Upcoming Performance: Don Ramiro in "La Cenerentola" with Capitol Heights Lyric Opera

Hi All-

Ok, I got two offers from CHLO!  I'll get to return to the role of Don Ramiro on April 27 in Manhasset, NY.  I'll post details as the performance gets closer.

Cheers,
Eapen

Upcoming Performance: Don Ottavio in "Don Giovanni" with Capitol Heights Lyric Opera

Hi All-
I'll be singing the role of Don Ottavio with Capitol Heights Lyric Opera.  The performance is on Saturday, March 3 at the Riverside Library at Lincoln Center in NYC.

Cheers,
Eapen

Upcoming Performance: Tenor Soloist, Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle

Dear Friends,

I'll be singing the Tenor Solo with the Putnam Chorale in their performance of Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 3 p.m.

This past May I sang the tenor solo in Orff's Carmina Burana.  You can hear it on my facebook page.  It is the track "Olim lacus colueram."

Hope to see you there!

"Go out on a limb, that's where the fruit is."

For the last year, I kicked around ideas about my blog and my work as a singer.  I tend to stew on these ideas for awhile and look into a bunch of options.  Pretty soon, something interesting rises to the surface.  In this case, I applied and was approved to start a KickStarter Grant.

When this grant is fully funded, it will fund a new feature on this blog, "The Song of the Month Club."  I will post one art song every month for year starting in January 2012.  I will also post an accompanying podcast that will translate the song if it is in a different language, talk about its history and musical importance and tell the story of my personal connection to the work.

I will be working with some very talented colleagues to produce these podcasts and recordings and, if you help support this grant, I have devised some cool "incentives."  Hat tip to NPR for their euphemism.

Oh, and the quote is from Will Rogers (via Ann Baltz).

Thank you for your support and see you Tenor Eleven Miles Away.

Surprising and Delightful

Despite a brief evacuation for Hurricane Irene, I must say, things have been a little quiet around New York City.  The opera world is in "hurry up and wait mode"-- auditions are around the corner and I'm waiting to hear back on a ton of old auditions.

In the meantime, imagine my surprise when my wife returned from a quick run out to Chinatown with a new (and now favorite) cheap treat, Kam Man's Stewed Wheat Gluten Kao-foo Five Spice.  It tastes much much better than the name might make you think.

Why was this so special?  I have been in quite a rut lately.  I go to Prosperity for dumplings, Banh Mi Saigon for Vietnamese Sandwiches and Fay Da for pastries.  I know, tough life.  It took a new treat to realize that I've been getting a little predictable.

Tenor Eleven Miles Away 1.1- Keith Miller Interview

It may have taken one full year, but I finally managed to learn enough about the program "Audacity" to cut together my very first episode of Tenor Eleven Miles Away, The Podcast.

Recorded during the summer of 2010 while singing with Opera Fairbanks in their production of Don Giovanni, I had the chance to interview Keith Miller, the star of the show.  Keith started out playing in the NFL and, at the time of this interview, he was singing the title role of our show.  He'll explain his path from the gridiron to the stage and talk a bit about some of his other projects.

The theme music of this show was graciously allowed by Opera Fairbanks.  It is the overture to our production performed live by the Opera Fairbanks Orchestra, conducted by Gregory Buchalter.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Small Bites. Chew Slowly.

After a glorious two-week vacation from the blog, I am happy to report that we are going to start a new project here.

Shortly after this "? of the Week" posts, I will be posting my very first podcast.  It is an interview with Keith Miller, the star of last year's production of Don Giovanni with Opera Fairbanks.

It is hard to believe that a year has passed since I did the interview.  When I began this idea, I had grand designs.  I planned on being the next "This American Life" or "Radio Lab".  I now have a far greater appreciation for the artistry that goes into making those types of shows.  Learning how to edit was challenging.  I still can't fix the pops and the crackles and mouse clicks, but I think I have some strategies for improvements in mind for episode two.

So what does that mean for our "? of the Week"?  I suppose it is the realization that when I decide to try something new like a podcast, I should not try to do a big grand podcast with a story in three acts.  Rather, I should start things off small, learn lessons along the way, and maybe someday it will be something of true artistry.

Hold on a second, this sounds vaguely like how I approach my opera career.

I hope you enjoy the podcast.  I value your comments and feedback and any ideas that you might have for future episodes.

Wii are never bored here.

The Nintendo Wii, your "? of the Week for July 17, 2011.*

Ah, the poor Wii, derided by hard-core gamers and beloved by moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and bowlers around the world.

I've already outed myself as a bit of a geek and, to be honest, I have not played my Wii for almost a year.  For the past three weeks, though, the Wii has been the most important piece of technology in my life.

I brought the console all the way to Alaska for a couple of reasons.  It is incredibly small and there aren't a lot of wires.  I have used it to catch up on my Netflix queue- watching mystery series and occasionally playing video games.**  Another advantage is that it can easily plug into older TV sets and so it is a great option when you don't know what kind of place you are going to stay at and you need maximum flexibility.

During the run of the show there are parts of the day that are free from singing or press-related activities.  Last year in Fairbanks, I had the chance to do a lot of exploring with my family.  I still had the opportunity to explore some new spots in Fairbanks, meet interesting people and socialize with my castmates but I decided that due to the size and scope of the role, I should use my off-time in ways that would not tax my voice in any way.  The Wii has been a fantastic way to give my mind a break between a busy rehearsal schedule.

What is your frivolous piece of technology that you enjoy while on the road?

*You will be seeing some changes in the format of the "? of the Week."  I got some great feedback that the titles were kind of... well... boring.  I'll still tag my weekly posts appropriately, but from now on, I'll try to come up with a catchy title.  Please don't hesitate to post feedback here or on facebook.  I would love to hear from you.

** Games included: Super Mario Bros. 3, River City Ransom, Bit.Trip.Void, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

? of the Week- July 10, 2011

Rehearsals.

There is more to life than just performing.  Take this past week, for example:  I spent almost every single day working with a small, talented group of cast mates and directors to refine and perfect our upcoming performance of The Elixir of Love.

I cannot help but feel, with all the distractions of interviews, press, Facebook Fan Pages and the internet publicity, that I risk losing track of what makes this job so memorable and rewarding.  The show is only a culmination of weeks of work, collaboration and learning.

Today I want to take a moment to acknowledge the fun and challenge of the rehearsals.  It is that process of focused effort, which leads to learning and growing, both as a singer and as a team of actors, that gives me the opportunity to enjoy a performance and this career.

? of the Week- July 3, 2011

The Smartest Person in the Room.

I have a deep and abiding love for detective television shows.  For sake the sake of simplicity, let us call detective shows by the German word for it, "Crimi Shows."  Being away from my family for awhile, I have increased my consumption of television thanks to Netflix.

My love for the Crimi began when I was very young and I found a complete, unabridged edition of Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Arthur Conan Doyle.  Something about those stories clicked with me and I spent hours reading and rereading them.  Shortly after discovering the book, the PBS channel had a series of adaptations starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes.  I can remember nearly cheering as Holmes revealed murderers.

From there, it was on to "Quincy, MD" reruns.  Now I watch "Veronica Mars", the new BBC update of the Holmes stories, "Sherlock", and "The Closer."

What attracts me to these shows in particular is the presence of a very strong, smart central character that can divine truth out of seemingly impossible situations.  I have always wished to be that person-- the smartest guy in the room.  Since I do not typically (ever?) find myself in that situation, these shows fulfill that lifelong dream.

It is my aspiration to some day write or star in a show like this.  After all, what would be better than having an opera singer, travelling the world, solving crimes between rehearsals and performances?  Heck, you could even find allegories between the show that I was singing and the murder.  Come on... this is great, right?

Rob Thomas, you can call my agent any time to set something up.

? of the Week- June 26, 2011

Skype.

Greetings from the rehearsals of L'elisir d'amor in sunny Fairbanks.  This one is going to be quick because I'm just waiting for my wife to get online and call me on Skype.

Skype, a video calling service that runs over the internet, is the best way for me to keep up with my family while I'm away from them.  There is no substitute for seeing their faces while talking to them.  To be honest, I have no idea if I could have handled this lifestyle if I did not have the opportunity to see my family on a regular basis while on location.

I would sing Skype's praises for longer, but my computer is ringing and I have some family to see!

Fairbanks!

Greetings from sunny Fairbanks!

I have settled into my digs and tomorrow afternoon we begin rehearsals for "The Elixir of Love."  All of my technology seems to be up and running and I am excited to start another adventure- living on the road, exploring and creating art.

I will try to drop a line every now and again with updates.  I will continue the "? of the Week" series.  I already have a long list of things to be grateful about.  There are probably enough items on my list to make the feature take place twice or three times per week.

Do you have any questions about Fairbanks or life on the road?  Please drop a line in the comments and I would be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.

? of the Week- June 19, 2011

A happy day to all the Tenor Eleven Miles Away fathers out there.

Today was a study in variety, our "? of the Week."

The day began with Mass followed by a meeting of the Young Families Group.  During the fall and winter and spring, families with kids too young for Sunday School meet immediately following Mass in a play area.  Our kids play and we do a potluck or someone brings some treats.  There is plenty of coffee for the groggy parents and the kids can burn off the rest of their energy before nap time.

Over the summer we meet once or twice a month.  Today our fearless leader/organizer, Murph, got the brilliant idea to do steaks for Father's Day.  Keep in mind, that Mass starts at 9:30 a.m.  We would be eating at 10: 30 a.m.

To prep, my girls and I took our Saturday morning trip to the city yesterday.  We went to the Village to Fiacco's Pork Store where I picked out a pinwheel steak to throw on the grill.  I also introduced my older daughter to the joys of a rice ball and cookies from Pasticceria Rocco.

And so, after Mass, we all fired up the grill.  My pinwheels were the daintiest steaks of the bunch.  Murph shocked us with a porterhouse ripped from an episode of the Flintstones.  There were plenty of great side dishes and one couple brought bottles of wine.  "We debated it for awhile and then thought, why postpone the inevitable?"

This group has become an institution for us.  As my wife said later this afternoon, "Some day we will look back on these times and realize that we are coming to an end of an era, but right now, we are living it!"

This evening we decided to go with a counterpoint to the mornings festivities.  Our family hopped in the car and drove down to Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  There we got a couple of sandwiches to share at Foodswings, one of the best places for quick and cheap vegan food.  We shared a Buffalo Burger and the Vegetarian Heart Attack Burger.  The former was ok, but not something to repeat.  The latter was a new favorite.  Our older daughter had her first vegan drumstick.  Foodswings will definitely become a favorite when we don't feel like cooking.

If you are a dad, drop a line with your celebration in the comments below.  If you took care of a dad, why don't you do so also?  After all, variety is the spice of life.

? of the Week- June 12, 2011

The MetPlayer.

As many of you know, I am preparing to sing the role of Nemorino with Opera Fairbanks in July.  I spent the last few weeks translating, working on notes and rhythms and basically "reviving" my memories of this, the first major opera part that I ever learned.  I even had a chance to sing through the role with a group of like-minded singers.  Preparations for the trip are drawing to a close.

Now that the heavy lifting of studying is done, I took a week to enjoy a free-trial of the Met Player, an incredible resource of online videos and audio recordings from the library of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

I used my free trial to watch a vintage video of Luciano Pavarotti singing Nemorino in 1981.  Years of study and training have significantly affected my opinion of these classic videos.  For those who are not opera fans, Mr. Pavarotti is arguably the most famous tenor of his generation.  He was an international superstar who managed to earn name recognition outside of the opera world.  On a very geeky professional level, he had a fantastic vocal technique and his sound was famous for its richness of tone and musicality.

What the video illuminated for me, as a professional singer, is that Mr. Pavarotti sang with a stillness in his body.  His body was completely engaged in the act of singing.  I liken it to a yoga teacher who is holding a complicated pose.  The pose is not actually "held" in that it is gripped, rather the body is completely engaged and relaxed simultaneously.

I began my solo career as a character tenor, singing small "acting roles."  With roles like that, I primarily worked on the dramatic side of the character and beauty of singing was not always a requirement.  In some cases, beauty of tone was to be avoided at all cost!  Now, after transitioning to singing leading tenor roles where my focus is on creating the best, most beautiful melody I possibly can, returning to these videos to watch master singers is becoming an essential component of my study time.

? of the Week- June 5, 2011

Saying goodbye is always hard for me.  I tend to make it last too long or I cut things short.  Today's "? of the Week" is once again Keith Irvine.

I didn't mention in my last post that Mr. Irvine was ailing.  He died this past week.  I was lucky enough to say goodbye to him when I stayed at his house following my Carmina Burana performance with the Putnam Chorale.

I'm incredibly grateful for his presence in my life.  My greatest compliment to anyone is that they taught me something new and interesting.  Mr. Irvine did that and I will miss him greatly.

? of the Week- May 29, 2011

Keith Irvine.

To those of you who are new to this blog, you might wonder why I might have an interior decorator as my "? of the Week."  The story ends with the "Carmina Burana" which I sang two weeks ago on Saturday with the Putnam Chorale.  It was my first time singing the tenor solo for the piece.  There is only one aria that I sing in "Carmina," but it contains 3 high c's and 3 high d's.  It is a tenor dream to sing high notes like that in such a fine production-- complete with a full orchestra, three choirs and a ballet group.  I'll post video as soon as I receive it.

Saturday's show was led by Doug Anderson.  I sang Belmonte in concerts of Mozart's "Die Entfuehrung aus dem Serail" and Ramiro in Rossini's "La Cenerentola."  I also was his tenor soloist for a Messiah a number of years back.

Doug and I met in a very grand ballroom up in Putnam County.  That ballroom was built by Keith Irvine as an addition to his farm house.  We met following a recital that I sang for Keith's friends and family.

Which brings my to the beginning of the story.  When I first arrived in New York City after singing at Opera Colorado, I went to a temp agency to find a day job.  The first job they sent me to was for a boutique decoration company called "Irvine and Fleming."  I walked into the office which had red laquer walls and the most fantastic antique Chinese screen that I had ever seen.  I learned later that I did my interview sitting in a Regency chair.

A few moments later, a short Scottsman walked up the stairs.  Keith Irvine.  He and his business partner, Tom Fleming, then proceeded to ask me questions about my experience and my background.  They hired me.  For the next year I learned about wall coverings, carpets, colors, antiques and how to put a room together.  Mr. Irvine would occasionally curse but mostly sing old show tunes as he wandered around the office, pulling together a couch here and a set of curtains there.  Mr. Irvine was known for his truly bold use of colors and for his skill at making a beautiful, comfortable home that spared no expense.  All of this was new to me and I have gained an appreciation for what makes a beautiful object beautiful.  Mr. Irvine introduced my wife and I to incredible people such as his wife Chippy, the most energetic, spritied and tuneful almost 80-year old I have ever met.  Through his friendship I have been exposed to experiences that would have never imagined.  I performed in a Masque at the Rainbow Room.  I went to a house on Fisher's Island.  I learned what a McKim, Mead, White house was and how to accentuate the flow of the house with antique wallpaper.

There are moments when I ask myself, why on earth could this be useful to an opera singer.  I don't have much of an answer at this point.  Perhaps someday I will direct or produce an opera.  Perhaps I will have enough scratch to decorate my home in a truly beautiful way.  I don't know.  I just know that Mr. Irvine made me a more complete person because I can now appreciate the world in a new way.

P.S.  Sorry for the break.  I was busy with the Carmina and a bunch of auditions.

P.S.S.  Check out this wonderfully frank interview with Keith & Chippy Irvine.  There are photos of his last office before he retired.  I helped move him into it before I left to sing opera.

Speaking of Beautiful Photos...

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/search/?st=grid&co=fsac

The Library of Congress has released color photographs from the Great Depression.  Not only are the pictures fascinating, but I have a greater appreciation for art directors of period films.

First come the artists

If you have a moment, take a look at this site.  Chris Sorensen is an artist who lives in my neighborhood.  My wife and daughters were photographed yesterday by our Family Dollar and you might end up seeing them as three of the "Fulton St."  project.  Gentrification is a big part of life in New York City these days and Mr. Sorensen is interested in capturing moments and people as it takes place.

? of the Week- May 8, 2011

Fig. 1- Having a Hobby. My "? of the Week"

Balance.  Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't.

Right now I am working hard on a prepping a couple of gigs and some new audition rep.  The music in my head is really, really loud.  (Does it bother you at all?)

It is great after long hours of practicing to have something totally unrelated to take my mind off the hard work.  This weekend I spent some time kneading pizza dough and making pear and gorgonzola pizza and one with caramelized onions, mushrooms and pineapple.  To wrap up my cooking adventure, we shared our meal with good friends.  On other weekend days I will make a loaf of bread (fig. 1) or two.  After a little time cooking and baking, I get a little perspective on my work.

I have some other hobbies and I am sure they will eventually be a "? of the Week" but a tenor should not give away all his secrets at once.

What does Social Networking mean to me?

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.

? 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."

? 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.

? 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.

? 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."

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.

? 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.

? of the Week

Once a week.  I can do this.

Hello and welcome to Tenor Eleven Miles Away-- the Sunday at 4 a.m. edition.  I just got my infant daughter back to sleep and now I ask myself (sorry about this), "Sleep, why dost thou leave me?"

At 4 a.m. a lot of thoughts go through your head.  Today's thought was, why not start a list of my favorite things?  I'll try to include blogs and new media, restaurants, locations, events or anything else that might be fun.  It will be a pretty wide ranging list, so hang on tight!

This week's "? of the Week" is:

The Planet Money Podcast.

Boy, I love this podcast.  I also love economics.  Each time I listen to the podcast, I learn something new about the world.  They have covered the global financial crisis, economics in Haiti and they are attempting to build a t-shirt from scratch.

Just when I thought the podcast couldn't get much better, I heard their podcast about the economic crisis in Scranton, Pennsylvania. I realized that I recognized the voice of Gordon Mann, the gentleman interviewed, who was doing the financial recovery plan and audit of the city.  It turns out he was the one who interviewed me for an office/programmer position when I was an apprentice in Binghamton, New York.

At the time, he was working for a local State Senator and he was my second interviewer for a very nice job working for a local children's reading initiative.  I remember him being vaguely reticent about hiring a semi-hippie opera singer, but to his credit, he looked past my quirks and hired me.

Incidentally, I'm still in touch my former boss, a dear friend.  She and the Senator's office were happily surprised to hear about Gordon.  As she said, "we're not really an NPR office, so thanks for the link."

Literally Impossible?

Here I am, faced with learning the role of Nemorino in the Elixir of Love.  I know the opera from my first year as an apprentice when I covered the role and now I get to take my first shot at singing it.

I started working on my "book."  In the past, I have done operas and roles that were from a distinct time period or based on a historical record or perhaps based on an old romance novel (I'm looking at you Lucia di Lammermoor).  There was always a wealth of leads to pursue as I mapped out my character.

Elixir seems to be a bit more of a cipher.  One score says that it is set in an Italian Village and another says it is set in Basque Country.  Both sources say that it is set at the end of the 18th Century.

One of the joys and challenges of the show is that, while the settings are noted, there is not much in the score's libretto that keeps the show strictly within that time period and location.  I watched a couple of videos and read reviews and it seems like this show is set in all sorts of different ways.

And so I find myself at a crossroads:  Do I simply try to map out my character without looking at time or place?  Or do I look at the life of peasants in the Basque region at the end of the 18th Century?

Are there any tenors out there who read this blog?  Have you performed the role before?  What is your take?  Did you do a traditional production or something avant guard?

If you have a moment, could you post your thoughts on the role below or on my Facebook page?

On Emotional Authenticity

I've started working on La Boheme.  I'll be singing a concert with the last half of Act 1 and most of Act 3 this coming weekend.

La Boheme is one of the most popular operas in the world.  My first opera experience was when I went to see a dress rehearsal of an Eastman School of Music production back in high school.  I remember the opening of Act 3 and snow falling on the stage and the music and coming home from the show and convincing my father that I needed to see the show again.  He acquiesed and took me to an evening performance.

After that, I found a VHS at the local public library with Pavarotti and Mirella Freni.  I watched it quite a number of times.  I loved the show but it never got me any further in studying opera.  I always thought I was a Boheme fan, not an opera fan.

Fast forward to my junior year of college.  I took my first Opera Workshop class and our first assignment was to sing an art song or aria while doing some sort of action.  I tried to whittle a stick while singing a song from Die Schoene Muellerin.  I remember being horrible at it.

After I sang my song, a colleague of mine got up and sang "Donde lieta" from Boheme.  She put a bunch of her crumpled clothes a desk and opened a small duffel bag.  The music started and she sang the aria and she slowly put her clothes into the bag.  Just as she finished the aria, she found a framed photo at the bottom of the pile.  She looked at it and delivered the last line, put the photo into the bag and zipped it up and walked away.

At that moment, I understood what power opera could have and, as I look back, it is a touchstone in my search for emotional truth as I work on my character development.

Orff Class, Circa 1981

After landing my first gig as tenor soloist in Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, my mind was flooded with memories of growing up in Rochester.  While my father was technically my first music teacher and taught me to read music and play the recorder, my first music class was at Hochstein School of Music. 

My parents tell me that I started Orff lessons at the age of four.  Margaret Fittipaldi was my first teacher and I remember learning basic solfege and the hand signals that go along with it.  I also remember a lot of time spent with other very young musicians playing on xylophones and metallaphones.  (Playing?  Banging madly, is a better description.)

After I grew out of those classes for small children, I joined the Hochstein Children's Choir.  It was through that group that I sang my first solo on the radio and also landed my first paid recording gigs.  I did a couple of radio jingles and I sometimes wonder if there is an mp3 of Milton Fargo's "Sandy the Christmas Cat" out there.  Internet, don't fail us now!

Happy New Year! (So it is February... so what?)

As 2010 draws to a close, I thought I'd share with you a family tradition (adapted here to my opera career).  Every year, my wife and I do a "Top Ten" list of our favorite things. Traditionally, there is no rhyme or reason to the list,  even the order is not subject to the typical laws of a top ten list.  After all, what makes a small, portable video camera better than Baker's Brand Chocolate Chips?  Darned if I know.

10.  Bronx Opera-  Again, Michael and Ben Spierman collaborate to create a truly memorable experience:  bringing to life Mahler's Die Drei Pintos to the stage.  I was in Musical America and the New York Times.  I even got some great bootleg videos.
9.  Moose-  Not only are they fun animals, I had the great experience of tasting moose roast on my trip to Alaska.  Delicious!

8.  The Public Library System all around the United States.  Nothing is more useful to a bored opera singer on tour.

7.  My Team-  Every opera singer has a team that helps them train.  It's a little like being an Olympic athlete but with a much higher resting heart rate.  In my case, I have a coach, a voice teacher and an agent.  Every day I'm grateful for their support and guidance.

6.  Chelsea Opera's Glory Denied-  I had the chance to sing an opera by a living composer, based on a book by a living author, based on an oral history of a family.  I had three degrees of separation between myself and the man I played in the opera.  The piece was musically interesting and challenging and I had the opportunity to socialize with the composer and author.  The Opera News review was a credit to the entire team.
5. Saturday Drive-bys to Sunset Park.  My wife and I have timed it out to the last second.  We can get from our apartment to Sunset Park and back.  Upon our return home we have a pork bahn-mi, spicy grilled tofu skewers and a bag full of Chinese pastries.

4.  Every year, we feature a seasoning.  One year we discovered the joys of salt and pepper, another Sri Racha.  This year's seasoning is Frank's Hot Sauce.  A new favorite on our homemade poached eggs, hash and soysage.

3.  Skilly Starter- from our Alaska adventure.  This sourdough starter has been alive for over a hundred years.  At least once a week we use it to make sourdough hotcakes for dinner.

2.  Trader Joe's-  About every other Sunday we hop in the car at about 7:45 a.m.  We drive down Atlantic to the new Trader Joe's and wait for it to open.  Shopping list in hand and we burn through the store, beating the incredible checkout line that forms by 8:30 a.m.  It is a family tradition and one of the few ways to have an enjoyable shopping experience at this incredibly busy store.

1.  Opera Fairbanks-  Not only did I have the pleasure of travelling to our 49th State to sing Don Ottavio with incredible colleagues, but I was able to bring my family up and make a whole trip of it.  We had the chance to tour, meet new friends and learn so much about the area.

Glory Denied review hits at Opera News

"In the role of Younger Thompson, the ardent and striking Leubner was particularly well cast. At times his performance called to mind Hollywood portrayals of military heroes, underscoring the disparity between Jim Thompson's grim homecoming and the glamorous reception he might have had. "  Abby Rosebrock, Opera News, Feb. 2010


Full article can be found here.