Jul. 2nd, 2006

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Last week I knocked and something in me opened. I have been thinking about how to engage musically again after a dry spell/hiatus/period of creative block lasting approximately 2 years. I shuffled over to craigslist last week and low and behold found a perfect band listing. I loved their instrumentation line up; they sounded like something I'd be good for. I replied, arranging an audition for today.

But between then and now I went to 3 different music events. Last Saturday I went to the SF Opera to hear Le Nozze de Figaro. It was a fabulous performance. The sets were gorgeous, the music was Mozart (which means it was brilliant), the acting was surprisingly spot on, and the singing was all of the adjectives above. I was most especially moved by Ruth Ann Swenson, who sang the role of Countess. Her high soprano was breathtaking: full, rich, poised, warm. I found myself tipping forward during her arias, as if drawn forward. Several lines in her arias started on (what I'm guessing was) a high B. Swenson plucked these notes from the air delicately and not a shrill tone was to be heard. I have been converted to the Swenson fan club.

The other two shows were Red Meat, a country band with a rockabilly persona, on Friday night and Jolie Holland, a jazzy-pop-indie-drunken-sounding-warbler, on Saturday. Both shows were highly enjoyable, although I had to get over the not quite on pitch female singer of Red Meat and the oddness of Holland's affected style and her unfortunate banter. Once I did that though, the music more than made up for my admittedly anal retentive critical issues.

Onto my singing. Let's say that today's audition was a success on many, many fronts. Let's also say that I am no rock star, nor will I ever be one. Perhaps never even a pop star. I have delusions of both things. And fantasies of either being an R&B queen or Ella Fitzgerald. Alas, upon hearing the audition - the group recorded everything - it is clear that I am a high soprano. I have a light, though not thin, soprano voice that obviously wants to sing high soprano. I am going to sit on this information for a few days and see how I feel. Do I want to try to sing pop/rock music? It's doable, though I fear I'll hurt myself (my throat is tired after singing only 7 songs). Do I want to commit to my instrument and dive back into the world of formal operatic and choral singing? Both? Neither?

Tune in next week.

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