Oh No You Didn't

Received a post-backstage phone call from Ann!! The connection was bad as she was on the train, and then we were cut off when the train entered a tunnel, then I was putting Alex to bed when she called back, so I got the report in dribs and drabs. But boy did I get the report.

She said that the performance was wonderful, the sets were gorgeous, the staging and singing were superb. She got weepy, she was moved, she almost fell out of her seat at certain parts. No surprise there.

But then we have the non-performance goodies. As it was a matinee, the majority of the audience members were active members of AARP. So when it ended, she found herself stuck behind slow-movers with walkers and canes as she tried to make her way backstage. Then once backstage some flunky had to look up the room assignments to find Mr. Van Horn, and by the time they led her to the right spot all the singers were out in the hallway by the dressing rooms, in their street clothes, ready to leave. She found Christian, introduced herself, they chatted about this and that, you know, including his whole lack of YouTube presence, met Eric Cutler who was right there, everyone is very tall and then garble garble bad connection somehow she met the Gunnster. Hair slicked back, beard, surrounded by people. She chatted with him a little... apparently mostly about... me. Eek? She told him she knows me and then... yes, she showed him the picture of us to remind him. He was like, "Oh! Yeah!" but the man is an actor so who knows. Then she said that I would be upset if they didn't get a picture. Eek again? But they got a couple of pictures with her new magic camera that senses when people are smiling and automatically takes the shot. How bizarre is that? So anyway she got a few pics with the singers, joked and chatted a bit and then left. All in all a nice backstage experience. Photos to follow tomorrow.

She had left her program in the house, so she then went to the box office to beg another one. Then, as she was walking to the bus... the title of this post. Oh dear. I'll keep it short but I can't think of a way to write it that's sweet. She realized that she was walking behind him. She... called out... asked if she could ask him something... and... asked if... oh dear. I'm actually having trouble typing this. Forget it. Let's just say, it was mortifying and my name came up again and... Eek. I had nothing to do with it. She felt bad at the time, worse when she told me, I assured her it was fine and, no worries, Dear Reader, all is well between Ann and me. I'm sure we'll all be laughing about it in the morning. But for now... all I can say is... Oh no you didn't!

Uneventful Intermission

Received another call from Ann in Chicago, from the 2nd intermission. She went on and an about what a shame it is that Christian Van Horn doesn't have much of a YouTube presence, and what can we do to help him? I can make a slide show if I have the music, but she's interested in video.

Then she said she probably wouldn't be calling on her way backstage. WHAT??? She has to call so I can continue to post the play-by-play of her adventure. Hmm that should be any time now.

I have my voice lesson tonight so all updates will take place after 8:00 eastern standard time.

Turning Green

Yes, the truth is I'm incredibly jealous right now.

Ann has called with the Intermission Report from Pearl Fishers in Chicago. She says that the Gunnster has lost "at least 5 pounds" since that video was made and he was looking mighty nice. The music, she said, is glorious, but we already knew that. Eric Cutler, she reports, has an amazing AMAZING voice. Knew that from the radio broadcast. Christian Van Horn sounds great and it's a shame he's "hidden beneath all that beard/wig/robe." She is amazingly calm, probably because she skipped lunch and is actually weak with hunger.

I was doing fine with her detailed description until she said something about real live action being so much better than the photos . Then the jealousy pretty much overtook my excitement. Whaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! She had to go get back to her seat before intermission, so I called fellow blogger Lilly for a cross-country cry. Because yes, it's true, all the bloggers know each other.

Will report again once I get the next Chicago Report.

She's Going In!

Just heard from Ann from the streets of Chicago. Whilst on the phone I sent her to the stage door entrance to see if she's on the backstage list and... SHE IS! She got her pass. She's on her way in. She'll report back and then so will I.

TicketMistress, BackstageMaster

Ticket for sale! Getchur ticket here!!!

One of our party next week for Lucia at the Met had to pull out due to an illness in the family. One week to go and suddenly there's this ticket available, Grand Tier!!! Just $110!!! Any takers? Seriously... post a comment with your contact info. I won't publish it, but I will contact you.

Next...

Tomorrow is my friend Ann's whirlwind visit to Chicago to see Pearl Fishers. She has not only given me permission to use her name, she has encouraged me to, so there it is. Ann. Going tomorrow. To Chicago. Pearl Fishers. If she's lucky, the cast member who offered to put her on the backstage list might even remember to do so. She'll be reporting to me telephonically during intermission and afterwards, and I will, of course, update the blog with her adventures whenever I can. Her only problem is that she has to leave for the airport at about 6, so she's not sure she'll have enough time to meet & greet & photograph & simper & so on & so forth & etc.

When I went to see Barbiere there I too had this feeling of, "I sure hope he (John Osborn) remembers to put me on the list..." and of course he did. Actually it was pretty funny because we exchanged these semi-formal emails about it, and then we went out drinking and all hell broke loose. Ok not hell, not even heck, but it sure as hades wasn't formal. What am I trying to say? It was just normal. Hmm a rhyme. Normal, not formal. Ah I could go on and on with this a la Dr. Seuss, but ... I won't.

So where was I? Right... let's hope she's on the list, because if she's not, I'm the one who'll have to listen to her cry.

"Have You Seen My...?"

I wasn't going to do it, but then I said, Oh, what the hay. Pictures lifted from the Lyric's web site and cropped for my nefarious blogging purposes.

1.


Have you seen the drawstring to my pants? I think I'm about to lose them.

2.

Have you seen my Wonder Woman arm cuffs? I need them for protection.

3.

Have you seen my...

Sorry, Dear Readers, but I can't bring myself to type it.
But notice that he does have the Wonder Woman arm cuffs on, so at least he's protected.

Listening to Pearl Fishers LIVE RIGHT NOW!

So if anyone happens to check the blog within the next two hours ... WFMT is broadcasting Pearl Fishers live from Chicago tonight, like, in 30 seconds. Listening to the director give a little analysis, always helpful.

It's about to start so off I go.

Pre-Debate Post

Squeezing a post in before the VP Candidate Debate Drinking Game starts.

Had my voice lesson tonight. I thought it went pretty well. I mean, yeah, I can always sing better at home or in the car - isn't that always the case? But I kept thinking about the sound I want to produce, and inspired by a soprano who I've mentioned here in the blog only a thousand times or so since the summer, I was able to relax and produce the sound from deep down, using my lower abs until they were shaking. Gotta fix that ASAP. Of course I can only dream that I'd ever sound like her, but that's not really what I'm trying to do. I want to sound like me, and I want to like the sound I produce. We worked on Ouvre ton coeur again. This time my teacher happened to have a recorded accompaniment, only the mezzo version, a step lower. I know the tune so that was no big deal, except for a couple of notes that were kind of surprisingly low. And it's so fast!! It has to be because some of the notes are held for a long time. I'd pass out if I tried to sing it slowly, seriously! I borrowed that CD because, yes, I bought the Standard Vocal Literature - Soprano book, and it happens to come with a computer program that can speed up and slow down music tracks. I should be able to bring it up a step, save that version and burn it to CD. Hopefully that won't make it run faster - Don't know if I can sprint through the song. There has to be a happy medium. Will tackle that project later.

I'm still frustrated with my inability to make certain transitions without blurting them out, but my legato has improved thanks to my vowels-only week of practice. I'm still working on coordinating my abs, mouth and throat to work together the way I want/need them to in order to produce the sound I want. It's hard! It's like stumbling over roots on a path... you're walking along almost gracefully and then OOPS you almost trip and you look like a clown for a couple of seconds. That's how I feel when I have trouble with certain parts and the notes sort of blurt out, out of my control. Then the next time I get timid and close down on them.

It's all within my control. Practice, practice, practice.

See, this is why voice lessons are like psychotherapy sessions.

And speaking of psychotherapy, in a moment of insane fantasy, I did look up a few airfares to Chicago... If I had found anything under, say, $150 round trip, I probably would have done it. I think we're all lucky I didn't. Except for me!! I'm not lucky I didn't!!! AAAAAHHHH.

Oops, sorry. Momentary outburst, it'll pass.

Parallel History - A Friend and A Person

The internet is a wonderful, fascinating place in that it brings people together who otherwise would never have the opportunity. I have become friendly and made friends with people I got to know online via YouTube, MySpace, a Lord of the Rings RPG group (rpg= role playing game), the NG Yahoo message board and here in the blogosphere. It's great how sometimes you just click with people for whatever reason. You could say it's chemistry but does that apply when you've never met in person? I am friends with people from Washington state, Oregon, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, France, and I'm friendly with many others from all over the world.

So that said, one of my newest friends, someone who thinks about life the same way I do, with whom I could say I instantly clicked, is going to Chicago to see Pearl Fishers. In fact, this friend is flying in and out the same day. Crazy, right? Hmm that could explain why we instantly clicked.

Ok. So. Remember the person who gave me permission to use that PF rehearsal picture? He has a very entertaining blog (in which he recently said "hi" to his newest readers) (and which he updated moments ago as I was writing about it... oooh spooky ha ha) and there he promotes himself with these silly postcards he doctors up to add his picture and url. He says that he'll send you a postcard if you find him on one of the social networking sites. He just so happens to be in Pearl Fishers at the Lyric.

Ok. So. My friend who is flying to Chicago to see Pearl Fishers joined one of the social networking sites and wrote this person a message, telling him that she found his blog through mine, and that she's coming to see the opera, etc. Oh did I mention that my friend has a tiny crush on a certain other opera singer who is also appearing in Pearl Fishers? Anyway... I think the person is aware of that because of a message I sent him during our initial correspondence, in which I told him about this friend and where she'll be aiming her binoculars, without naming names of course.

Ok. So. This person wrote back to my friend and told her... wait for it... that he'd put her on the list so she could go backstage after the performance if she'd like. Ha! Sound familiar? I actually did the Happy Dance in my kitchen when I saw her email about it, I was so excited for her. I mean, I know exactly how she feels. So now my friend has to figure out how to not pee in her pants or whatever her personal reaction may be as she goes backstage, and also how to see the crush when she's invited back there by this other person. Maybe after she reads this she'll post a comment identifying herself, but that's up to her. I will, of course, hound her for a "guest" blog entry about her experience and she dang well better pick up a cell phone between now and then so she can call me during intermission.

And for me, I'll post a picture of the promised postcard if/when it gets here.

Largo Video

By the time I put this one together I was an old pro, ha ha.

Video Video, Yes We Have A Video!

Three so far! Just for fun I put Juan Diego Florez' name in the tags, although I didn't mention him in the description. It's not about him... for a change. Gee I hope he didn't feel a twinge in his throat when I typed that last sentence...

Anyway... We have this:



And this:



And finally, how could I NOT do this:

AAAHHH I can't post it because YouTube is undergoing site maintenance. Oh well you'll all have to wait and wonder.

Future Coloratura-er? Oh And I AM Going To See It Again

Scary stuff! Today we were listening to the recent Barbiere on our way to Alex's swimming class and he asked to hear Cessa again. I have to post something on John's wall on Facebook - he's a hit with the 3-4 year old set! Then in the locker room he was making these funny almost laughing sounds - like coloratura. It was awesome. On the way home we listened to the opening of Act 2 and Alex was giggling and laughing at how silly the music teacher sounded and how "the other guy" was getting annoyed. He still goes on about how he wants to be an opera singer, he sings bits of Papageno and Figaro... maybe he's expanding into tenor roles, ha ha. Might as well prepare for it all since there's no way of telling how his voice will change.

Oh well this post just proves that I'm a mother before anything else. Duh. I should also post that John mailed me the CD insert with Nathan's autograph. I got it today. Here's a picture:




















I sent John an email asking when his CD is coming out so I could post the info.

You know, listening to him sing Cessa, I think it's ridiculous that everyone says that JDF is the only one who can do it. That's so not true, and so not fair. I actually brought that up when we were out last week. Wow that was an entire week ago! And one other thing I want to say about that is, we tasted each other's drinks. Did I taste his? I don't remember... I must have. Peer pressure, you know, heh heh.

I have to say again what an awesome time I had in Chicago, not just the opera and after, but the whole time. It was wonderful to be on my own, to do what I wanted, when I wanted, to take an uninterrupted shower! And of course the opera... and of course meeting Nathan for 5 minutes... and of course hanging out with John and friend afterwards... I realized I haven't hung out with guys without my husband there since before we were married. It was refreshing!

It's About Friggin' Time

I leave for Chicago tomorrow.

I will, of course, take copious and detailed notes for you, the reader, and will post a complete and overly detailed report upon my return.

After that, what in the world am I going to write about? This damn trip has taken up so much space in my brain that I fear I'll suffer some sort of breakdown after I return to Real Life on Thursday.

Oh wait, there's Fille at the Met on May 2!! Whew.

On a side note, it was announced on like Feb 16th that Juan Diego was fully recovered. Hmm.

Yeah Baby!!!

That's what my voice teacher said yesterday when I was really getting it... it was during a vocalise. She said, "Sing like an opera singer" so I did and it worked. I started laughing of course. She said better to laugh during a lesson than to cry. It felt like pretending, like when I used to play at being an opera singer when I was young, but I produced the best sound I've ever made! It was pretty cool. Worked on the aria and I can really hear the difference. Later I'll post what she told me to do... I wrote it down word for word in my notebook. Something to do with improving my legato of course... about when one syllable has more than one note, to stress the 2nd note so I stitch them together... something like that.

It's funny how she writes stuff in her notebook. When she says something to me that gets through and improves my sound, she leaps up from the piano to write down what she said. I had more to write about this - had a long and of course terribly clever post all put together in my head while driving. Of course it's gone now... I'm sure it'll come back as I'm falling asleep or showering.

Tried on my opera outfit for a friend yesterday. Picked out a few necklaces that work with the dress and jacket. Now I have to make earrings to match each necklace. Sounds harder than it is - but making something to match is actually pretty easy.

Life Expectancy of an Egg

Who are we kidding. If I brought one of those candy eggs to Chicago I'd probably eat the entire thing by Tuesday afternoon.

Green River?

Is this true? The river in Chicago will be dyed green for St Patty's Day? And I'm arriving in Chicago that day? Oh boy.

I'll try to take a picture from the airplane as we land.

One Week!!! Chicago! Barbiere! Lyric! Nathan Gunn! Candy Eggs! And So Much More!

One week until my JDF-less trip to Chicago!!! One week!!! A week and a half until Barbiere at the Lyric!! And hopefully a little visit backstage after the show! C'mon John O, don't forget! Of course a little message on Facebook before I leave won't hurt.

Google maps has a street view with panoramic photos, so I've actually located the stage door on the picture. So now I wonder... what will happen? Assuming John remembers to put me on the list... I'll go there after the show and I assume there'll be someone there with some sort of list that I'll hopefully be on... and then what? I envision a long hallway, lots of doors, people scurrying about... where to go? How to find John? How not to be totally starstruck if I see/meet Nathan Gunn or Joyce D (whose blog I've been reading and commenting on), who I know are just normal people but still... how not to totally pee in my pants? Or in my dress... In a way it's good that JDF isn't going to be there. True, I wouldn't have had the backstage invite (which I'm still not counting on, just in case...) but the whole starstruck thing - I'd probably start crying and then pee in my pants. Charming.

Ok, let's get realistic. Flashback: 1985. Age: 18. I'm crazy for Adam Ant, INXS, Duran Duran. Ok, never met Duran Duran. But I met Adam Ant and did I pee in my pants? No. In fact, I had a little argument with him because he insulted me. Stupid man. What about INXS? Hung out backstage with them. No big deal. Eurogliders? Anyone remember them? They should have been more popular here than they were... so I wrote them letters when I was in high school. Later met them... and they had the letters. Did I pee in my pants? No. The drummer propositioned me. Did I pee in my pants? No, I didn't really understand what he wanted... but that's another story. The point is, I was starstruck yet I was totally cool. Of course that was before I had a baby... damn better start doing kegels.

Another issue... a thank-you gift. Can't show up backstage empty-handed. Flowers are inappropriate and cumbersome. I have this cute book of anecdotes called The Bumper Book of Operatic Disasters. I looked for it online and found two sequels. Ordered both on Feb 13. Where are they? Not here... so if they don't come this week... there goes that idea. Next idea: an Allfathers Egg. It means schlepping a 1 lb chocolate egg to Chicago and then to the opera house. Hmmm. They're good but... is that a good thank-you gift? Worth the schlep? Candy... not sure. Then what do I do with it if he forgets? Give it to Nathan when he leaves the theater? Better not write a note with it... or maybe I can have an alternate note to stick on it... there's an interesting thought. Prepared for any situation. Heh heh. Ok for anyone who doesn't know me, it's a joke, ok? I'm not writing an alternate note. "Hi, I was going to give this to someone else, but... here... enjoy!" Heh heh.

To the 4 people who read this blog... any gift ideas? Leave me a comment...

Ok, off to find my xanax.

My View from Row P???

How do I find these things? Each word is a different link...

One Month To Go

What in the world am I going to write about after my trip???? I've been researching the city via your standard web searches, asking everyone I know and trolling through other people's blogs. That turned out to be very fruitful. I learned of a restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel called Eno that has wine, cheese and chocolate tastings. Yum. Kind of lame to go alone but it sure sounds too good to pass up. I'll take notes so I can post all about it. Plus that'll give me something to do when I'm sitting there all alone.

So now we have a drink at the Signature Lounge at the Hancock Building which I must admit sounds so much nicer than going to the top with tourists and children. Just to clarify, I love children, I love to get on the floor and play and pretend and be silly, but this vacation is about ME ME ME.

I'm so not into art museums but so many people have recommended it that I might think about going.

And of course there's my plan to hit some fancy boutiques try on dresses that I have no itention of buying. Unless there's a sale. A really good sale on something I really love and have a practical use for. So you can see, I won't be buying any.

Oh yeah, and the opera.

Off I go to browse Rachel Ray's travel site.

"My good opinion, once lost, is gone forever."

Thank you, Mr. Darcy.

It's not true though. Scott R emailed me back with a whole list of things to do in Chicago, suggestions of where to eat, where the backstage door is, an assurance that John O will be good and a great suggestion about the Hancock Tower - instead of paying to get to the observatory, he recommended just going to the restaurant one level down and using that same money on a drink - the view is essentially the same. Works for me! He also said that if he were there he'd show me around the opera house.

So while I still think his email from a few months ago was out of line, as I posted since then, I don't think he meant it to be mean. I think he just sent it without thinking about how it would look to the person at the other end - me.

So anyway I wrote back to thank him and told him about my meeting with J.O.

It's all good.