Success

The concert in New York was a great success! It was Opera Feroce’s inaugural concert and was met with great praise. The other singers did a fantastic job. I was really proud to be part of such a great group of artists. We had a good turnout and had some “old school” singers come (those who sang during the Golden Age of Opera in the country (40’s, 50’s, 60’s)) and they loved it. This was the comment from our director:

“I witnessed voices come alive through character and music that has become somewhat forgotten these days. But take note that I was not the only one to comment on these things. Not the least of which was an older woman who studied singing along side Jan Pierce and Roberta Peters. She was thrilled to see the old school coming back.”

Congrats to all the singers!

“

I’m Famous!

Well, at least that’s what they say when you put something on YouTube, right?

I got up the gumption to put myself out there. Take a listen (and a look)

This is Nina’s Final Aria from Thomas Pasatieri’s The Seagull which is based on Checkov’s play of the same name. I recently learned this piece and it is by far my favorite audition aria.

Congrats, Richard!

I have to devote a post to Richard Russell, former Director of Marketing for Sarasota Opera. I met Richard while I worked down there and spent a good deal of time talking with him at different functions. I must say, that he is one of the nicest people I have ever worked with in the business (I notice that I say that about a lot of the folks at Sarasota. I think they are on to something:)). He recently took a new position as General Director of Opera New Jersey, a company I worked with a few summers ago. I truly enjoy seeing people’s careers progress, and I’m very happy for him. So, if you happen to be in the New Jersey area, check out their productions this season.

www.opera-nj.org/

New Recordings

So I’ve finally got enough cash together to do a new recording. (Cue cheering, standing ovation, clapping of hands). I’ve got three of them up at my website.

By the way: If you are looking for a good recording guy, Sean Swinney in NYC if fantastic. He’s fast, knows what he’s doing, has a beautiful space and piano and doesn’t charge an arm and a leg.

Award Winning

I got a good bit of news recently. The performance of Hansel and Gretel I did in New York in December was the runner-up in Review Fix’s End of the Year Awards.

“Hansel and Gretel” by Opera Manhattan, Inc: Without a doubt, every member of this cast is extraordinarily talented, and given the small space, the opera was put together impeccably. Aside from being overwhelmingly talented vocalists, the respective players also exhibited a tremendous capacity for acting, at times even bringing a touch of comedy to this traditional Christmas tale.

Next Gig

I will be returning to NYC in April to perform Kate Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly with Dicapo Opera. For those of you familiar with opera, you are probably used to the “normal” performance of Butterfly where Kate is just an after thought who comes in at the end, stands there, looks beautiful and sings a couple of lines. What you may not know is that there were several versions of the show, and the version I will be doing is called the Brescia version, because it was performed in Brescia. In this version, Kate actually has an aria and sings quite a bit more, so it’s a substantial role. It’ll be fun, and I’m looking forward to it! Not many people have sung this version.

Details at www.dicapo.com

My First Review

Here’s my first review from the Hansel and Gretel I just did in NYC.

http://reviewfix.com/2009/12/auditorily-bewitching/

Auditorily Bewitching

Posted by Olga Privman on 12/24/09 • Categorized as Arts and Dining

Two adorably mischievous children gaily prance atop a stark white sheet, surrounded by sparse, sapling evergreens and cotton lining on a humble piano, masquerading as virgin snow. The intricately produced music darkens and the figures are visibly shaken. Suddenly, in a nervous show of bravery, with arms protectively enclosed around the slight, shivering form of the other, one defiantly sings “I’m a boy. I’m never lost.”

Perhaps classic notions of male machismo truly do date back to the inception of Hansel and Gretel’s eventful foray into the Ilsenstein forest, though that was hardly the grand revelation of the weekend.

The greatest disclose came in the form of the explosive talent at the Opera Manhattan Repertory Theater, Inc. The space may be small and acoustically-limited, but the sheer ability of sound and sight is almost enough to provide the illusion of the famed Metropolitan Opera House. Once the intricately joyful music started and the costume-clad players appeared center stage, all caprices of extravagant costumes and deco were forgotten. Only the music existed, as it always should in opera.

After a splendid overture, courtesy of Wilson Southerland’s magically agile fingers, the two young leads took the stage.

Radiant soprano Erica Mundy is Gretel and engaging mezzo-soprano Sarah Kennedy is Hansel, whose extraordinarily charming dance tutorial set a rigorously high standard from the very beginning. Thankfully, each subsequent act followed through with impeccable grace and enviable ease.

The comedy came to a brief halt when mother Gertrude (Shannon Capogreco) came home to find her impishly disobedient children playing merrily when they should have, apparently, been adding to the meager household income. The troublesome twosome was thereafter chased into the forest, where they soon met the Dewfairy (Rebecca Grady) and a wicked, cannibalistic witch (Angeliki Theoharis).

Their father, Peter (Gary Ramsey), came home with some fantastic news and the parents began their search. For anyone living under a gingerbread house-sized rock for the last several centuries, that starts the story of “Hansel and Gretel.”

The auditory appeal of Opera Manhattan’s version, directed by Heidi Lauren Duke, is hardly limited to its two young leads. Boasting comic finesse, Ramsey’s over-the-top take on Peter never strays too far past the line of hilarity, as it is a role in which overacting is so terribly easy. Instead, he maintains a beautifully balanced approach to the oft-intoxicated and altogether merry man.

Both Grady and Capogreco were remarkable in their respective roles, bearing strong, booming vocals were only matched by the delicateness of their demeanor.

But none can match the sheer vocal prowess of Theoharis, whose voice can only be compared to a racing waterfall: at once stunning and incredibly, frighteningly powerful. And yet, her magnetic presence leant itself to many laughs, as well. From the moment her bright-clad form came onstage, all eyes were glued and lips helplessly caught in ongoing laughter. Though perhaps hesitant to at the witch’s evil ways, few were immune to her colorful hodgepodge of wicked festivity.

It is incredibly unfortunate that this wonderful performance should end, however, if only for the visual hilarity of Kennedy (who did an absolutely impeccable job of transforming herself into a lazy, pre-adolescent boy) the raw power of Theoharis and the angelic fervor of Mundy.

Live TV?

For those of you unfamiliar with what this whole thing was that I was doing in Hungary: Dicapo Opera, the company I worked with in NYC for a year is part of an international opera competition with 4 other countries. It is sponsored by Mezzo TV, a Hungarian station that is broadcast in 39 countries. So this opera I did was part of this competition. Each opera is recorded so it can be aired on the TV station. So the cameras are there, the show is going. We have some technical difficulties due to faulty equipment provided by the opera house, but that is another story that reflects not at all poorly on our amazing back stage crew. We were all giving it our best. I was singing my stuff like mad.

And afterward out at the bar, someone mentions how crazy it was that we were just on live TV in 39 countries. I was like, “Wha???? That was live?” So slow poke here figured out AFTER the show that it was a live production.

I gotta say, I feel kinda special that I was in the Live Broadcast of the European Debut of Emmeline.

So I had another beer!

Concert set

So my next Nashville performance is set!

I will be performing as a part of St. Matthew’s Recital Series. Joel Bolen will accompany.

Sunday, September 27
4 pm
St. Matthew’s Catholic Church
535 Sneed Road West
Franklin, TN 37069
http://www.churchofstmatthew.org

This concert is free, however, I will be taking donations for my upcoming mission trip to Nazareth. 10% of donations will go back to St. Matthew’s music program so 2 amazing things will be supported!

As per usual, this will be the most fun you’ve had at a classical concert. Ask anyone who’s been. And you don’t even have to miss the Titan’s because they play the early game!

See you there!

The Rest of the Story

(I apologize in advance for the length. I just couldn’t edit anymore out.)

“So what do you do for a living?”
“I’m an opera singer.”
“Really! Oh my gosh. That’s so cool. How exciting!”

This is a typical conversation I have a minimum of a million times a week. I mention the word opera and people automatically think glamor, horns, pointed bras and fat people – oh, the other thing I hear after people take in my height and frame…”But you’re not fat.” So then I continue my memorized spiel (only because I repeat it so many times) about the changing face of opera, the search for the young, beautiful and thin who might also be able to carry a tune blah blah blah. I always reply with courtesy, but inside I’m thinking, “Uh huh. If you only knew what I had to do to try and make this thing happen” Perhaps I’ve become a little battle scarred and thus somewhat jaded.

But a conversation I just had has inspired me to tell you (as Paul Harvey would say) “the rest of the story”.

Disclaimer: This is my story which is typical of many. It does not include those that come out of the womb singing like gods and goddesses. This is the story of those who came out pretty darn talented but work their butts off and hopefully meet the right people along the way to make it to the top echelon.

Now, the rest of the story.

EXPENSIVE. VERY. I’ve been told by many successful singers that you will spend about $100,000 (between school and all the other expenses afterwards) before you make your first dime singing. Fortunately, due to scholarships and cheaper schools I haven’t spent that much, but since school I’ve spent a pretty penny continuing the pursuit. Fortunately, I’ve actually made some money singing (“some” being the operative word there) before hitting that $100,000 mark. Why so expensive even after school? Either you choose to live in NYC or you choose to commute to NYC. Either way, it’s expensive. Since I have chosen not to live permanently in NYC (1 year was enough, thank you), I have to go up there monthly for lessons, auditions, networking, etc… And because I have been blessed with friends with extra beds, it is cheaper for me to do that than to live in the city. BUT, there’s always the challenge of making enough money in the 3 weeks I am home to pay for my trips and the challenge of finding work that allows me to be gone for 7 -10 days a month! Oh the joys! How have I accomplished that? God. I’m finding that in my prayer life, I find a recurring theme, “Lord, I feel you’ve got my on this path, but I have no money in the account. Help!” And he continuously comes through with random gigs nannying, cleaning houses and organizing offices and homes. The conversation that actually inspired this post was a phone call with a guy whose office I’m organizing.

So, the glamor? Whew. I can barely contain myself. Exciting? Yes, but not for the reasons you think. “Will I have the money? Will I not? Will I get that gig? Will I not?” That’s excitement, I tell ya.

So far, about 80% of what I have earned singing has gone straight back into investing in my singing. And 100% of what I have earned outside of singing has been reinvested. If it weren’t for my wonderful husband I’d be up a serious creek!

Typical expenses? Flights, food, hotel stays, audition fees, voice lessons (avg. cost in NYC $150 an hour. Fortunately my teacher doesn’t charge that), coachings (avg. $60 an hour), attending industry events & concerts, music, clothes for auditions, performances and events, taxes (if you’ve actually made enough to have a profit, Uncle Sam hits you like any other small business).

So what about when you do get that gig? Well, you tend to forget all the crap I just wrote about! 🙂 It’s really awesome to be doing what you are passionate about and working with other extremely talented people. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. But even in the midst of it, there are challenges.

It can be very lonely. There is a lot of separation from family and friends. My husband and I have been married 3 1/2 years and this month we have finally lived together as much as we’ve been separated. He’s the most supportive man on the planet, but it does takes it’s toll. I’ve missed weddings, the birth of my best friend’s baby, holidays.

Your entire life is committed to this pursuit. It has to be or it won’t happen. You can reach some success, but in order for it to even have a chance to take root, everything has to be focused on it. Even then it’s not for sure, because in the midst of all that is the “who you know” effect. I know many extremely talented singers who just haven’t met the right person and aren’t getting work while others who aren’t that great are working all over the place.

You also don’t hear about the times in between gigs. It can get very discouraging and downright depressing. You want to do something so badly, but the opportunities just aren’t presenting themselves and it gets frustrating. Even with the success that I’ve had, it gets tough for me mentally between gigs. I worked for almost 2 years straight pretty much right out of school. My friends remind me that that is actually quite a bit of success. This is my first summer home since 2005, and I have work lined up for the Fall, yet I’m STILL frustrated! (This profession has driven me to be neurotic).

But in the end, would I try and do something else? Heck no. I would rather nanny, clean, organize and get gigs here and there than work a job I can’t stand. And though I just “complained” about pursuing this, it really is fun and exciting. I’ve discovered emotions in the pursuit I didn’t know existed. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. So glamorous? Right now, no. But maybe someday? Naw, I doubt it. Just like any other work, it’s hard, but oh so worth while.

And now you know, “the rest of the story”.