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.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
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.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
? 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.
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.
Friday, May 20, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
? of the Week- May 8, 2011
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| Fig. 1- Having a Hobby. My "? of the Week" |
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.
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