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!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
? 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.
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.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
? 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.
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.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
? 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.
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