Not many posts from the road lately. I have been home in NYC and working around the city since January. You can see posts and videos at my Facebook Page.
I am posting now because it looks like you (my blog readers) and I are going to go on a little trip to Albania in December. I will be singing in a "Three Tenors" styled concert in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Albania's independence from the Ottoman Empire.
I will be singing, "Pourquoi me revellier" from Werther, "Dein ist mein gantzes Hertz" from The Land of Smiles by Lehar and "Una furtiva lagrima." Additionally, I'll be joining my tenor counterparts for some fun medleys of popular songs.
The song I am most looking forward to singing is "Lule Bor", an Albanian folk song. Take a listen:
If anyone who reads this blog knows Albanian, please let me know! I want to be sure to be as authentic as possible.
See you soon!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Happy New Year! The 2011 Top Ten.
A new year begins and with it, a retrospective of 2011... all things random and joyful and in no particular order:
10. The almost weekly walk around Chinatown. Now that my older daughter is old enough to move herself around the city, I take both the girls out (almost always by myself) for some daddy/daughter time on Saturday mornings. Typically, we take the train to the East Broadway stop. First off, Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles for some takeout for Kitty. Then on to Hon Cafe where we eat buns. The girls get their own Red Bean Bun and can put it down by themselves! After that, sometimes a trip to Kam Man for grocery supplies. I know that my girls are my own flesh and blood because they love to end the trip with a stop at Prosperity Dumplings. (Prosperity seems to get a mention every year!)
9. Our seasoning of the year, Herbs de Provence. This was re-introduced to us while visiting the countryside and our dear friend, Keith Irvine, an inspiration and mentor, and his family. We lost him this year and will be sorely missed. I am grateful for the continued friendship with his family. It was an introduction by Keith and his wife Chippy, that connected me to the Putnam Chorale, where I sang my first Carmina Burana and the solo in Rossini's Petite Messe Solenelle.
8. Best friends. I have three best friends from my childhood. I didn't get to see all of them this year, but even all these years later, I get to spend time with them online thanks to video games and email and remain as close as ever.
7. The recipe for "No-Knead" bread from the Sullivan Street Bakery. This year, it has become a hobby to make it and to give it to friends as gifts. The recipe is totally forgiving of imperfect technique and it looks beautiful when done.
6. The economic turnaround. The recovery continues and even though we lost even more great opera companies around the country, there are signs that a young artist can still have a career. This year I was lucky enough to have more auditions for big houses and even a few job offers.
5. Staying with the theme of the dismal science, Planet Money keeps me thinking about stuff that is entirely non-opera related. I'm grateful for their insight and wit and for keeping my mind agile.
4. Damascus Bakery has become a regular stop after our vaunted Trader Joe's speed-run. The gentleman behind the counter gives my daughter one little cookie as I buy my favorite savory Syrian pastries.
3. New Friends. I firmly believe that if I want to get anywhere in life, I want to surround myself with people smarter, more talented and kinder than I and then emulate them. This year we met some incredible families in our neighborhood in Brooklyn. The Mother Runner and her family has helped inspire me to cook at home. Our dear new friends at St. Saviour's Church and the playgroup following the fantastic Family Mass on Sunday mornings are always up for a good time. Grilling immediately following Mass? Despite the winter weather? Sign me up! And what about Ms. Maureen who swoops in to take the girls every once in awhile, giving us a chance for a moment of recuperation? This list could go on and on and on.
2. The new expletives: Good Heavens! Oh shucks! If things are really bad? Son of a Brooklyn Bridge. Having kids has really ramped up creative cursing.
1. Opera Fairbanks. I not only had a chance to sing the role of Nemorino for the first time, but I also got to perform it with a spectacular cast, conductor, director and chorus. The people of Fairbanks were as warm and wonderful as always. This year was a totally different experience as I went up without the family. I had an incredible time and, as always, grew as a singer, actor and person.
10. The almost weekly walk around Chinatown. Now that my older daughter is old enough to move herself around the city, I take both the girls out (almost always by myself) for some daddy/daughter time on Saturday mornings. Typically, we take the train to the East Broadway stop. First off, Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles for some takeout for Kitty. Then on to Hon Cafe where we eat buns. The girls get their own Red Bean Bun and can put it down by themselves! After that, sometimes a trip to Kam Man for grocery supplies. I know that my girls are my own flesh and blood because they love to end the trip with a stop at Prosperity Dumplings. (Prosperity seems to get a mention every year!)
9. Our seasoning of the year, Herbs de Provence. This was re-introduced to us while visiting the countryside and our dear friend, Keith Irvine, an inspiration and mentor, and his family. We lost him this year and will be sorely missed. I am grateful for the continued friendship with his family. It was an introduction by Keith and his wife Chippy, that connected me to the Putnam Chorale, where I sang my first Carmina Burana and the solo in Rossini's Petite Messe Solenelle.
8. Best friends. I have three best friends from my childhood. I didn't get to see all of them this year, but even all these years later, I get to spend time with them online thanks to video games and email and remain as close as ever.
7. The recipe for "No-Knead" bread from the Sullivan Street Bakery. This year, it has become a hobby to make it and to give it to friends as gifts. The recipe is totally forgiving of imperfect technique and it looks beautiful when done.
6. The economic turnaround. The recovery continues and even though we lost even more great opera companies around the country, there are signs that a young artist can still have a career. This year I was lucky enough to have more auditions for big houses and even a few job offers.
5. Staying with the theme of the dismal science, Planet Money keeps me thinking about stuff that is entirely non-opera related. I'm grateful for their insight and wit and for keeping my mind agile.
4. Damascus Bakery has become a regular stop after our vaunted Trader Joe's speed-run. The gentleman behind the counter gives my daughter one little cookie as I buy my favorite savory Syrian pastries.
3. New Friends. I firmly believe that if I want to get anywhere in life, I want to surround myself with people smarter, more talented and kinder than I and then emulate them. This year we met some incredible families in our neighborhood in Brooklyn. The Mother Runner and her family has helped inspire me to cook at home. Our dear new friends at St. Saviour's Church and the playgroup following the fantastic Family Mass on Sunday mornings are always up for a good time. Grilling immediately following Mass? Despite the winter weather? Sign me up! And what about Ms. Maureen who swoops in to take the girls every once in awhile, giving us a chance for a moment of recuperation? This list could go on and on and on.
2. The new expletives: Good Heavens! Oh shucks! If things are really bad? Son of a Brooklyn Bridge. Having kids has really ramped up creative cursing.
1. Opera Fairbanks. I not only had a chance to sing the role of Nemorino for the first time, but I also got to perform it with a spectacular cast, conductor, director and chorus. The people of Fairbanks were as warm and wonderful as always. This year was a totally different experience as I went up without the family. I had an incredible time and, as always, grew as a singer, actor and person.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
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
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
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
Saturday, September 24, 2011
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!
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!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
"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.
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.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
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.
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.
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