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.
Elina Garanca
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