The Lady of the Hour in the BIG APPLE!!!!

Hello my fellow bloggers,

You've probably been wondering where I've been for the past few months. After I finished my Easter Sunday Recital with my amazing friend and colleague, Ling-Ju Lai; that was a hit by the way, I finished my Performance Diploma and Indiana University and started to hit the Mozart world again.  I've been spending my time in Mozart's Don Giovanni learning and preparing the role of Donna Anna which looked a bit overwhelming at first, but is now all taken care of.  A recit. a day keeps the scary flutters away! You can quote me on that. Why this preparation, you ask?  :o)

Well, (drum roll, please.....cymbal crash!!!!!) I'm in New York City.  I have had the privilege to be a participant in the Martina Arroyo Foundation Prelude to Performance Program of 2011.  http://martinaarroyofdn.org/about.html  





I'm having a wonderful time.  It's been an amazing experience to live the New Yorkers life for 4 weeks now.  This program is 6 weeks long and we get to do what we love.  The PTP program is an intensive program where we learn about the character that we have been asked to sing.  Our classes involve, stagecraft, libretto study, Italian language, stage combat and most importantly role class study.  We focus on such things as the origin of the opera (where the story comes from), the period (what was it like in the time period), the composer and his mindset which involves his or her thought process of creating a certain character, and the true characters themselves.  And that is only the half of it.  We have to take all that information and make the character come alive and believable to the audience which will happen in a fully staged, fully costumed performance.  And all of this is with Ms. Martina Arroyo, herself and Mark Rucker, famous international singer, and many other wonderful people who have been gracious enough to share their knowledge everyday.  Intensive is right.

But during my down time, I'm meeting some wonderful people.  My colleagues are such wonderful singers and I'm learning from them everyday.  It's a fun crowd I must say.  Going out with them is such a treat whether it's for dinner or going out to the movies or just hangin' in the park, it makes being in the BIG APPLE a whole lot  easier.  I'm getting to know city; if not the city the subway routes, the people, the culture of good ole America.

If you have time to stop by, come and enjoy an evening of Don Giovanni.  I sing on July 16th at 7:30p at The Kaye Playhouse.... details are on the flyer.  Until then, this is the Lady of the Hour signing off and wishing you a very Happy 4th of July.  Cheers!

Introducing Duo Anima

Hello Everyone,

This is the Lady of the hour introducing a wonderful Duo.  I'm a little partial to this one because it involve me and a dear friend and colleague of mine, Ling-Ju Lai.  We started this duo in Ann Arbor, MI where we both studied and have been anxiously waiting to share our art with you.

Duo Anima is the culmination of two musicians committed to performing great works emotionally and intimately ranging from Baroque through the Modern time.  Their goals and aspirations are to restore the excitement of listening to classical music gaining new audiences and exploring new music of the classic vernacular.  Duo Anima in the essence of being unique with different cultures and backgrounds unified in the world of classical music.  With the ability to capture the hearts of audiences in the traditional art form of being recitalists, their repertoire stretches from opera arias to art songs of  (lieder, chanson, etc.)

        

One of their focuses is African American art song.  By exploring this genre, Duo Anima has found that this music brings a new light of poetry, perspective, and emotion to the classical world. This group is venturing to the classical and the African American audiences combined with the mission to keep the art form of the traditional recital alive.  Both musicians are talented performers on and off stage.  They both have a livelihood all their own.



Stay tuned for more info on this ....dare I say it.... yes "Dynamic Duo". LOL!!!!!!