeze off the Adriatic Sea. Over the next few hours, we began to meet other singers who had traveled far and wide to be here for the summer festival. By 4pm, we were all in Pesaro and ready to head to Piobbico. We boarded a bus and drove a little over an hour to our quaint new home away from home.

My eyes were glued out the window the entire ride because it was absolutely gorgeous scenery. There was so much GREEN – I could hardly believe it *especially after living in Arizona. What I was seeing out my window seemed like a scene from a movie! Finally we arrived in Piobbico (which I realized you pronounce with a first syllable accent: Piòbbico). Members from the Scuola Italia and the owners of our apartments greeted us. I was taken to my apartment and given a grand tour! It was a delightful experience because my very energetic landlord told me everything I ever wanted to know about this place – in Italian! Lei non parla L’inglese.

My apartment is fantastic! I have a kitchen, laundry, living room, bedroom and bathroom all to myself. I am right next to the brook that runs through town and I can hear the running water from my bed! I met up with the others for a reception hosted by the school where many members of the town greeted us. Then, we ended the evening with a lovely dinner at the local ristorante.

This place is like a dream. If I wasn’t seeing it, I couldn’t believe it. Everyone I’ve met is very friendly and I am so glad to be here. Sunday we are off, just settling in. Some of us are planning to go hiking. Then Monday we start!

Great first day!

So, you would think I had said to Rachel - hey let's do something crazy so I can have a story for my blog. But no - we did not set out to be crazy...

We set out to go for a walk and find a place to eat dinner (5pm). So we began walking and after a little while realized that our sidewalk was ending. We had come too far to turn back, so we hiked through bushes so as not to get run over by the rush-hour traffic. I lost track of how many honks we got. Anyhow, we walked for like 45-50 minutes before realizing that there were no restaurants down the way we went. Then, it began to rain - and then it began to pour. The idea of walking to save cab fare was now a distant memory. We hailed a cab and he took us to a busy street in central Bologna where we had many eateries to choose from. However - at least in Bologna - restaurants do not open for dinner until 7!

So, now we walked an hour, got rained on, were fried from traveling (and very hungry) but had to wait!  HOWEVER - Even though we went through all that, we ended up having the best dinner! We shared some Bruschetta, Fresh Bufalo Mozzarella with Tomato and Seafood Pasta. It was all wonderful and worth the wait!

All around us, people were watching the Euro Cup - football (soccer).  Italy was playing and no matter where we walked - everyone was glued to the TV screen.  In surround sound you would hear outbursts of either joy or anguish over a play.  It was very Italian and very entertaining.

I'm here!!!

WOW! I am actually in Italy! 

I followed the sun for two full days, without sleep, and now I am here! 

Just to hear people around me speaking in Italian is so FUN! 

I am understanding a lot! 

My trip was good. I saw actress Claire Danes in JFK and literally bumpeded into Jay Manuel - judge from "America's Next Top Model" - as I boarded my flight to Amsterdam. I read the entire first part of "Eat, Pray, Love," by Elizabeth Gilbert on the flight from JFK to Amsterdam. *The first part of her book discusses her 4 months in Italy. I could not put that book down. I just loved reading about Italy knowing I would be there shortly.

Then on my flight from Amsterdam to Bologna I had the priviliage of sitting next to a charming and very friendly Italian woman. We spoke, mostly in Italian, which was so exciting for me! I was holding my own! As I glanced out the window, I realized that we were flying over the Alps! WOW! Bellisimo! Then my new friend kindly offered to share a cab with me - which she ended up paying for! She said if I hadn't already paid for my hotel that I should stay at her home!

All my luggage arrived - and in one piece! Now I am at my hotel in Bologna, which is very nice for only 30£ a night. I am waiting to meet up with Rachel, whose flight arrives in a few hours. Then we can go eat and force ourselves to stay awake until it's time to sleep here. 

Tomorrow we'll be off to Pesaro.

So dear friends and family - I am here and so far everything is molto bene!

Ciao!

*Update ... Rachel arrived!  "We made it!"  We are both fried but need to stay up for the day so as to help with the effects of jet lag.  

SO - we're off to explore Bologna!

Leaving tomorrow...

Fun facts about Italy, courtesy of Rick Steve

Italian Inventions:

Cologne, thermometer, barometer, pizza, 

wireless telegraph, 

espresso machine, typewriter, 

batteries, 

nitro-glycerin and the ice-cream cone.

Average Italian:

The average Italian is 42 years old, 

makes $29,200 per year, 

and has 1.28 kids.  

Everyday, he or she consumes two servings of pasta, 

a half pound of bread, 

and two glasses of wine, 

and will live to the age of 76 years, 10 months, and 16 days.

Foods in season in June:

Mussels, asparagus, 

zucchini, cantaloupe, 

eggplant, and strawberries

Description of Italy:

Bubbling with emotion, corruption, 

stray hairs, inflation,

traffic jams, body odors, 

strikes, rallies, 

holidays, crowded squalor,

and irate ranters shaking their fists at each other one minute

and walking arm-in-arm the next.

Sounds good to me!!!!

Whole new day!

So, I wrote earlier today how stressed I was feeling, etc... Well, I just had to post on how different I feel after coaching! Music is so wonderful that way! I just met with my vocal coach and sang through all of the Puccini repertoire and it went great! I feel optimistic and light-hearted and excited about going to Italy. All of a sudden those little details, such as cleaning my house, have just faded away. My vocal coach, and accompanist friends, Jeremy & Karen, are all going to Graz, Austria this summer for their own summer festival - so they know all about how I am feeling and can be excited for me. They also remind me to HAVE FUN!

So - I am now having fun! My day is much better now! Thanks Robert!

2 days...

OK - this morning I woke up stressed.  My suitcase is too full, my house looks like a tornado blew threw it and I need to practice!

I am about to go to ASU to have my final coaching with Dr. Mills and then I need to check some stuff out from the music library before I run through the entire Suor Angelica with Jeremy.  Balancing everything feels like a lot today.  

I always overpack!  It's mainly because I don't know what I will really want when I'm away so I just bring everything.  However with weight limits and the like I really have no choice but to leave some things behind.  We have a scale that we are using to weigh my luggage.  First I get on, log my weight and then I get on holding my bag & log that weight.  Then I subtract my weight from the total to determine how much my bag weighs.  Right now --- too much!

I am laughing at all my "gadgets."  I have my computer, my iPod, my recorder, my camera, my power converter and all the plugs that go with.  Just when I think to myself - never mind - I remember that once I am there I will be so glad that I have all these devices with me.  

When I check my luggage in, sit in my window seat, turn on my iPod and close my eyes, I'm sure I'll exhale.  However I suspect that today & tomorrow will be very full and probably very tiring.

Off I go...  

Video Greeting!

3 days to go & my iPod died!

Well, with 3 days until I leave my trusted, VERY USED iPod Mini...died.  At first I was overwhelmed because I use my iPod daily when 1) working out, 2) to listen to my repertoire.  PLUS, I had already planned that I would use it both in the airport (for my 10-hour layover) and on the plane to run through all my repertoire for Italy.  So having it die on me was TRAGIC.  Then I realized how thankful I should be.  Perche?  Because at least it happened here and not there!  Here I can replace it - there I'm stuck.  So, I bought a new RED iPod Nano yesterday which I hope to take with me to Italy.  Everyday is a chance to learn something.  

*Thanks mom

4 days 'til liftoff!

As I prepare to spend a month in Italy, my mind is racing with a million various thoughts, questions and "to-do's." I imagine the things I'll do, the people I'll meet and what the town will look like.  I go over in my mind what I should (and should not) pack.  I ponder what the food will be like and daydream about singing in an ancient castle with a fabulous orchestra!  In all of this I have made lists - packing lists, lists of errands to run and things like my itinerary.  I have also brainstormed about how to make sure to have the BEST possible 4 weeks in Italy!

One topic that I have thought a lot about is how to maintain my healthy, active lifestyle while on vacation and away from home.  When at home, I typically prepare my of my own food and eat a mixture of lean protein, fat-free dairy products and LOTS of produce.  I do cardio almost every day and do strength training 3 days a week.  These things are really important to me and so I have recently spent time thinking through how I will maintain all of this away from home.  Here's my plan:

I will be living in my own little apartment - complete with a kitchen!  GREAT!  I have been told that there are a lot of wonderful, fresh markets in town with lots of locally grown produce.  FABULOUS!  I have discovered that Piobbico is known for its beautiful hills and hiking, and with average summer temps in the 70's, I figure I will have plenty of opportunity to hike, run, walk and therefore be able to get in my cardio while discovering the beauty of my new surroundings!  AWESOME!  I also met with a trainer at my gym who showed me how to use a tube to work all my upper-body muscles, if no gym is available.  I have a cool workout journal where I have written down a lot of wonderful strength-training exercises that I can do without any machines - just in case.  YES!  And so I am feeling good about living healthy even while being in Italy for a whole month!!!!  *Of course I have also given myself permission to enjoy the local favorites such as pasta, gelato and wine - just in moderation!  

It is exciting to consider actually living in a new place.  I hope to meet a lot of locals and practice my Italian with them as well as learn all about their culture.  I hope to shop in the local markets and then head back to my little flat and prepare some wonderful, healthy meals complete with fresh herbs, fresh fish and fresh veggies!  MMMmmm!

So, I think what I have learned is that thinking ahead can make all the difference!  Imagining myself there and then considering what I can do or learn before I go to make my trip the best it can be really can make all the difference!

6 days...

Lots of little things are still left to be completed but overall I am ready to go!  I don't think I'll really believe I'm going until I'm there (or at least on the plane).  It still feels like a dream.

I have learned some ESSENTIAL Italian phrases - to get me through the next month.  They include:

- "Io non so."  [I don't know]

-"Io vuolle mangiare qual cosa." [I want to eat something]

- "Lei capisce L'Inglesi?"  [Do you speak English?]

HA! - Actually, it has been fun to revisit the Italian language.  I studied it as part of my undergraduate (years ago).  I look forward to trying out my new phrases on real Italians!

7 days...

So, it's 5 am and I have been awake for 90 minutes.  Can you tell I'm getting excited?  My mind is full - not of stress but anticipation!  This seems to always happen to me when I am preparing for something BIG.

I found some beautiful pictures online of Piobbico:  PICTURES 

Here's an idea of where I'll be in Italy:  MAP

8 days and counting...

Today has been one of those "wood-shedding" days. For weeks now I have been meeting with my vocal coach, Dr. Robert Mills as well as my pianist friend, Jeremy Peterman, several times a week to go through my music. We are at the point now where it is time to leave the score outside the room and really try singing through stuff OFF-BOOK.

I have been sitting in the practice room up at ASU all day just hammering words into my mind. Overall I am doing good with memorization - there are just certain spots that need to be ironed out. However I must admit that locking myself in a room and trying to memorize repertoire is not my favorite part of the job. I prefer to just practice and practice and eventually, naturally memorize everything. However in this case I have not had the luxury of time to do that. With only 8 days to go, I need to just do it until it's done.

So, in the end I will be glad for the progress made but yikes it's tiring! *Whenever I feel tempted to complain - I just remind myself that in a week I will be in Italy having a blast and these fleeting moments of madness will be gone and forgotten about!!!!

9 days...

More travel details...

Toward the end of my time in Italy I will be joined by my mom and step-father!  They are traveling to Rome for vacation and then they will make their way to Piobbico to see our final production, Suor Angelica.  After my program is over - mom, David and I will head to VENICE for a few days!!!  Then after that I will take a train to MILAN where I hope to see the "Teatro alla Scala" (La Scala) before catching a flight home.  *La Scala is the most famous opera house in the world besides the MET in New York.  Teatro alla Scala

I doubt I will see an opera there, however just to stand in front of the building where so many of my favorite works have premiered will be thrilling!

More later on...

10 days and counting!

Gees - I cannot believe all that goes into leaving the country for a month!  Thank goodness for family & friends!  I am starting to get really excited!  I think it's finally hitting me that I am going to Italy for a month!  

One of the most common questions I get is - "What part of Italy will you be in?"  My trip starts by flying into Bologna (northern Italy).  I will stay the night and then take a train 2 hours south-east to Pesaro.  Pesaro is located in the center, East Coast of Italy, on the Adriatic Sea.  From there I will take a bus to Piobbico.

I will be in the "Marche Region" of Italy, (Le Marche) near Urbino.  The city I will be in, Piobbico, is so small that you won't find it on the map.  Piobbico is up in the mountains and the climate there is cool (70's and 80's).  There are rolling hills and lots of beautiful countryside.  It is known for olives, cheeses, hiking and the arts!

Once in Piobbico, I will have my own 1 bed/1 bath flat!  I will be within walking distance of everything - right in the center of town.  My mornings will be spent at the Scuola Italia where I will have three hours a day of Italian class.  We will then break for lunch and in the afternoons and evenings I will participate in music rehearsals.  I will be able to shop for fresh fruits and seafood at the local markets and eat gelato at the local cafe!

The first weekend we are there we will present a night of arias and scenes in Piobbico.  I will perform Act III of La Boheme, by Puccini, singing the role of Mimi.  The following weekend we will again present a night of scenes.  This time I will perform the sextet from Don Giovanni, by Mozart, singing the role of Donna Elvira.  Finally our last weekend there, we will travel down the mountain to Urbania where we will perform all of Il Trittico, by Puccini, with orchestra.  Il Trittico consists of three one-act operas:  Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicci.  I will be singing the role of Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica.  We will perform this with a full orchestra at a beautiful historic castle.  *Yes a castle!

Throughout my time in Piobbico I will also have the opportunity to work with professional opera singers, coaches and teachers.  I will have one-on-one and group instruction.  There will be about 30 singers there from all over the USA and beyond.  This will be an amazing experience, I'm sure, and I will hopefully be able to use my computer there to keep in touch - so check back frequently!

More to come before I depart!

16 days 'til departure!

Buon Giorno!

It's been a while since my last post!  After my recital I fell over dead!  Then finals and now finally I'm back!  I leave for Italy in 16 days and I cannot believe it!  Learning mass amounts of music in a small amount of time has been a crazy growing experience!  I have been spending many hours each day speaking through, singing through and translating Suor Angelica, La Boheme and the scenes from Don Giovanni and L'elisir Damore.  It seemed like a good topic to discuss:  how to learn music well.  Especially if you are learning vocal music that will be sung in a foreign language, I recommend to start with a word-for word translation and IPA of the text.  This will allow you to know each word and how to pronounce it.  Then, especially with languages like Italian, it is key to try to speak the text in rhythm.  There are twice as many syllables as there are beats per measure and so it is key to be able to say it before trying to add pitches.  THEN - just do it over and over again until it's memorized.  Listen to recordings, watch DVD's of the performance and just practice a lot!  This type of repetition works great for me. 

In addition, I have also been working on reviewing my Italian!  There are some fabulous resources out there, such as Simon and Schuster's Pimsler audio-only method.  This set of CD's allows you to interact in conversation.  The vocabulary used in each lesson is then repeated and built upon in the following lessons.  The speaker also breaks down the pronunciation of each word.  I also purchased a wonderful workbook on Italian verb tenses by McGraw-Hill.  This is very similar to a workbook a student might use in a classroom setting.  There are lessons and then fill-in-the-blank questions.  There is a key in the back that allows you to check your work.  These resources have been GREAT!

I am really getting excited about the trip.  I know I will learn so much from the instructors and the people of Piobbico.  I also look forward to meeting many new people!!!!

Italian words of the day:

Buon Giorno! = Hello!

Scusi = Excuse me

Arrivederci! = Good-bye

Italy on the brain

Well, now that my recital is finished I can start to think about my summer in Piobbico, Italy!!!  I got my ticket today - so I guess it's official - I'm going!  I listened to a fantastic recording of Suor Angelica yesterday, starring Joan Sutherland & Christa Ludwig (LONDON label).  As I read through the score and listened I felt the deep emotion that Puccini hoped to convey.  The music paints a clear picture of the story line and even if you don't speak Italian, you can feel the mood of each scene.

Poor Angelica!  She is a young woman from a noble family who gives birth to an illegitimate baby boy.  In hopes of avoiding a huge scandal, Angelica is placed in a convent; her son taken away from her.  For seven years she serves and pays her penance in the convent, never hearing a word from her family.  Then finally one day, her aunt, La zia Principessa, comes to visit.  However she was not coming to "visit" Angelica but rather to have her sign over her inheritance to her sister who is to be married.  Angelica's aunt is cold and heartless; unsympathetic toward her.  Angelica begs her aunt for just a word about her son.  She has wondered about him for seven years.  Reluctantly and with little emotion, The Princess informs Angelica that two years previous, her son had become ill and died.  Angelica immediately becomes distrot and devastated.  Soon after her aunt leaves, Angelica decides to take her life so that she can be with her son in Heaven.  However, once she takes the poison, she cries out to The Virgin  Mary to save her soul because she realizes that suicide would send her to hell.  There is a miraculous light and as Angelica dies she sees a vision of her son approaching her.

This story is tragic and grabs at your heart.  The music is rich and full of drama.  I look forward to learning this role!

Tonight's the night!

Well, after months of preparation, my recital date has finally arrived.  How blessed I am to have the opportunity to sing!  One year ago I was working for a great company in a job that wasn't for me.  I knew I was a singer and had a deep passion and purpose with music however the time was not right for me to pursue it.  Now I am at ASU, pursuing my doctorate and tonight I have the gift of being able to share what I love with my friends and family.  Thank you Lord!  I know not everyone in the world loves what they do all day long - so I count my blessings and I give thanks to God for this wonderful opportunity.

The music on this program is striking.  It has penetrated deeply into my heart.  The poems and stories have come inside and caused me to think and to respond.  I hope that you all have the chance, even if not tonight, to experience this music.  It will touch you deeply.

My goal today is to rest, reflect on the text of my music and recall my blessings!  I am really excited for the recital and hope to see you there!

Going out of Buisness and a Dress Rehearsal

When my day started on Thursday I was alerted to the fact that ATA Airlines was going out of business due to bankruptcy - effective immediately!!! What I didn't know at the time was that my mom was scheduled to fly here on ATA! I soon learned that she had been woken up super early by the news and scrambled to find a new ticket to Phoenix from Honolulu. Even while she was searching flights, they were becoming "unavailable." She was able to find a ticket on United and for a reasonable price (although now she has to connect in SFO). So, instead of coming tomorrow, she'll be here tonight! Thank you Lord!

My day ended with my dress rehearsal from 9-11pm. It went well. However I was kinda tired because I had already spent a whole day working, singing, etc... Plus, I don't normally sing that late at night. However, the run-through was an overall success. Karen, my fabulous accompanist, did an outstanding job at EVERYTHING! This experience was encouraging and also a reality check. It's one thing to sing on a practice room or in your lesson and it's another thing to stand on stage in heels and perform a whole recital.

What I need between now and Sunday is sleep, tea and peace. Thankfully, my mom will be here and today is FRIDAY - which means I am done for the week and all that remains is my recital on Sunday at 5!

4 days to go . . .

Well, with only four days to go until my recital I am feeling excited and full of joy!  My mom will be here from Hawaii and many friends from church and school are expected to attend.  I am at the point where I know I need to go back to the basics of the text and remember the stories I am telling.  After all, we are performers, not just singing machines.  People say "Have Fun!"  "Relax!"  But also - tell me a story.  

Most audiences want to feel as if they are captured up into another world.  People may walk away discussing your breath support or the purity of your "oo" vowel, but more likely they will remember what they felt through the stories you told.  Or, they'll just be bored and forget everything.  

So, my challenge to myself is to "Have Fun!" "Relax!" and tell the story!

What to expect at a vocal recital

With my recital coming up in one week, some of you have asked me what to expect when coming to a vocal recital. I thought it might be good to discuss some basic aspects of what goes on at a vocal recital and answer some Frequently Asked Questions.

• Many people ask, what should I wear?  The answer is - whatever you like.  Some people will dress up and others will be in jeans.  There is no required attire - so just come!!!

• People often get confused as to wear to clap and where not to clap.  Let me help by stating that audiences should never clap in the middle of a "set" of music, but rather, wait until the entire set is complete and then applaud.  One example from my program is the Mignon Lieder by Hugo Wolf.  There are four pieces in this set and they are performed straight through without clapping or stopping.

• Another question people ask is what are you singing about?  It's true that much of the vocal repertoire is written in languages such as Italian, French and German.  However, there are two solutions:  1) I have posted the translations to all my pieces on my blog for you to read and 2) There will be "supertitles" shown at during the recital.  These are essentially the English translations to all the pieces.

• People ask how long is the recital?  I am singing 50 minutes of music + there is a intermission so the entire recital should last 75-90 minutes.
  

If you think of other questions - let me know and I will try to answer them!

See you Sunday!