Die Walkure day 2

Spent my day staging Act 1 of Walkure.  Really didn't move around that much, but the intensity level is sky high.  Those that know me know that I am a very intense actor, but geese, this at another level.  Verdi and Puccini Don't even come into the same galaxy.

This is looking to be the best thing I have ever done, and that is saying something.  And it's the best cast, all around I have ever worked with.  Again, that speaks volumes. Some amazing singing going on.

Never have I felt this good or this right about a role. Glad I found it!

Walkure Day 1

Today I sang Siegmund all the way the way thru (with the cuts) with other singers.....God it was fantastic!!

The cast is very fine.  And the voices are right!  Absolutely RIGHT.  my head was ringing like mad when we finished.

Amber Smoke, my Sieglinde, is going thru the same type of Fach switch I am.  But she sounds beautiful.  Truly a smoky, rich color and very vibrant.  Just like Alexandra Lopiccolo' s, our Brunnhilde.  A real pack of dynamite.

Our Hagen, Nathan Whitson from Kansas City is an imposing bass with a beautiful top. Reminds me of Kevin Bell.  The last scene, our fight, is pretty exciting.

Tim Bruno is our Wotan, and I love hearing him. There is a great color and snarl that truly works for Wotan.

Gonna be a great run!!

Die Walkure take 1

First musical rehearsal begins in 50 minutes.  I have butterflies, but I am so excited.  I have never been this prepared nor felt this good vocally.  I am very thankful for that.

Here's to a good musical run!

The days that make you go insane

Dreams over BBQ

Today I met with my friend Tammy Motola regarding an idea tat has been brewing in my head for the last two years.

Richmond has a pitiful dearth of venues for singers, and there are good singers in this town (just don't get me started on pianists). We bring in opera from Norfolk in the guise of Virginia Opera and Lyric Opera of Virginia. But they are not for this city, and have the "Local Bias", as does the RSO. Pretty sad.

Time to make a difference. Time to shake things up.

What is WRONG with our Art Form: Education

I always get in trouble when kids at VCU ask me why I do not advise. Because I tell people going after Bachelor of Music degrees to stop wasting their money and pursue the BA.

For anyone interested in actually pursuing a career as a performer, the BM is not going to help you. Why? Take time to study another discipline that will allow you to make money while you are getting started. The BM offers absolutely NO time to learn anything outside of music.

And one other thing: Where are the classes in basic Acting Skills, movement, and combat that the singer/actor needs?

Oh, the singer gets classes in Diction, but really never learns the language well enough to USE IT. But boy, they get bitched at enough about the diction not being perfect. The problem with American singers isn't diction, it is the total lack of heart that comes from having NO CLUE how to communicate the language.

One other thing: The vast majority of full time music professors in Voice are totally laughable as experts. The Majority of DMA's spent their time going to college and never competing, or learning true standards. The small number who actually TRY to create a career, then go back for DMA work are excluded because they have something tangible to offer. They TRIED. They may have tried and failed, but at least they tried.

Always amuses me that in most colleges, the adjuncts usually are the good teachers who had a semblance of career, and can teach. Funny.

One last thing: The Euro's used to say, You can sing, now come to Europe to learn how to be an Artist. Quit worrying about the damn mechanics, and let your heart loose.

What a lesson!!

This week has been pretty phenomenal, actually, and things have been coming together very nicely vocally. NOW I am able to bring all the other aspects of performing together with the voice. YES!!!!!!!!

Today, I put it all together at my lesson. ALL together! The support, the space....wow!

Fifteen minute warm up, then into Celeste Aida. One little correction in the beginning of the recit, then , off we go. Jackson stops me to correct one word, "tuo" since I didn't sing the [o], but the aria goes like clock work. All B flats are nailed, and sound great, with some nasty squillo. Piece feels like I was born to sing it.

Then, of all thing, Jackson makes me sing "Il mio Tesoror", then "Un aura amorosa", then "Dies Bildnis." Ouch. That is a pretty tough workout, but nailed them.

Then we decided to do more. "Ingemisco " from Verdi's Requiem, "Amor ti vieta", "Nessun Dorma", then finished with "Vesti la giubba".

THAT was a workout.

I sang like a king. Lord, it was FUN!!