Saturday, September 09, 2006

Finally - its here!!!!!! Current mood: nostalgic Category: Music

The thrill of a lifetime. Drumroll please.....

My name in lights!!!!!!!! Well, flyers and a program anyway.

Seriously folks, My Vocal Recital has been scheduled. I actually think that I am at a point with my singing that it will be really good. I am constantly reminded at how much I have accomplished and yet how far I still have to go.

I am always surprised when I hear myself sing. There are times when that surprise leads straight to horror - those aren't my best days but we all have them, and then my favorites are the times when I am expecting the horror because my allergies are bad or whatever and I get the happy surprises of sounding great. I am working really hard to make the great times the rule rather than the exception and it seem to be working.

Today I woke up feeling honest to god crappy. My allergies ( along with everyone elses, including those who don't suffer!) were peaking. I had the watery eyes, the headache, the stuffy nose, sinus issues - you name it. I took my drugs, had some juice - two large coffees and 16 oz of water and went on my way to my lesson. I warmed up in the car and arrived there promptly at 10:32. We talk about my Audition on tuesday, I tell it for what it actually was and he warms me up again. I can't believe it - I sound good.

We work on the La Boheme Aria that will likely be on the program and its starting to really sound like something. The Italian is actually coming easier now - the Opera is not so bad. I still like German better, but I have some new appreciation for the Italian opera. We work on the Menotti Aria ( in english which ironically can be harder! ) I don't think this one lies as well for my voice and I would like to cut it from the program but I need more rep first. I can't eliminate with nothing to replace it with.

He starts me on a new song, I love it - its the Je Veux Vivre by Gounod's Romeo and Juliette. Its beautiful. Its a little bit tough in spots. I also pulled out Poor Wand'ring One from Pirates of Penzance. Also not easy but its kind of fun and lies beautifully for my voice.
I had to abondon Queen of the night for awhile. The top fifth of voice is gone on vacation to the tropics till the pollen count regulates. Seriously After E6 I'm shot to hell. Its passable in a warmup but there is no way I can perform it. Yeesh! I really want to master this one as a personal goal and perform it, but it may not be at this recital. I am planning on mastering the new Gounod for the Recital in March as well. Trust me, you've all heard it.

I'm really excited about this recital. In college I used to get physically ill and bitchy as all get out before solo performances ( remember Maple and Jax?) and for that I truly apologize to my poor unsuspecting roomies and Friends ( Bernie). I never used to get nervous when I was singing alto or mezzo. Seriously it was no big deal and I didn't experience the scared witless feelings that I go through now singing in my new range. I think thats largely due to it being so new to me.

This also put me on more equal footing with some "others" in the performing groups that I belong to. It means that they have to worry now about how solo auditions go. And I do too. Added stress if you want the solo's. And Now I do want them and work my butt off to be worthy of them.

So If you want to see some seriously hard work, blood, sweat and many tears, you should really come out to Abiding presence Lutheran Church in Fort Salonga, NY on February 11, 2007. Its going to be a dynamite show. I can't wait to do it....

My dad would be so proud!