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!

HE IS RISEN!!!

HE IS RISEN!

Today is one of my favorite days of the year - Resurrection Sunday!  The reason I love this day is because I remember the time in my life when I was alone and on my own - and rotting in my own sin.  I was, as they say, in the pit.  But then I learned that I could get out, have a new beginning and know the most wonderful, perfect, kind, thoughtful, caring being in the Universe:  God!  Jesus Christ made a way for me when there seemed to be no way.  He paid my debt and took my place that I might be right with God.  I am so grateful because I was lost and blind - DEAD.  But now I am found and can see and am ALIVE - because HE LIVES!  

My favorite Easter song of all time is "They Could Not," by Ron Harris and Claire Cloninger & sung by Sandi Patti.  This song tells the triumphant story of Jesus' victory over sin and death!

"They looked at Him and saw a single man

A carpenter with healing in His hands

They saw Him calm a sea and heal a dying man

They saw but could they really understand

They could not, They could not

Though they tried, they could not

He was just a simple carpenter but with healing in His hands

But could they really understand, they could not

They listened to the teaching that they heard

They wondered at the mystery of His word

They wondered what He meant, about a Father's plan

They heard but could they really understand

They could not, They could not

Though they tried, they could not

They listened to the teaching about a Father's plan

But could they really understand, they could not

So finally upon a rugged cross

They killed the man who would not suffer loss

And when at last they took what willingly He gave

He died, but could they keep Him in the grave

They could not, They could not

Praise God, they could not

And when at last they took from Him what willingly He gave

Could they keep Him in the grave, could they keep Him in the grave,

Could they keep Him in the grave...

They could not, They could not

Praise God, they could not

And when at last they took from Him what willingly He gave

Could they keep Him in the grave, could they keep Him in the grave,

Could they keep Him in the grave, They could not!!!!"

Solo Voice Recital Repertoire

Solo Voice Recital Repertoire

"Und ob die Wolke," from Der Freischutz by von Weber

Goethe Lieder by Hugo Wolf

Mignon I:  Heiss mich nicht reden

Mignon II:  Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt

Mignon III:  So lasst mich scheinen

Mignon:  Kennst du das Land

"Marietta's Lied," from Die tote Stadt by Erich Wolfgang Korngold

INTERMISSION

Melodies Passageres by Samuel Barber

Puisque tout passe

Un cygne

Tombeau dans un parc

Le clocher chante

Depart

Four Songs by Richard Hundley

Will there really be a morning?

Come ready and see me

My master hath a garden

Moonlight Watermelon

Melodies Passageres, Puisque tout passe

I.  Since all things pass

"Since all things pass,

let's make a passing melody;

the one to quench our thirst

will be the one to win us.

What leaves us, let us sing

with love and art;

and swifter let us be

than the swift depart."

Melodies Passageres, Un Cygne

II.  A Swan

"A swan moves over the water

surrounded by itself,

like a painting that glides;

thus, at times,

a being one loves

is a whole moving space.

And draws near, doubled,

like the moving swan,

on our troubled soul...

which to that being adds

the trembling image

of happiness and doubt."