? 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."