Another Oberlin Q&A Account

I received an email from Sharon L, photographer extraordinaire, with her notes and impressions of the Gunn Q&A session in Oberlin. Here, with her permission of course, is what she wrote:
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These are the raw pictures which have not been "worked." Raw formatted pictures do not go through the camera's processing other than taking the images. The final ones seem to be turning out...WOW...even if I say so myself!

The afternoon was very nice with Nathan and Julie. Here are some addition pieces I picked up:

In addition to Ann’s write-up, Nathan said that he has been pursued by several b-way musicals, but didn't mention which ones. I asked him if he is considering a b-way or old favorite song album and he said he definitely has some ideas, but it takes a lot of time and effort to get it done. (As I KNOW from a friend's personal experience who is on b-way.)

Some asides: I was the first to arrive as we were getting pelted with snow in Cleveland. But a few miles from Oberlin it turned sunny with little snow if any on the ground. I milled around for about 20 mins. The program organizer came and opened the doors and I milled around the literature section outside the 12x20 room (approx.) and found some interesting info. on the success of the music program at Oberlin College. Julie arrived at about 12:30 PM, we exchanged hellos and I told her that I really enjoyed to recital. Students and others started to arrive piecemeal and coffee with small sweets were brought in. The organizer met with a profusely bubbly lady who was talking about breaking her coffee table, for which she had to buy a new one. In listening, I discovered that she had just finished an interview with Nathan for the Oberlin College radio broadcast. No dates were discussed and I haven’t had time to investigate if this is available online. At the recital the night before, there was some speculation if the recital was being broadcast over a local classical radio station. (WVIZ) and that it might be available online. I have not had a chance to investigate this.

Nathan came in, bantered with several of the students and then the Q&A began. One student asked the importance of keeping fit and Nathan began describing how he does not lift weights. Esp. when he was younger as there is data that shows it interferes with the capacity to breathe correctly in singing. Julie chimed in saying that now he has established his technique, it would not interfere. Nathan continued to relate that his eldest daughter, who was in gymnastics (but no longer) had specific exercises to do to keep fit, esp. in the summer, when they are in Europe. He tried them and said he was so sore for days afterwards and felt that was all he needed to do. He also loves to run and takes long walks (as demonstrated in some of his journal entries).

After the Q&A session was concluded I asked if I could take a picture. They graciously agreed and my camera failed. The shutter would not release! (THAT never happens!) Standing there looking like a doofus, I attempted several times. I thanked them for their time and said I would not hold them up from the other few people still milling around.

A nice couple of hours and a nice professional couple.

When it Rains, It Pours! Q&A Session with the Gunns

Actually I think it might have been snowing in Oberlin this afternoon when Ann took this nice picture:


She also wrote up a synopsis of the Q&A session from this afternoon, which I'm posting here with her permission. Thanks Ann!
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Following last night's recital, I'm just back from a fascinating hour with N&J, tucked above the Oberlin bookstore, in a casual, intimate space. N&J were there with oldest daughter Madelyn, answering questions of the 30-odd Oberlin music students who invaded the room en masse at exactly 12:59.

Topics ranged from Nathan's education to his favorite singers and, of course, vocal technique. It looks like, based on my notes, it will take an hour to read this...ha! Of course, you can just skip it, too.

In college, Nathan sang 400 performances of Lieder. Julie noted that there were a few operas in there, but they were ... tertiary. Nathan: "Yeah. Good word."

Students were interested in the Gunns work/family balancing act. Nathan admitted that opera houses aren't very family oriented, and, at best, it's a negotiation to get time off--"Can I please have Thanksgiving Dinner?" But, he says, don't put having kids on hold. Things can be worked out. Julie added that it's important to find someone who likes the idea of this life. "I love to be at the opening of Billy Budd. I don't mind spending some time alone in order to have that."

They chose Illinois as home because it's more accessible to both coasts. Nathan really avoids extended commitments in Europe unless they take the whole family in summer. "My kids," he says, "used to think I worked at the airport."

Nathan was asked what future roles he wants to sing. "Siegfried." (note: I know nothing about Wagner but I think that was a joke.) He then mentioned Eugene Onegin, the Count, and, "I really want to sing Billy Bigelow!" This lead back to Nathan's observation, noted elsewhere, that his branching out in musical theater and contemporary music is not "crossover" but merely what he likes. When he recorded Billy Joel and Sting songs on his latest CD, "Just Before Sunrise," he
chose those songs because "they didn't do them very well and I thought I could do them better," he said with a laugh.

Nathan also indicated that, with current economic conditions, opera houses are opening up to the idea of staging musical theater like Carousel and South Pacific. Performing in conventional musical theater is out of the question for him because of the open ended commitment. He spoke admiringly of musical theater people as the hardest working people in the business. "I can't imagine getting an opera chorus to show up smiling, dancing, and toting boxes around 8 times a week." He did say, though, that he thought audiences have a "hunger" for a "real" voice. He said the overwhelming audience response to his singing in Camelot was an eye-opener for him.

On how to determine the range of your voice, "You are what you get hired to sing." Julie told students not to worry about "getting it right." Curiosity about the work is what's core. "If you don't allow yourself to mess up, you'll never get it right." Nathan admitted that, early in his career, he prayed not to be the one who flubbed a note or a line. When a colleague did, he breathed a secret, guilty sigh of relief. Now, he says, he's seen the world's top performers in
the most famous venues make awful mistakes--including himself. He's empathizing and pulling for them now.

Julie reminded students "don't give up 'you'. It's hard to be an artist without 'you'." Nathan added that you have to work with people who like your ideas. Not everyone will. Not everyone is going to want what you have.

Someone asked Nathan for his ultimate advice. He didn't hesitate: "Find a teacher who will physically teach you to sing. And DO what they tell you. It sounds obvious, but it's not. While you're a student, your teacher takes the weight of your vocal health on his/her shoulders. After that, it's your responsibility."

"Technique is the alphabet you learn. Beyond that point, the act of singing should be an oasis. No matter the house, the acoustics, even the emotion of singing at a friend's funeral-" Julie finished the sentence, "there is a parallel refuge in the music."

Oh, and his favorite performers? John Charles Thomas, Tony Bennett, k.d. lang...

Photo Bonanza! The Gunns in Oberlin

Fellow blogger, professional photographer and Gunnfan Sharon L. also attended the Oberlin Recital last night. Here, posted with her permission, are the fabulous photos she took. Thanks Sharon!

Chocolate Covered Something

News Report.... ...... .....

Ann has just left the Nathan Gunn recital at Oberlin. What follows is my interpretation of her account of her adventure.

Ann arrived in Oberlin a bit early so she tooled about a bit looking for somewhere to grab a quick snack. She wandered into a chocolate shop and picked up a pile of deliciously rich dark chocolate covered raspberries, quickly setting the tone for the rest of the evening.

At the chapel she realized that there were many empty seats in front of her, so instead of remaining in her 18th row seat, she moved forward to the 9th row on the aisle. Perfect view. The lights dimmed and out they came. Ann reports that he looked Absolutely Fabulous with his longish hair, perfectly-fitted tux and clean-shaven face. Julie too looked mahvellous in a long navy gown with criss-cross straps and super-high heels. They began to perform without preamble. The program was Schubert's Die Schone Mullerin. Nathan looked around at the audience as he sang and Ann thinks that it's highly likely that they made eye contact a few times. She was in a lively red sweater, alone in the row, on the aisle, and most likely stood out, visually, from the other nearby audience members. Additionally, the house lights were on slightly to allow people to read along in the program. Did he recognize her but not remember how or why? Possibly. We'll likely never know.

She said the music was so wonderful, his voice so wonderful, the piano so wonderful, that it was almost too much to take. She felt like she needed to take a break, get some air, come back to herself and then return to the music. But she couldn't! It was wonderful and in a way, exhausting. The songs were about a lovesick young man and of course Nathan was able to expertly convey that vulnerable lovesick thing as he sang.

In between songs there was sometimes a spattering of applause from a few people in the front row. Ann said that Julie would turn from the piano and smile at the applauders with such warmth that it spread through the entire room. And I think I wrote about watching Julie play when I went to Zankel Hall last April - she is amazing. She becomes part of the piano and just dances with it. Ann reported that Julie's beautiful gown was cut in such a way as to really show off her playing. Piano fashion - who knew?

So after it ended they came back out for an encore. Nathan told the audience that they never do encores with this particular program, but it's Valentine's Day so... and now Ann has no idea what that encore music was. She said it was beautiful, like the rest of the program, but.... what was it???? Perhaps she'll find out tomorrow at the Q&A. Now she has something to ask other than, "Do you google yourself and read people's blogs?" Oops did I just type that? Silly me.

More to follow after the Q&A session tomorrow.
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On a personal note, since this blog is about me, I haven't forgotten that I must still write about Die Fledermaus. Here's the pic Husband took of me on my way out the door. Details to follow, I don't know, tomorrow I guess.