Purple Shoe Sadness

Well the purple shoes I bought the other day seemed to fit comfortable but on my right foot I now have three blisters, one on top of my foot, one on my little toe, and one on my heel…so much for cute shoes…sigh.

But when I woke up I checked my email and one of the girls had to cancel her lesson with Tony because she was called into a music rehearsal, so I snatched her time.  So I went in at 12:30 to do a lesson with him and it went SO well.  He gave me some exercises to do to help keep strengthening my head voice because the chest voice can so easily take over.  It’s particularly hard at the beginning of the trio I’m in because it centers around a B for the beginning so it’s easy to just let the chest voice take over, but if I do that then by the time I get to the F’s it won’t be in tune.  So I think the exercises he gave me will really help me out.  And if anything requires me to have a strong head voice it is Cherubino.

Anyways yesterday we had two run throughs of the show which both went really well.  It’s still a challenge to keep the energy up for the entire show; it is about 2 and a half hours so it’s easy to get worn out or begin to lose focus.  So the run throughs really help to gage how much energy you need for the actual show.  I think actually doing the show will be easier, because the first run wasn’t too bad, the second one was harder, so I think when we are just doing one show it will be easier to remain focused.

The cast where I’m in the chorus went first and it’s nice to be figuring out where everything is and remembering to grab the right props.  Next step will be to add the lights and costumes which will be a whole new (fun) challenge.  Everything is sounding really great and the interjections from the chorus are becoming a LOT more solid.

After that run we had a dinner break from 4:45 until 6:00 and I learned a valuable lesson.  Soup does not equal dinner.  I was so hungry the rest of the night and went home and ate a kraft dinner (easy mac).  But anyways we then had the run of the show where I’m Antonia’s Mother.  I think during the show I will warm up more during the first act and come back right before intermission.  Something about not singing for two hours then going on stage to sing makes me uncertain, so just going down to the practice room and singing will probably ease my nerves a little bit.  But as the director said, “That was pretty fucking good” so the run went really well. 

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

I'm going to make this more of a "someone who I look up to" inspiration is too big of a word.

Beef and Broccoli

Yesterday we had an auditioning masterclass where four people got to sing in different scenarios: nice panel, rushed panel, rude panel, and bored panel.  The singers handled the different scenarios pretty well and then afterward we talked about resumes and audition attire.  The big thing I learned about resumes (in the real world) is to not list “chorus” on your resume.  Mainly because chorus is a different job than roles and that you don’t really move into roles from chorus (usually, I’m sure there are exceptions to every rule).  So while I’ll keep my chorus stuff on my resume for now (because it would be basically empty without it) I’ll be looking to take it off as soon as I possibly can.    Then with audition attire it was nothing new to me, nothing too short, and nothing too high.  The usual.

Afterwards I went to this little Chinese restaurant to grab some lunch and I had the BEST beef and broccoli with steamed rice.  My only complaint was that I like my rice a little stickier (it was a little bit dry) but the beef and broccoli was soooooo good. 

Then we had our two run throughs of The Tales of Hoffmann.  The cast where I sing Antonia’s Mother and Stella went first and it went really well considering it was our first run thru.  It really didn’t crash or need to stop except for scene changes.  My scene went well, not as phenomenal as yesterday, but for the first time being in a totally new space it went well.  The hall is nice, a little bigger than Bryan Recital Hall (in regards to seats) and a smaller stage than Kobacker, but still a decent size stage with a lot of wing space.  It’s a little strange to sing in, and I’m glad that we had a day to get used to how it feels to sing up there.  People say the hall is a bit dry (and I disagree!!! But then again…I’m used to Bryan and Kobacker…) but you really feel like your voice isn’t projecting, like you can’t hear yourself at all on stage and it feels like you aren’t resonating at all.  So it’s really important to trust the hall and your voice to work together.  And from the audience it sounds GREAT it’s just very strange to those on stage, and I had trouble hearing the other people on stage during my trio, but I think it’s just going to take getting used to on how the trio will sound to us, and how it will sound in the audience.

The other cast got a chance to run theirs afterwards (and for this I sing in the chorus) and it was sort of the same thing, it didn’t crash and burn at all, just minor set changing things and people getting used to a new environment.  But all and all both casts did REALLY well considering that these were our first full run throughs of the entire show and they were in a different space than where we’ve been rehearsing.

Afterwards I walked home and then talked to my parents for a little bit and went to bed.  My evenings tend to be pretty boring because I was doing stuff from 11am until 9pm so I’m pretty exhausted.  We have two more run throughs today and then two more on Sunday and then a day off!!! We have to go in on Sunday because I guess there is a mandatory holiday in Canada on Monday so we’ll get that day off and will be incredibly tired from going 7 days in a row.  But even though I’m tired I am having a great time and while I’m at rehearsals I usually forget that I’m tired because I’m having such a great time, and I can’t say that I’m tired, because I can only imagine how tired the two Hoffmann’s are getting.

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

This is how I plan to die

McLobster?

Well yesterday after I went to the gym I got to chat with my sister and Sara for a little bit which was really nice, thought I always do forget that I should shower BEFORE I get on facebook because otherwise I end up being in a bit of a rush to get ready.  But anyways after that I went to McDonalds for the first time in a few weeks and I have to say….I don’t think I’m going to eat McDonalds like…at all next year.  First of all I got McDonalds then an hour later went to warm up and was feeling like a little not great, then we had a music rehearsal and I didn’t sing my best.  Literally it wasn’t until the evening rehearsal that I was doing better, I felt so sick, I’m guessing all of the salt and grease just killlllled my stomach and throat for the morning/afternoon.  But I’ve learned my lesson, McDonalds = gross.  Also up here they have something called a McLobster Sandwich….excuse me while I barf, that sounds absolutely disgusting.  I’m willing to try lobster, I’m sure it’s really good, BUT McDonalds selling lobster???? Disgusting.

Anyways after the music rehearsal we had to go over the Act 3 trios we had a few more hours of work throughs for Act 1 and Act 2.  Then I had a few hours off to practice (and continue recovering from gross food) then I came back so we could finish working through Act 3.  My cast went first and my advice for any guys who want to sing a BADASS trio you should sing “Pour Conjurer Le Danger” it is so awesome.  Actually if I had to pick my three favorite songs from this show they would be, “Tu ne chanteras plus?” (My trio…of course), “Helas mon coeur s’egare encore” (the septet from Act 2), and “Pour conjurer le danger”.  Though I should put as a disclaimer, I really love Nicklausse’s arias…they just aren’t in the version I’m doing so I’m not counting those.

Moving on, my cast went first…and it went SO WELL.  I have to say I’ve NEVER felt so good about that scene and it just felt so good to really get up there and sing really well and just rock out the scene.  Made me feel very good and like I deserve to be here.  The other group did really well too, I just have to toot my own horn and say that I really sounded great and my group really worked well together.  Now that we are starting runs of the show I feel really prepared, I think that’s what everyone needs before they perform the show, a really perfect rehearsal of the number that makes you nervous.  Because now that we’ve done it so well it feels like there isn’t really anything to be nervous about because we know that we can do it really well.

Afterward Beth, Darrell, and I went to the thrift store to look for costume pieces (luckily I didn’t need anything, but I wasn’t about to pass up a trip to the thrift store) and I found an adorable polka dot pencil skirt, purple shoes, and gym shorts (gym shorts may sound boring, but I’d rather pay 4 dollars than 30 dollars…honestly, I’m not going to pay a ton of money for clothes I’m going to sweat in).  Then I went back to the dorm where I got some bad news that a close family friend passed away unexpectedly the night before.  Makes me feel a little homesick and that I wish I could be with my family right now, but luckily my sister is there and everyone seems fine for right now, just shocking news, and I’m definitely sending thoughts to his family.

Today we have an auditioning masterclass where 4 people will do their audition for a panel to get used to doing real auditions.  Also Tony Radford is on the panel and, while I’m not doing the masterclass, I am going to bring in my resume so that he can give me some pointers and let me know what he thinks about it.  Then we are going to have our first two run throughs of the show!!!  Crazy that we open in a week.

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

I'll be corny and say my family.

 

Thursday

So yesterday was pretty exhausting, it’s not even that I get physically tired, it’s that my eyes get so tired and just can’t stay open any longer.  Anyways yesterday we were called in to finish working through Act 2 and begin working through Act 3.  Unfortunately we did not get through all of act 3 so we’ll do the trio that I’m in today.  I've also been working on Cherubino a lot...the picture to the left describes my summer thus far...it's fun but can get to be quite mentally exhausting...however, I think both roles are beginning to sound about 100 times better than they did before I got up here.  I think it has a lot to do with constantly being around people who are practicing their butts off and who are really great singers, it makes you want to practice more and get better...and come back to school and show people how much improvement has been made.

It was also Max’s 19^th birthday (he’s playing Monostatos) so there was a cupcake cake for him as a surprise birthday, and, of course, it’s always fun to have Happy birthday sung in 45 part harmony haha!

Then in the evening we had a masterclass with Suzie Leblanc and the selections sung were:

Me voila seule…Comme autrefois – The Pearl Fishers

O Zittre Nicht, Mein Lieber Sohn – Die Zauberflote

Deh vieni, non tardar – Le Nozze di Figaro

Abendempfindung an Laura – Mozart

Some Gluck aria (it was good...I just didn’t catch the name)

Ach Ich Liebte – Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail

I had never heard of the aria Ach Ich Liebe...but it was SO beautiful and really thrilling to listen to.  Looks like a beast for a soprano to do but once it’s going it really can be amazing!  I think this may have been the last masterclass for the time that I’m here…other than an auditioning masterclass that will be this weekend (I think).  One good point that Suzie Leblanc made was that when you move during these pieces you should move because of the text, don’t move to show the melody line or move with the music.

Today we’ll have a music rehearsal for the trio I’m in at 1:30, then I’ll have a rehearsal to keep working on the Act 1 finale (act 1 seriously is crazy…).  Then I’ll have a few hours off before I have a rehearsal to work through the rest of Act 3.  I should be done by 6:30 tonight which will definitely mean that I’ll eat a real dinner and get some good sleep!  The sun rises so early here that I haven’t slept past 7:00 since I’ve been here, especially since the curtains in my room are basically useless.

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Well since I already said that I wanted to be Elina Garanca I guess I'll go with Flicka.

Exhaustion sets in

In a word...exhausted.

 Today we finished working through Act 2 and started working through Act 3.

 Then there was a masterclass.

 I think I'm going to start blogging in the mornings when I have more time and am more awake.

 Sorry bout that.

Better update will be available in the a.m.

Go to bed!

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.
Since everyone knows I love music and singing, I'll switch it up, I love not being in high school.

Grilled Cheese Panini

Today was a LONG day of rehearsals, I had a rehearsal for Act 1 to work through the act.  That lasted until about 4:30 when we had a dinner break.  (in the middle of the rehearsal the chorus was released for a half hour to grab some food) So I had a DELICIOUS grilled cheese panini from the cafe behind where we have rehearsal...I will definately be getting that again soon...SO GOOD!

Then after the dinner break we had a work through rehearsal of Act 2 until 7pm (ish).  We got out a little early because the chorus basically is on at the beginning of the act for a little while and then comes back at the end.  So there's no point in keeping us around if we aren't going to be used again.

Afterward we had a masterclass taught by Tony Radford who is playing Crespel and Luther in our production of Les Contes D'Hoffmann.  The selections we got to here tonight were:

Senza Mamma - Suor Angelica
Bester Jungling - The Impresario
Onegin's Aria - Eugene Onegin
The Crucifixion - Samuel Barber
King David - Herbert Howells
Composer's Aria - Ariadne auf Naxos

 As usual lots of good things happening in these pieces.  The Puccini was BEYOND gorgeous, Tamara was made to sing that role.  One of the most important things said is that you NEED to give up on the idea of sounding like something or someone else because if you just allow your voice to sing then it WILL sound better and just fly more easily because you aren't forcing it to be something else.  Also it was interesting to think of coloratura passages as being more like laughter, because laughter is really natural and coloratura should be much easier if we think of it that way, or at least should come more naturally, it's just important for it to stay light (like laughter) because if it gets heavy it will just be that much more difficult.

Tomorrow we'll finish working through Act 2 and begin working through Act 3! As well as beginning to be fitted for costumes =D

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

Dealing with grades in general!

Postcards!

So the big plan for today was to mail the seven postcards I bought (I couldn't just pick one!) so I had to go to the post office, which luckily I ran across yesterday.  There was one woman in line who basically said that the Canadian post is a waste and was a little rude to the attendant haha, but then I got up and said "well I need seven stamps" and so she's like "okay that'll be 6 dollars" uhm WHAT!!! Stamps are 1.03 EACH in Canada...wtf!! So expensive! But I sucked it up and sent out the postcards.

Afterward I went to the campus to practice a bit of Cherubino and then go to a rehearsal for a work-through of the Epilogue where I get to say my FABULOUS one line which is "Hoffmann? Endormi?" and I get to be fabulous, and I will get to wear a big fancy hat.  But it was a fun time and watching the final scene between Nicklause and Hoffmann is always a treat.

Then I went back to the dorm to rest for a little bit before walking back to the campus for a masterclass taught by Nina Scott-Stoddart and Tara Scott (the director and music director for Hoffmann).  The selections done were:

In uomini in soldati - Cosi Fan Tutte
Miei rampolli femminini - La Cenerentola
My Heart Leaps Up with Joy - Albert Herring
Piangero la sorte mia - Giulio Cesare
Que fais-tu blanche tourterelle - Romeo et Juliette
Porgi amor - Le Nozze di Figaro
Nothing More Than This - Candide

This workshop really helped the singers a lot ESPECIALLY with character development and making their characters read better on stage.  Some good points brought up were things like, what is your character?  This really helped with the Rossini because the old man needs to read on stage that it is a funny song and by having intense emotional changes it reads better on stage, and it's Rossini...go big or go home!  It also can help to change the emotional context entirely.  When they worked on "in uomini" it really helped to go from violently angry at the beginning to sexy at the end, even though the "violently angry" may not work in the context of the show, it's a great way to experiment with the piece and loosen up a bit (which will only make the piece easier to sing!).

All and all a good day but I'm still recovering from yesterdays expedition which means I will (hopefully) sleep like a baby tonight.  Tomorrow we'll work through Act 1 and start working through Act 2 and then there with be a masterclass with Tony Radford.

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most screwed up things with.

Not sure...but these girls live with me so they certainly see me doing more screwed up things than those who don't live with me.

Whale Watching

Today we had off from rehearsals so a group of us decided to go on a whale watching tour.  7 of us met up near the public gardens in Halifax and then walked down to the boardwalk where we bought our tickets to leave the harbor at 1:30.  Unfortunately on this trip....we did not see any whales.  But we did see lots of seagulls and a lobster (they did a lobster pull during the ride).  It was a 2.5 hour tour and we go to go out pretty far into the Atlantic Ocean.  Also I guess one of the museums on the boardwalk has a deck chair from the Titanic that washed up on the halifax shore, I think Tamara and I are going to go and check that museum out next weekend. 

This was also my first time being to the ocean and it was really beautiful and had such a nice breeze (actually a little cold...but was really nice since it's been a little warmer in Halifax...not as hot as Ohio though :P )  I'll probably go back a few more times while I'm here...not on a boat necessarily, but out to Point Pleasant Park or the Bay of Fundy if any other people are interested in going. 

After the tour we went to an irish pub restaurant for dinner...now, I'm a very understanding person when it comes to a busy waitress who is struggling to keep track of all of her tables and has had a long day...BUT, in this case we were the ONLY people in the restaurant.  When we ordered I got a fish and chips meal and it came with coleslaw, and I HATE coleslaw, so I asked if I could substitute it for rice.  She looked at me as if I had grown three heads, and then she said "Well...I'd have to charge you more for that" and I'm like "I can't just substitute it?" and she says no.  So I'm like "Well fine, I just will not have coleslaw"  Then I ask what beer they have on tap and she says all these different beers and I'm finally like "Okay I'll have keiths" (when in Halifax....drink the Haligonian beer?).  A few minutes pass...I'm still waiting.  She comes by to bring us more water...still no beer.  She comes by to tell us our food will be ready soon....still no drink.  She brings out our food...still no drink.  So I ask her again "Can I get a keiths" and she says "A bottle...sure be right back!" and I'm like "No...the drink I ordered 30 minutes ago...on tap".  Seriously...I saw her write it down! Just bring me my drink!  Ugh...like seriously, we were her only customers, if you forget my drink it's fine...but there's no need to be rude to me.  (and this blog doesn't describe really how rude she was...but she was).

Anyways after that we started walking back to the residence halls where Tamara and I are living and quickly walked through the public gardens (which are BEAUTIFUL). Then headed back to the dorm.

Also made sure to buy lots of postcards for the family and my offices.

Tomorrow it's back to rehearsals! But it was very refreshing to have a day off to explore Halifax! 

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

(wish I had a picture of all 3 people together!)

Liz, Lauren, Chelsea

Hoffmann? Endormi?

Last night the guy playing Coppelius/Schlemil in Les Contes D’Hoffmann had a potluck party at his house in Halifax where both casts got to come over and chill out for a while.  It was a lot of fun and we got to talk to people that we don’t normally talk to in rehearsals (because usually we aren’t even in the same rehearsals).  Also I did not realize that in Canada you cannot buy alcohol at a convenience store or grocery store, you have to go to a liquor store.  I was so confused by this; I just had no idea that they wouldn’t sell it at like a gas station.

Yesterday we also finished blocking all of Act 3…the trio I am in sounds SO good and it looks amazing.  We also found out who the casts will be, I’m singing with David (Dr. Miracle) and Beth (Antonia).  Also my costume will be, in a word, AMAZING (as a visual hint: 15 foot train).  I’m excited now that the scene is blocked because we can now really start playing on stage and figuring out how to make it really stunning.

Then this morning I sang in a masterclass taught by Jessica McCormack and I sang “Va Laisse Couler Mes Larmes” from Werther.  The other arias sung were:

Prendi per me sei libero – L’elisir d’amore

Endless Pleasure – Semele

Some baritone aria from Alcina

Vi ravviso – La Sonnambula

Dies Bildnis – Die Zauberflote

This masterclass was literally PHENOMENAL.  During the first aria she brought out the Ann Baltz Operaworks cards to help the singer, and when she asked if anyone knew Ann Baltz, I raised my hand and said I did a masterclass with her in Bowling Green.  Then she said “you’re from Ohio!?” and it turns out she teaches at Wittenberg University in Ohio….it really is an incredibly small world.

Then it was my turn to go, I knew that my aria needed work, which is why I choose to sing it.  What’s the point of doing a song I already have pretty well under my belt? She helped me SO much.  Basically, I had been taking a long sturdy breath before the opening statement of the piece and it actually works better (for me) to take a shorter incredibly energized breath right before I begin singing.  She called it “breathing in the emotion” it literally made the phrase more in tune and more emotive.  Then we worked on the end (“il est trop grand, rien ne l’emplit”) and decided to modify the last vowel a little bit just so it could release more and not waver as much as it had been.  By the end those two problem areas (which were BIG problem areas…trust me) were doing SO much better.  It’s always so inspiring to leave a masterclass feeling so good about the progress you just made and to be congratulated by the colleagues that you’ve just met.

After the masterclass I went back to my room to take a little break (and talk to Chelsea McCarty…duh) and fell asleep for about 20 minutes.  Then a few hours later I had to head back to the campus to do a rehearsal of the Epilogue and block the Act 1 finale.  It went really well, but I can tell that it’s the end of the first week.  We are all getting so tired, it’s really nice that we will have tomorrow off to rest up so that we can come in fresh for the work throughs next week.  It’s crazy that the entire show is now blocked!!  This immense 3 Act (plus a prologue and epilogue) opera was blocked over the course of 4 days.  Now of course there are details and fine tuning that need to be done, but the overall shape is all set.

Since I have tomorrow off I’m planning to SLEEP and then in the afternoon walk down to the harbor with some people from the program to go whale watching! We may not see whales…but it should be fun either way.

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.

Potlucks

I'll get to this blog probably later than usual tonight, may not be until tomorrow technically.

Potlucks & Partys take precidence over the internet.

Muh bad.

Biggest news = Act 3 BLOCKED

Boom.

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item

I can't think of anything else at the moment

Belle nuit

This morning we had a group warm-up where both casts were able to meet and work with different people and just get ready to start another wonderful day of blocking.  We did some different exercises that I hadn’t done before, or had done but they were altered, and they were interesting.  One was sort of like the mirror game that most of us play in drama classes to start focusing, but instead one person led and the other person followed their palm wherever it went.

After the warm-up the Hoffmann cast began working on Act 2 (Giulietta’s Act) which is taking place in a Victorian brothel.  Nina did a very good job with tastefully blocking it, nothing is offensive or disgusting, it’s definitely not for children, but fits the act very well.  It took most of the day to get the entire act blocked, but it’s all set!  The final barcarolle is so beautiful and powerful, and it really shows the coldness of so many of the characters.  And a lot of the scenes in this act are really difficult to block and the director (Nina) did a wonderful job, if we had any questions or felt uncomfortable she was totally willing to help us, I always think duels can look really stupid on stage but the duel between Hoffmann and Schlemil looks really good.  And the septet before the finale of Act 2 sounds so beautiful, it was really hard for everyone to put together, but it sounds SO beautiful!  I listen to it all the time now.  Also for pronunciations sake, everyone continues to refer to “Pittichinaccio” as “Pistachio”.

Then after the blocking rehearsal ending a few of us went to a café down the street to grab dinner/snacks before the masterclass taught by Paula Rockwell.  These were the arias we got to hear:

Un’ aura amorosa from Cosi Fan Tutte

Non siate ritrosi from Cosi Fan Tutte

Che gelida manina from La Boheme

Vois sous l’archet fremissant from Les Contes D’Hoffmann

Faites-lui mes aveux from Faust

Scintille, diamont from Les Contes D’Hoffmann

Once again everyone sounded fabulous and it really is a great treat to be able to hear so many great singers and hearing what feedback they are getting.  Sometimes you hear this aria and I’m thinking “wow that was absolutely perfect!!!” and there is still more that a person can do to help!  It really never ceases to amaze me how much work can go into just ONE song of an opera.

Tomorrow is the big day, we have a music rehearsal at 11am to go over the Tu ne chanteras plus trio, and then we are blocking the entire third act!  Thankfully, Nina is wonderful and isn’t making Antonia’s Mother sit in a picture frame for the entire act, so I’ll have a nice break to go practice a bit and explore Halifax some more.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you’d love to trade places with for a day.

Elina Garanca

Ouiiiiiiiiiiiii!

Today the entire group (both shows) got to meet again for a group warmup where we played a name game (which gets quite difficult when there are about 60 people) and did some other exercises to get ready for a long day of blocking the first act (not too long a day for me...seeing as the chorus doesn't come in until close to the end).

After the group warmup was over (which I can proudly say, I now know most of the participants names...and their perspective adjective) I spent almost the entire afternoon practicing Tu ne chanteras plus (the trio), Cherubino (first & second acts), and Va! Laisse Couler Mes Larmes. I think I'm going to do "Va" on the masterclass on Saturday, I feel comfortable with the piece but I think that a masterclass could really help me solidify it and take it to the next level.

Then at 6:30 the entire Hoffmann cast was called so that we could block Olympia's aria and the finale to Act 1, which luckily is going really fast and Olympia's aria is so adorable (Andrew did an awesome job with choreography!).  Then we discussed that since the music for Act 3 is so beastly we are going to move blocking that act until Friday so that we can have more time to go over the music (phew!).  So instead, tomorrow we'll block Act 2 (Giuletta's act).

After rehearsal it was about 8pm so we all decided "well nothing else to do! let's go to the bar!" so a lot of the Hoffmann cast went out to a bar called "Your Father's Moustache" which was really cute (and we were able to get a table big enough for all of us!).  Then after having some drinks, the guy next to me tried to split up our bill (because we had split drinks) and I just can't figure out canadian money, he says it's easy because it's color coded, but I told him "Look this 5 dollar bill has people playing hockey on it! It's not real money!" but eventually we (I should say HE) figured it out.

Now time to go to bed because tomorrow will be an even longer day of rehearsals since Act 2 includes chorus for nearly every scene!  So exciting!

Day 05 - A picture of… your favorite memory.  (My favorite memory is anytime that I'm awesome)

Tu ne chanteras plus?

So today was the first day that we got to sing through the trio that I’m singing in.  This is a trio between Antonia, Dr. Miracle, and Antonia’s Mother, and it sounds beautiful…but is legit a beast to put together.  I was really nervous about it so spent a good portion of the afternoon in a practice room working out my own part and figuring out the fine tunings I needed to work on, then I went to the rehearsal and we did a run of it with one cast (myself, Andrea, and David; the entire workshop is double cast).  Surprisingly it went REALLY well, like it didn’t completely crash and burn, and for the most part we just need to work on transitions (and I need to work on solidifying the end…which sounds a bit like a carnival ride, bleh).  So we’ll be meeting again on Friday morning at 11:15 to work on it again, but I was really happy that it went as well as it did.  The other cast did really well too, we’re not sure what the actual casts will be (like who will be singing on each night) but we’ll find out on Saturday.

Then later tonight there was a masterclass taught by Lorna MacDonald which six singers got to participate in, and I got the pleasure of hearing some arias that I don’t usually get to hear :)

Les oiseaux dans la charmille from Les Contes D’Hoffmann

Lenski’s Aria from Eugene Onegin

Salut a la France from La Fille du Regiment

Pres des remparts de Seville from Carmen

Lonely House from Street Scene

Ebben?... Ne andro lontana from La Wally

Everyone really put their best foot forward and sang really beautifully, I’m excited to sing on Saturday!

We start staging the show tomorrow and are going to have the entire production blocked in the next four days (so crazy!!!)

Day 04 - A picture of your night.

I saw this in the practice room that I spent some of this evening in

First day of the Halifax Opera Workshop!

Well last night I fell asleep roughly around 7pm and slept til 5am, which was perfect and then I did nothing until about 8am when I finally went to the gym for a little while.  Then afterwards I packed up a lunch, then myself and three other participants of the workshop started walking over the rehearsal space.  It was about a 10 minute walk which wasn’t too bad and then we had a workshop meeting.  The productions being done are Les Contes D’Hoffmann (which is what I’m in) and Die Zauberflote so this is one of the times where we’ll all get to meet up.  I went ahead and sat down in an empty seat and started talking to the guy next to me and he asked where I was from and I was like “Well I’m from Oxford Ohio but I study in Bowling Green Ohio” and he said “Oh…I know someone from Bowling Green” and he started describing a bigger guy with facial hair who he met at a conference…and so I took a guess “I think you might know my teacher...Sean Cooper?” and he was like “YES! That was him”.  It’s a small world after all.

At the first meeting we introduced ourselves and met the stage managers and directors and also drew names for who will be in each masterclass this summer.  Not sure what I’ll sing in mine, but I’m sure that it will be a swell time.

Then we had our cast meetings….if you aren’t familiar with The Tales of Hoffmann I highly suggest you look at it, it’s a really bizarre story and is really well put together.  We’re doing a traditional production, which means that Nicklausse’s violin aria is cut and the order of the acts will be Olympia, Giulietta, and then Antonia.  Tomorrow we’ll have the music rehearsal for the trio that I am singing in, but today we did music for the prologue, act 1, and most of act 2 which was pretty impressive.  The chorus stuff is a lot different than opera choruses I’ve done before so I’ll have to keep looking at it. 

It’s been nice to have a few breaks in our day so we can meet the other people at the workshop; I’ve met some really nice people.  Actually that’s probably the best thing about this workshop, considering that this is the first role I’m singing I was worried that I would feel really intimidated and nervous, but luckily the environment here is so kind and supportive that it looks like while I’m sure I’ll be nervous it won’t be to the extent that it could be.

Also the practice rooms have no windows, but compensate for it by having lime green walls.

Now I’m going to finish my blueberry yogurt and sleep.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Oh hey turbalence

Last night I was packing my bags for Halifax when Tommy texted me and wanted to know if I wanted to see the new Harry Potter again! Perfect timing, so I sped up my packing and went to go see it with him, my sister, and Jeremy.  I enjoyed it much more the second time, probably because I didn't have food poisoning.

Then I took a quick nap and woke up at 3 in the morning to leave for the Dayton Airport where I flew on a horribly small and ghetto airplane to get to the Dulles Airport in Washington D.C.  Since I was still going to be flying with the same airline, I assumed that it was going to be another crappy flight...but actually it was 100 times nicer.  But both flights were super bumpy and almost the entire time the seatbelt sign was on...bleh.

But they didn't lose my luggage, that's a win.

Then at the airport I met up with two other participants in the opera workshop who were flying in around the same time and we all took a cab to the building where we are all staying.  The cab driver mumbled a lot and I think I dozed off, since the airport is about 30 minutes away.

Now I've gotten groceries and am probably going to pass out incredibly early tonight...since getting groceries was an adventure all of its own.

Tomorrow is the first music rehearsal and we will finally get to meet the rest of the participants!! 

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for awhile.

Getting ready to leave for Canada

I'm leaving in the morning to sing in the Halifax Summer Opera Workshop in Nova Scotia, I'll be there until August 14th!  This will be my first time out of the country, flying, seeing the ocean, and singing an entire role.

I'll use this blog for the next month to talk about Halifax and anything moderately interesting.  I'll also do a 30 day picture challenge...that way when I have nothing to say I can at least post that.

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts. 
 

1.  I'm feeling mixed about the last Harry Potter movie, I'll need to see it again to see how much I really liked it.  Unfortunately, I was too distracted by being sick from garlic bread (so gross) and watching the people in front of me make out and then puke half way through the movie.  But I want to like it, I just need to see it again to see if I actually do.

2. I'm really excited to go to Halifax...but incredibly nervous.

3. I love singing and performing but HATE practicing where anyone can hear me.

4. I did musicals all through high school and am just now back to the point where I can listen to musicals and enjoy them.

5. I'm ready to go back to my apartment in Bowling Green and move back in with Lauren, Emily, and (our new roommate) Kasey.

6. I have three best friends and I wish they all lived in the same place!
7. I'm addicted to my blackberry, I have no idea how I will cope with not being able to use it while in Canada (thank you international roaming charges....bleh)
8. I work at the Miami University Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity and the Bowling Green College of Arts and Sciences.
9. I am not a fan of packing.
10.  I'm already running out of things to say on this.
11.  I'm a Voice Performance major, so basically for the rest of my life I'll be auditioning and living in a box, luckily the rest of my friends are education majors and music majors so maybe we can chip in and get a big box...and hopefully that box is in NYC.
12.  I've had nightmares about flying every night for the last week, I hope that means I'll have a really uneventful flight.
13.  Hat boxes are adorable.
14.  I'm watching Superstar right now, this movie is literally beyond hilarious, I always forget how funny it is.
15.  I hope that blogging continues to be entertaining.