I am inspired to write some personal reactions to a great article posed on the ArtsJournal (Hat tip to YAP Tracker). As a singer with a technological bent, I spend a great deal of time brooding on the implications of having a blog, sharing about my life and choosing from the myriad of communications options.
As I started laying out my plan for my internet presence, my first consideration was how I like to communicate. A website was fairly easy to implement and maintaining it takes very little time. It is good but is not particularly interactive. My biggest concerns have been how to deal with the various platforms of social networking.
After some initial experiments with Twitter, I knew that it was too fast pace for me. With only a limited amount of time in the day for updating and interacting with people, it became clear very quickly that I could not keep up. Twitter is a conversation in motion, I participate when I can, but I only end up checking my account every few weeks or so. Likewise, my Facebook fan page is a great way to post videos and let my friends know about my upcoming gigs. I try to check it at least every other day.
I made a conscious decision to interact in three primary ways that hopefully cater to my strengths as a writer and my timeframe (a tenor has to practice, you know): blog posts, responding to comments on my blog and fan page and emails directly to friends and fans. I learned early on that prefer a more "long-form" method of communications. I use Twitterfeed to send out these blog posts to both my Twitter and my fan page. As of right now, I am new enough at this digital delivery system to enjoy a small following (thanks to you all!) and so I can respond in a fairly timely fashion.
As a singer at to the beginning of my career, I am trying to play to my strengths in communication and, most importantly, build the habit of interacting with my friends and fans. As I continue trying to find the best way to interact with people I can only make these two promises: I am the only person who updates any of these forms of communications and I look forward to talking with you soon.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
? of the Week, May 2, 2011
Perhaps I'm late. Perhaps the internet took me away from my tasks at hand. Perhaps my daughters slept in and I missed my 4 a.m. Sunday morning blogging.
Not to be ignored or underestimated, Tenor Eleven Miles Away returns with the "? of the Week."
As I drove home from church on Sunday with my daughters in the back seat, we rolled down the windows and listened as Jonathan Schwarz played classic songs about the arrival of May. His show became our "? of the Week" as sunshine poured down around us as Julie Andrews sang, "The Lusty Month of May." They may not be old enough to get it, but they quieted down and enjoyed all of the songs that Mr. Schwarz chose.
Sunday morning drives always include the Jonathan Schwarz radio show. He has an amazing talent for looking out the window at the weather, tone and temperment of New York City and creating a tuneful, song-filled soundtrack than encapsulates your Sunday--sunny days are brighter and more cheerful, rainy days are more melancholy and New York becomes just a little more "New York."
Not to be ignored or underestimated, Tenor Eleven Miles Away returns with the "? of the Week."
As I drove home from church on Sunday with my daughters in the back seat, we rolled down the windows and listened as Jonathan Schwarz played classic songs about the arrival of May. His show became our "? of the Week" as sunshine poured down around us as Julie Andrews sang, "The Lusty Month of May." They may not be old enough to get it, but they quieted down and enjoyed all of the songs that Mr. Schwarz chose.
Sunday morning drives always include the Jonathan Schwarz radio show. He has an amazing talent for looking out the window at the weather, tone and temperment of New York City and creating a tuneful, song-filled soundtrack than encapsulates your Sunday--sunny days are brighter and more cheerful, rainy days are more melancholy and New York becomes just a little more "New York."
Sunday, April 24, 2011
? of the Week- April 24, 2011
It's 4 a.m.-ish on Sunday. Time for another "? of the Week."
Nico Castel.
Nico Castel is a language coach and character tenor who sings with the Met. He also does Master Classes for singers. I have never actually met him, but when I do, I am going to shake his hand and thank him for his fantastic series of Opera Libretti Translations.
What Mr. Castel has done is to take the librettos (or words) of famous operas. He then translates them "word for word" and adds International Phonetic Alphabet (or IPA) translations underneath that. Additionally, he will add a line if the grammer does not work well in English that clarifies what each character is saying. Not only that (whew, I'm getting out of breath), if there is an obscure reference to something specific to the setting of the opera, Mr. Castel adds a footnote that explains what the words mean.
As I start my book on the role of Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, I am sitting down with Italian Bel Canto Operas (vol. 1) and translating the entire opera. Every single word. Without this Mr. Castel's series, the work would completely be overwhelming, but this book makes the process relatively efficient and painless.
Nico Castel.
Nico Castel is a language coach and character tenor who sings with the Met. He also does Master Classes for singers. I have never actually met him, but when I do, I am going to shake his hand and thank him for his fantastic series of Opera Libretti Translations.
What Mr. Castel has done is to take the librettos (or words) of famous operas. He then translates them "word for word" and adds International Phonetic Alphabet (or IPA) translations underneath that. Additionally, he will add a line if the grammer does not work well in English that clarifies what each character is saying. Not only that (whew, I'm getting out of breath), if there is an obscure reference to something specific to the setting of the opera, Mr. Castel adds a footnote that explains what the words mean.
As I start my book on the role of Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, I am sitting down with Italian Bel Canto Operas (vol. 1) and translating the entire opera. Every single word. Without this Mr. Castel's series, the work would completely be overwhelming, but this book makes the process relatively efficient and painless.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
? of the Week- April 17, 2011
This week, birds were chirping and I left the house with only a windbreaker on. The city lost some of its winter scowl and the trickle of mid-town winter tourists are beginning to turn into a flood. By next week all the hotels will be booked with people experiencing the joys of Spring in the City-- my "? of the Week."
Let me be frank, all is not well in the opera world right now. There are challenges all over the the country. Good singers are losing their jobs and the business is contracting.
Despite all that, Spring is here and with it Hope.
Let me be frank, all is not well in the opera world right now. There are challenges all over the the country. Good singers are losing their jobs and the business is contracting.
Despite all that, Spring is here and with it Hope.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
? of the Week- April 10, 2011
Macaroons.
Not just any Macaroons, though, Buttered Popcorn Macaroons. Invented by my little neighborhood bakery, Desserts by Michael Allen, this is the item that is going to make them famous. You heard it here first.
When my family and I moved to New York, we made every effort to explore the city in as much depth as possible. I'm proud to say that, over the course of a number of years, we explored neighborhoods as far south as Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island to Arthur Street in the Bronx. We drove out to the wineries of Long Island and travelled through upstate to Patterson and Connecticut.
Our neighborhood does have fantastic Caribbean food and fried chicken (served from behind bullet-proof glass at some establishments). We have tried our local Halal buffets and we shed a tear when Kush Cafe changed to the Hill Cafe. We lost a real gem of Pan-African French food.
Through the years, though, Desserts by Michael Allen has been a stalwart. We visit them whenever we can and I had my birthday treats from them for the past few years. With their invention of this macaroon, I really believe that this bakery could become a genuine attraction, possibly as legendary as Red Velvet from Cake Man Raven or Magnolia for cupcakes or Sullivan Street Bakery for foccaccia.
And so, to you, my delicious buttered popcorn macaroon, I congratulate your elevation to "? of the Week."
Not just any Macaroons, though, Buttered Popcorn Macaroons. Invented by my little neighborhood bakery, Desserts by Michael Allen, this is the item that is going to make them famous. You heard it here first.
When my family and I moved to New York, we made every effort to explore the city in as much depth as possible. I'm proud to say that, over the course of a number of years, we explored neighborhoods as far south as Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island to Arthur Street in the Bronx. We drove out to the wineries of Long Island and travelled through upstate to Patterson and Connecticut.
Our neighborhood does have fantastic Caribbean food and fried chicken (served from behind bullet-proof glass at some establishments). We have tried our local Halal buffets and we shed a tear when Kush Cafe changed to the Hill Cafe. We lost a real gem of Pan-African French food.
Through the years, though, Desserts by Michael Allen has been a stalwart. We visit them whenever we can and I had my birthday treats from them for the past few years. With their invention of this macaroon, I really believe that this bakery could become a genuine attraction, possibly as legendary as Red Velvet from Cake Man Raven or Magnolia for cupcakes or Sullivan Street Bakery for foccaccia.
And so, to you, my delicious buttered popcorn macaroon, I congratulate your elevation to "? of the Week."
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Upcoming gig: Opera Fairbanks' L'elisir d'Amore
I am thrilled to announce that I'll be heading back to Alaska this summer. I'll be singing the starring role of Nemorino in L'elisir d'Amore, by Gaetano Donizetti. I'll be joining Jamie-Rose Guarrine as Adina and Paul Plishka as Dulcamara.
Find out more at http://www.operafairbanks.org/.
I'll have more details shortly but the show goes up on July 14 and July 16 in Fairbanks.
Find out more at http://www.operafairbanks.org/.
I'll have more details shortly but the show goes up on July 14 and July 16 in Fairbanks.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
? of the Week- April 3, 2011
Two weeks in a row? Is this possible?
I have learned over the years not to speak in absolutes. As soon as I say one, the universe points, laughs and takes me down a peg. A few choice examples: I'll never marry a vegetarian, I'll never become a Catholic... Do you catch my drift?
Funny that I mention being married to a vegetarian, because it leads me to my "? of the Week".
Pukk
Located in the Lower East Side of New York City, Pukk is an entirely vegetarian restaurant that serves Thai cuisine in an "oh so trendy" setting. When we were less family-inclined, we got to try out the restaurant and we loved the blend of super-trendy vibe and tasty asian fare at a really great value. I would not say that it was the best Thai I had in my life, but it is really quite good and it is nice to go to a restaurant where my wife can choose anything off the menu.
Over the years I learned to love faux-meat and it (nearly) replaces the real thing for me. It doesn't quite do it, though. I'll never become a vegetarian.
I have learned over the years not to speak in absolutes. As soon as I say one, the universe points, laughs and takes me down a peg. A few choice examples: I'll never marry a vegetarian, I'll never become a Catholic... Do you catch my drift?
Funny that I mention being married to a vegetarian, because it leads me to my "? of the Week".
Pukk
Located in the Lower East Side of New York City, Pukk is an entirely vegetarian restaurant that serves Thai cuisine in an "oh so trendy" setting. When we were less family-inclined, we got to try out the restaurant and we loved the blend of super-trendy vibe and tasty asian fare at a really great value. I would not say that it was the best Thai I had in my life, but it is really quite good and it is nice to go to a restaurant where my wife can choose anything off the menu.
Over the years I learned to love faux-meat and it (nearly) replaces the real thing for me. It doesn't quite do it, though. I'll never become a vegetarian.
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