This week I was privaledged to take part in week long master classes and a final performance, hosted by da Corneto opera company of Chicago. They are a fantastic group to sing with at any occasion, and this week was the perfect icing on the cake. They are doing Faust (gounod) in concert version this spring and I will keep everyoen posted re dates etc.
For any who do not know, a master class is a music term for workshops led by talented conductors/singers/teachers/etc in which the student singers work to hone their craft. They can be intimidating, certainly, but are generally as beneficial to the observer as to the singer. Most of the singers record the class, because otherwise we cannot remember all the valuable input we received.
This weeks master classes were led by (forgive the lack of accents, too lazy!) Maestro Pedro Barrientos of Spain, Maestro Luis Giron May, and Maestro Enrique Patron de Rueda (conductor for last year's Aida, and next year's Faust). Pedro is a very talented teacher and technician, and I worked with him daily throughout the week. The other two Maestros are fantastic coaches and brought their charges to new levels of artistry. BTW Maestro means teacher, but is an appropriate term for addressing a music conductor or advanced coach. Although I sang primmarily from Pedro, I was honored to have M. Giron sit in on several of my sessions and offer highly valuable advice and input, including telling my husband that he has nice teeth- a very talkative but delightful man with an infectious laugh!
I wound up singing Che faro, and beautiful as it is, I have decided I am announcing a sabbatical from this song. Seriously people, I'm gonna start kicking puppies if I have to sing it again soon. Nevertheless, this was the finest performance I have given of that particular aria (and trust me I have given a lot of them) I got very positive response from the Maestros, except that they wanted me in a more Divalicious dress, but hell, I can buy a new dress, can't buy a new voice, so I would rather they like that part!
In other news, Elgin OPERA will soon be back at Villa Verone in Elgin for the Festival of Singers on Sunday nights. Anyone who wants to sing send me a message! We alway welcome new friends, and although the lineup is decided by our fab accompanist, I can point you in the right direction.
Cheers!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Elisir d'Amore Opens Saturday
Elisir d'Amore opens with Dupage Opera Glen Ellyn, IL this Saturday. It is a fantastic production, and you can check out some footage on Youtube.
http://tinyurl.com/n6zqdj
Here's one of those mildly educational moments I said may come. Elisir d'Amore- Elixir of Love, or to simplify further- The Love Potion- is a delightful little opera by Gaetano Donizetti, who wrote it in a week! The story centers around Adina, a wealthy young woman with a tendancy to escape her suitors, and Nemorino the almost puppydog-like country bumpkin who loves her, but never seems to get up the guts to do anything about it. The chorus, with their "ringleader"- the town gossip Gianetta are a bunch of peasants, but happy opera peasants rather than the rag wearing Les Mis crowd. Add a remarkably misguided regiment of soldiers led by Sargente Belcore, a bit of a player and egotistical (and also sexy, but that kinda works into the player thing). Belcore, naturally, wants to marry Adina, which, however unlikely, worries Nemorino.
Now add the charlatan Dr Dulcamara, with his fantastic cure-all elixir. Chorus goes bonkers, Nemorino shows up wanting a love potion, like the one Adina was reading to the chorus earlier (Tristan & Isolda- she just reads the happy part of that story of course). Dr. Dulcamara sells him a bottle of wine and tells him that it is a love potion. Nemorino is delighted, and gets quite drunk. Allegedly the love potion will kick in the next day, ie once Dulcamara and his cronies are long gone.
Belcore and Nemorino realize they are rivals for her love, and a very drunk Nemorino tries to fight Belcore, only saved by Adina. Belcore and his regiment are summoned and have to leave the next day. To get back at the inebriated Nemorino, Adina agrees to marry Belcore that evening. Nemorino=sad. Chorus= happy- we like free food and wine. End act I
Act II Party time. We dance and drink and sing. Dulcamara puts on a little entertainment with Adina. The notary shows up, exeunt, except Dulcamara and Nemorino, hidden under the table. Nemorino wants more love potion but is out of money. He signs up to be a soldier to get money, which he then uses to get really drunk on "elixir" once more. In the meantime our village gossip Giannetta has learned that Nemorino's rich uncle has died and left him a huuuuge fortune. The women all want Nemorino, and the once more inebriated Nemorino, thinks it is because of the love potion. Dulcamara clues Adina in, she buys back the conscription papers for Nemorino, and finally declares her love for him (without learning about the fortune). FINALE- Bel shows up and threatens Nem again, but Ad is like "back off THIS is my husband" Belcore is like "Well, all the other chicks want me" and goes off to pout. Dulcamara gives him Elixir- then reveals that Nemorino has made a huge inheritance, to the surprise of everyone but the girls. The chorus then showers Dr D with money to get Elixir for themselves, and he rides off into the sunset with a crapload of money.
http://tinyurl.com/n6zqdj
Here's one of those mildly educational moments I said may come. Elisir d'Amore- Elixir of Love, or to simplify further- The Love Potion- is a delightful little opera by Gaetano Donizetti, who wrote it in a week! The story centers around Adina, a wealthy young woman with a tendancy to escape her suitors, and Nemorino the almost puppydog-like country bumpkin who loves her, but never seems to get up the guts to do anything about it. The chorus, with their "ringleader"- the town gossip Gianetta are a bunch of peasants, but happy opera peasants rather than the rag wearing Les Mis crowd. Add a remarkably misguided regiment of soldiers led by Sargente Belcore, a bit of a player and egotistical (and also sexy, but that kinda works into the player thing). Belcore, naturally, wants to marry Adina, which, however unlikely, worries Nemorino.
Now add the charlatan Dr Dulcamara, with his fantastic cure-all elixir. Chorus goes bonkers, Nemorino shows up wanting a love potion, like the one Adina was reading to the chorus earlier (Tristan & Isolda- she just reads the happy part of that story of course). Dr. Dulcamara sells him a bottle of wine and tells him that it is a love potion. Nemorino is delighted, and gets quite drunk. Allegedly the love potion will kick in the next day, ie once Dulcamara and his cronies are long gone.
Belcore and Nemorino realize they are rivals for her love, and a very drunk Nemorino tries to fight Belcore, only saved by Adina. Belcore and his regiment are summoned and have to leave the next day. To get back at the inebriated Nemorino, Adina agrees to marry Belcore that evening. Nemorino=sad. Chorus= happy- we like free food and wine. End act I
Act II Party time. We dance and drink and sing. Dulcamara puts on a little entertainment with Adina. The notary shows up, exeunt, except Dulcamara and Nemorino, hidden under the table. Nemorino wants more love potion but is out of money. He signs up to be a soldier to get money, which he then uses to get really drunk on "elixir" once more. In the meantime our village gossip Giannetta has learned that Nemorino's rich uncle has died and left him a huuuuge fortune. The women all want Nemorino, and the once more inebriated Nemorino, thinks it is because of the love potion. Dulcamara clues Adina in, she buys back the conscription papers for Nemorino, and finally declares her love for him (without learning about the fortune). FINALE- Bel shows up and threatens Nem again, but Ad is like "back off THIS is my husband" Belcore is like "Well, all the other chicks want me" and goes off to pout. Dulcamara gives him Elixir- then reveals that Nemorino has made a huge inheritance, to the surprise of everyone but the girls. The chorus then showers Dr D with money to get Elixir for themselves, and he rides off into the sunset with a crapload of money.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Midweek update
Rehearsals for Elisir are going pretty well. Our leads are fantastic and are finding new ways to touch our hearts and our funny bones. The chorus on the other hand needs to start being more professional- arriving early for a downbeat at 7:30, not rolling in right at 7:30, not rushing, observing dynamics etc. that said, even the chorus is doing decently, we just have to step up our game to make this show really cook.
Lessons with Alvaro are fantastic, though exhausting. The voce is starting to line up pretty well, I just need to find more time to practice. I think he is exactly what I needed at this point. A little more hard work and I may be able to start learning some roles in the near future. A lesson and then a full Faust rehearsal is unendingly exhausting though, hopefully I won't need to do that too often.
I have a masterclass tonight with Phil Morehead from Lyric, soooo nervous. Hopefully I will have time to get my brain in that game after I go babysit for a while. The hardest thing about being a singer is making the money to support oneself when you are not quite performing all the time yet. Big voices have that the hardest, as it takes longer for them to be lined up. God knows I'm a big voice, but as I am starting to get into a good vocal place, I feel positive for the future.
Lessons with Alvaro are fantastic, though exhausting. The voce is starting to line up pretty well, I just need to find more time to practice. I think he is exactly what I needed at this point. A little more hard work and I may be able to start learning some roles in the near future. A lesson and then a full Faust rehearsal is unendingly exhausting though, hopefully I won't need to do that too often.
I have a masterclass tonight with Phil Morehead from Lyric, soooo nervous. Hopefully I will have time to get my brain in that game after I go babysit for a while. The hardest thing about being a singer is making the money to support oneself when you are not quite performing all the time yet. Big voices have that the hardest, as it takes longer for them to be lined up. God knows I'm a big voice, but as I am starting to get into a good vocal place, I feel positive for the future.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Opera Kat Signing in, or Singing in as may be more appropriate
Greetings world-
My name is Kat, and you will be glad to know that I am in fact human, and not a cat in the traditional sense.
I am growing in the wonderful world of opera, currently based in the Chicago area, and hope to share my experience with you- from the odd commentary to the educational, to anything else that comes my way.
Up this month: Elixir of Love with Dupage Opera Theatre, prepare to laugh your tail off!!!
My name is Kat, and you will be glad to know that I am in fact human, and not a cat in the traditional sense.
I am growing in the wonderful world of opera, currently based in the Chicago area, and hope to share my experience with you- from the odd commentary to the educational, to anything else that comes my way.
Up this month: Elixir of Love with Dupage Opera Theatre, prepare to laugh your tail off!!!
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