catch up

where have i been for all this time?  much has been keeping me away from this blog, and i've missed it.  here's a  peek of all the exciting things that have happened within the past six months... details will have to follow.  right now i just want to get back into blogging!

new (old) furniture for our house...

retaining wall in front of house...

 kicked the astro turf to the curb!

new nephew!!                    with uncle m:

                                         and me

                                       and noah the big

finished my masters degree!

sang my first lead in an opera!

and experienced so much happiness along the way.  grateful.

exciting projects

school has resumed, so my posting will be far less frequent.

the university has provided the most wonderful opportunities this year, 

and they are sure to keep me busy!

what am i most excited about?

 mozart!!!

we are performing die zauberflöte this year;

and i couldn't be happier.

anyone who knows me well enough knows how infatuated i am with mozart

(on a completely normal and not weird level.)

so the chance to sing in a production with orchestra is a little dream come true.

 

Queen of the Night, Pamina

besides learning this opera (in german!)

 i will be working as a teacher's assistant at school AND preparing a master's in voice recital.

so.... it's sure to be an amazing year!! 

stay tuned for updates.

images:

[1] [2] [3]

Hello Again, World Wide Web.

I have been way too busy to blog much lately, but I find myself here with the computer (a rare occasion since M's fantasy hockey obsession began) with the dogs napping on my lap and an M.I.A. husband. I seriously have no idea where he is right now. Probably at a record store somewhere. So I'm back with some exciting updates on life. 1.) I have decided to go back to school in the fall, and I've been accepted to Roosevelt University, where I'm choosing to go. The tuition is pretty high, but the program is strong and the school is connected with the most important Chicago-based professional singing companies, so I know I'll be able to make great contacts there on top of receiving a high-quality education. 2.) A couple of weeks ago I participated in a local opera company's annual voice competition, and I placed 2nd! About 40 singers in my age group sang in the competition, and receiving a 2nd-place award (and cash prize!) is just the affirmation a struggling singer like myself truly cherishes. I even found a beautiful dress (pictured below) at a thrift store for $4 to wear. (I'm not above that.) I'm now more encouraged than ever to begin studying for a Masters in Vocal Performance, and I can't wait until the fall! Now just to get through a summer of working six days a week. 

Vent

Oh, how I love Mozart. So imagine my excitement when I was invited to sing a concert at the Basilica in GR this May. Mozart's "Exsultate, Jubilate" is a most beautiful motet written for solo soprano voice and orchestra. I began working on the piece last year when my contact at the Basilica asked me to sing it. Unfortunately, this man turned out to be a slight, well, weasel. Without giving any details about why he changed his mind, he simply notified me that he's "taking the concert in a different direction." I have two theories as to the reasons: 1.) He resents me for not auditioning for America's Got Talent with one of his original songs (I'm not interested in going on TV and even if I were, he didn't give me the music until three weeks before the audition and I had other commitments that day.) 2.) He couldn't get his act together enough to make the concert a reality. I personally believe his motivations having something more to do with no. 1, as his e-mail was highly formal and seem to imply a certain termination of contact, as though he wanted to say he wasn't interested in my singing for him ever again. I'm highly disappointed but know someday I'll have the chance to sing Mozart again. Click on the link below to watch a clip of my favorite movement from the piece, "Tu Virginum Corona." And be sure to avoid any concerts at the Basilica!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d67jpC5YlA0

Favorite aria this month

My video bar is not working. My favorite aria this month is the new one I'm working on. It gets stuck in my head constantly, so it must be a goodie! It's quite a challenge, and I'm up for it. However, it will probably be a while before I can focus all my attention on it considering I have three auditions for grad school approaching. If you're interested, follow the link. Oh, and by the way, Happy New Year to all.

O Luce di Quest Anima

Photo of Edita Gruberova as Linda di Chamonix, www.gruberova.com

Depuis le jour, from "Louise" by Charpentier

(Translation of this month's favorite aria, be it a good two weeks late in posting.)

Since the day
I gave myself,
my fate seems all in flower.
I seem to be dreaming
beneath a fairy sky,
my soul still enraptured
by that first kiss!
What a wonderful life!
My dream was not a dream!
Oh, I am so happy!
Love spreads its wings above me!
In the garden of my heart
a new joy sings!
Everything vibrates,
everything rejoices in my triumph!

About me it is all smiles,
light and happiness!;
And I tremble deliciously
at the delightful memory
of the first day of love!
What a glorious life!
Oh, how happy I am! too happy!...
And I tremble deliciously
at the delightful memory
of the first day of Love!

Sung by Renee Fleming, of course. Her beautiful performance ALMOST takes one's attention away from her hideous outfit.

Glitter and Be Gay

My favorite aria this month is from "Candide" by Bernstein... but the aria isn't necessarily my favorite aria.  Specifically, I'm enthralled by this performance of soprano Anna Christy from the 2007 production at La Scala in Milan.  I love stage director Robert Carsen's imitation of Marilyn Monroe's "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend."  Clever beyond clever- and so fitting for the character!  Christy's performance is something else to be marveled at.  Her singing is close to flawless, and she is classy, sexy, and charming, unlike many Counegondes I've seen bounce around the stage, mugging to the audience.  I hope you enjoy this performance as much as I do... follow the link to six minutes of pure enjoyment!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chofHEQNgTM