Well today is a good day. Seriously and sarcastically. First the seriously: Rehearsals are going better. Lot's of staging is happening and I'm learning a lot from watching. My voice feels awesome, and I am getting to sing on Thursday for Cynthia Munzer and Michael Capasso. I am also so proud of my new friend Brandon who was just offered two roles after singing for Michael in a master class yesterday.
The sarcastic good day. My funds are low. The phone in the airport advertised calls to the US as being $0.30 per minute. Looks like they charged me 30 euro for each call I made. Neither call was more than 2 minutes. FML.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
First Lesson and Night Out
Yesterday was probably the best day I've had so far. I slept in until 10am, got breakfast and a caffe latte with a few friends, and then had my first lesson with Cathy Kasch. We focused on a relaxed jaw and pallet lift with tall vowels. I really discovered a richer tone in 45 minutes with her. It was a fantastic lesson. She is convinced that I am a coloratura for sure.
After the lesson I sat in on some Figaro rehearsals. They began to stage the opera. While it is still considered a concert version (no costumes or sets) we are getting some staging. There is still so much work to do.
We then had a master class on 18th century movement. It was basically the ins and outs of royal walking, sitting, and bowing. Very useful in opera. Some of the boys found this master class way more stressful than anything involving singing or performing. Absolutely no grace.
Following the masterclass was the best dinner I have had yet. My roommate Amanda and I split Bruschetta, Insalta Mista, and a Grilled Veggie Pizza. The quality of the veggies, olive oil, and cheese was incredible.
Then there was a concert where some of the singers in the program sang. There are some incredibly talented people here.
After the concert we went out for some wine and other drinks. It was one of the guy's birthdays and Sunday (today) is the only day we don't have to sing. We hung out in the piazze with our drinks and actually met some other American students. The one girl goes to K-State. We bonded over Kansas talk. The evening was a great time.
However, Sunday is truly a day of rest here. There are only two or three stores open in the whole town. No one is out, and there is nothing to do but search for internet signals and watch Italian tv. I did find Italian "How I Met Your Mother." That was quite interesting. Other than that, it has been a restless day for me. I haven't quite adapted to the Italian way yet. I'm learning as I spend more time here that I eat, sleep, work, and play like an American. I love being on the go, and even when I think I'm relaxing I may not actually be getting as much rest as is possible.
After the lesson I sat in on some Figaro rehearsals. They began to stage the opera. While it is still considered a concert version (no costumes or sets) we are getting some staging. There is still so much work to do.
We then had a master class on 18th century movement. It was basically the ins and outs of royal walking, sitting, and bowing. Very useful in opera. Some of the boys found this master class way more stressful than anything involving singing or performing. Absolutely no grace.
Following the masterclass was the best dinner I have had yet. My roommate Amanda and I split Bruschetta, Insalta Mista, and a Grilled Veggie Pizza. The quality of the veggies, olive oil, and cheese was incredible.
Then there was a concert where some of the singers in the program sang. There are some incredibly talented people here.
After the concert we went out for some wine and other drinks. It was one of the guy's birthdays and Sunday (today) is the only day we don't have to sing. We hung out in the piazze with our drinks and actually met some other American students. The one girl goes to K-State. We bonded over Kansas talk. The evening was a great time.
However, Sunday is truly a day of rest here. There are only two or three stores open in the whole town. No one is out, and there is nothing to do but search for internet signals and watch Italian tv. I did find Italian "How I Met Your Mother." That was quite interesting. Other than that, it has been a restless day for me. I haven't quite adapted to the Italian way yet. I'm learning as I spend more time here that I eat, sleep, work, and play like an American. I love being on the go, and even when I think I'm relaxing I may not actually be getting as much rest as is possible.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Itching to Rehearse
It seems like the our program is going to open up a lot of opportunities. We will have many master classes while I am here, including one with the head of Da Capo opera in NYC. As well as this, I will sing Barbarina (which I already knew about) and perform in a concert at the festival. Our festival "Tuscia Opera Festival" has signs, flyers, and gigantic advertisements all over the town as well as many sponsors. We should have a great turn out.
Right now I am relaxing at breakfast. We do a lot of that here. I can't wait for my first rehearsal today at 4pm. Before rehearsal I'm going to go for a run. However, a few girls went running yesterday and reported back that the Italians were checking to see what they were running from. I guess no one works out here?
Right now I am relaxing at breakfast. We do a lot of that here. I can't wait for my first rehearsal today at 4pm. Before rehearsal I'm going to go for a run. However, a few girls went running yesterday and reported back that the Italians were checking to see what they were running from. I guess no one works out here?
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Italia
I plan to use this blog as an first hand account of my experiences in Italy performing in Le Nozze di Figaro. I may continue this blog after Italy depending on whether on not it is an experience worth continuing. However...enough explanation...let's get started!
The trip began on the plane. I was sitting next to a Roman couple and for some reason the man chose to sit next to me instead of his wife. This made stretching out and sleeping on the plane very difficult. However, sleep did come and before I knew it I was in Rome.
After getting my bag and going through the easiest immigration in the world (they barely even looked at my passport), I met with a few singers in the ground. I got my first caffe latte in Italy and my god it was fantastic! Once we were ready to leave we ended up on a bus for about an hour.
We arrived in Viterbo at about 1pm and they rushed us to a press conference were we listened to Italians talk and they took pictures of our nasty just of the plane looking everything. Then we sat in the main piazze for 2 hours. The Italians are very unorganized but no one seems to mind. Instead of hurrying up to get to the apartment, I relaxed in the piazze, talked with some singers, got a warm prosciutto and formaggio panino, and my first gelato. It was the best ice cream I have ever had.
We finally got to our apartment. It is the cutest most Italian apartment I have ever seen complete with a stone basin in the kitchen and a bidet. One of the American women who is in charge told us that she washes her clothes in the bidet. I don't think I'm going to do any laundry.
We have two windows in the apartment that open up to the fresh air. The side of the apartment is covered in vines and flowers. It is beautiful.
In the evening we experienced a lovely dinner and walked around town for awhile. This included delicious food and vino rosso!
Right now I am sitting with a pastry and a caffe latte in a cafe with wi fi. The barista is really nice and complemented me on my Italian. I'm managing! Then I have to go register and this evening we have a meet and greet. We don't start rehearsals until tomorrow.
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