Talent Show Clips

Wow! Singing tonight was SO.MUCH.FUN!!!!!

We opened with the chorus and my special lambada-esque thing. Improvised the dipping - hilarious when he caught my head near the end!




So for the duet... Technically I could have been better, but in the end it didn't matter. We pulled this together with one or two rehearsals. My Papageno and I sang it through once before with the music. So yeah, there are errors, and truthfully that's all I hear, but I think for the most part it's ok.

The fun stuff: We had the music set to play on this iPod player system... and it didn't work. So we had to stand there and direct someone to bring the CD over and set it up... so by the time we started singing we had already been "on stage" for a long minute or so.
I sang the wrong words at one point!! The words are "It is the greatest of all feelings" and I sang, "The greatest happiness is many," straight from the Met's English version of Magic Flute. Oops. My Papageno went with it as if it were planned. There was another line somewhere that we were supposed to sing together and he didn't sing... we both had sections where our voices just cut out... I could go on and on... I didn't sing from low enough in my body... I could have sounded richer had I remembered to do that. You know, use proper technique. Oops. Try not to cringe too much. Trust me, I'm doing enough cringing for everyone. In fact I think I just injured myself cringing.



There are two more videos to upload but it's taking sooooo long that I'll put them in another post.

Ok, here I go, hitting "publish" and embarrassing myself once again. If I had a nickel... hahaha I'd be able to always afford orchestra seats.

The Thing Tonight!

Just got home from the final run-through rehearsal for tonight's thing. They've redone the order of the acts and now our Papageno duet is the 2nd act. I'm disappointed because Paper Moon is nice and low - it really warms me up nicely. Not that I don't warm up before - I do - but singing Paper Moon actually does make my throat feel warm. Now that's near the end. Oh well.

We had the accompanist today, and while it wasn't a total disaster, it wasn't good. We couldn't get the tempo and kept losing our place. Turns out my partner and I both practiced along with the instrumental version on the Very Best Opera CD, so we decided to sing with that instead. They have an iPod player and a CD player so we did get a chance to practice.

Now I have a few hours before I have to figure out what to wear and get back there... my goal is to NOT sing between now and then, which is hard since I'm always absentmindedly singing something. The director wants me to lead the chorus in a warm-up in some little room somewhere before we begin. Yes that does sound vague, because it is. Then I have to remember to stand up straight, breathe low in my body, make eye contact, use those abs, relax the jaw and just have fun. And I believe the evening will be fun. We have ballroom dancers, martial arts demonstrations, a yoga demonstration, poetry readings, skits and music. There's a silent auction and there will be food. Hopefully we'll raise a nice chunk of change for our ill coworker.

Tech-ish Rehearsal: Interesting things

Yesterday we had what I would call a tech rehearsal for the talent show. It was interesting since not everyone could make it. Basically we practiced getting on and off the stage quickly as each act was introduced. I volunteered to be the stage manager which means I have to tell everyone, "Now! Go!" when they need to get out there. By the way I use the term "stage" loosely. It's really just an area of the floor near the wall of the cafeteria where the tables and chairs have been cleared away.

One of the acts is a guy playing guitar while someone sings, "Paper Moon." The singer guy couldn't make it so my Papageno partner and I ended up singing it. I didn't know the words or the tune so that was interesting. Actually it's a pretty easy song and fun to sing. The director decided that we should be backup singers if the scheduled singer shows, otherwise we'll be the main singers for this one.

Then my friend and I did our Papageno Papagena duet. Interesting thing about this was that we had no accompanist because she thought the rehearsal was in a different location so she was there wondering where everyone else was... so we sang a capella and it was great fun! We improvised the movements and it was... easy! We played off each other and sang to each other while still singing to the audience. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! I felt really good about the rehearsal. Hopefully the performance itself will be as fun - I'm really looking forward to it! We have one run-through on Thursday afternoon and then the show is Thursday evening.

Oh one other interesting thing - the Paper Moon guitar player was standing there when the director was explaining about my lambada-ish thing during the opening number. She asked if he would be willing to stand sort of near the stage so I could do my thing. Then I went over to him, put both my hands on one shoulder and said, "Sort of like this..." So totally deadpan he said, "I don't think I'm comfortable with that." The director was like, "Uh, ok... if you're not comfortable, we don't..." and he cut her off, "Are you kidding? Of COURSE it's ok." *blush* It was funny. And sort of flattering. But mostly funny because he totally got us with his deadpan line.

The whole thing will be recorded so I'll eventually post the relevant parts.

Ideas are Simmering

I have an idea for a video. No, it's not Beethoven's Wig. No, it's not me struggling through some song or another. NO it's NOT Nathan Gunn or anyone else. I just need some time home alone to do it. No! Stop thinking that! It's not inappropriate!! This is a family blog, remember! If it works, it might be silly. I promise, if it's silly enough, I'll post it.

Next order of business.

Sadly, a very young coworker of mine has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. He may have to fly from Baltimore to Seattle for a bone marrow transplant. He is relevant to the blog for two reasons. 1. He is also a super in the local opera company and was in a production last summer, and 2. My department at work is putting on a talent show to raise money for his medical and travel expenses.

No, I'm not pulling out the flaming baton for the show. No, no no.

Truth is, I've been itching to do a duet. Luckily for me, I have a musical friend at work who is willing to dueticize with me. We decided that English is best for this particular projected audience, so we're going with the English version of the Pa Pa Pa duet found on The World's Very Best Opera for Kids - In English. Hmm I thought they used to have their own website but I can't seem to find it. Anyway, we have someone who is willing and able to accompany us on piano so now we just have to procure the piano music for it. Anyone have a copy they'd like to fax to me?

Interestingly enough, my singing partner is interested in becoming a super, and might do one of the roles this summer if he gets his act in gear and contacts the super-captain before they fill all the positions.

Moving right along.

Besides supering, my next operatic adventure is Rape of Lucretia in Philadelphia on Friday, June 12. As of now, I am not nor do I have any intentions of working any connections to go backstage.

Pa Pa... Pa?

Recently came across this silly gem on YouTube. According to the viewer comments, and we all know how accurate they always are, this guy is a tv talk show host type person. Looks to me like he's familiar with the duet but is seeing and singing the music for the first time. Not a bad effort!

So get ready for the silly with a healthy heaping side of Cecilia's amazing voice!