Week 5

Week 5 marks the half way point in the 10 week quarter. Midterms were this week and now the calm before the storm. With just a couple weeks until concert season, finals, and projects/papers are due.
Opera Scenes- I am in a duet from Puccini's Suor Angelica with another grad student. I am the princess coming to tell her niece, Sister Angelica, that I want her to sign papers forfeiting her inheritance. It is a beautiful scene with a lot of passion and drama. Classic Puccini. We have to have the entire scene memorized by the 5th. And the performance is later this month. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqzz_gOsGC0
Chamber Choir- We are performing parts of two rarely performed, yet gorgeous, Handel oratorios. Belshazzar and Solomon. Prof. Gervais gave me solos in each and I am loving studying these great choral works. The concert is later this month in a larger venue than we're used to.
Quire of Voyces- This season we're singing Christmas music. But, not Christmas music most people are familiar with. Including a new Mass by our resident composer Michael Eglin. I love his stuff. He is very talented.
Voice Lessons- I am working on several arias. Including one from Ponchielli's La Gioconda, suggested by my instructor. Stella del Marinar. I love it. My teacher is more and more convinced that I am a soprano. (Probably because in the beginning of my lessons she typically takes me up to high Cs.) So we're starting to look at some higher material. I was always resistant to sing soprano because my piano (soft dynamic) is not the same as other's piano. I am loud and have always been loud. So that range that I was always scared of was more a fear of my volume at such levels. Well obviously I need to work on singing high and piano (a matter of support) but I am no longer afraid of those notes. They are actually easier than the 4-5 notes immediately lower, that I used to consider the top of my range. So throughout Stella del Marinar I work extremely hard at all the technique intricacies and difficulties... until I get to the high last note. I don't have to worry about this note because it's the easiest. Kind of strange, I know. Recital coming this Spring. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcCw8MWoBDg