Latest from me!
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007Well I’m already coming to the end of my time in Coburg. It’s been fun and, as usual, I have met some really nice people. For once the production didn’t follow the famous list of “How to Opera Germanly” and was fairly standard, although we all felt that much more time could have been given to developing the characters.
A few lessons have also been learned. On one occasion I phoned up to give 3 days notice that I was sick and might need a replacement. I was told that, as our version was a bit different to the original (although it really wasn’t that different), it would be impossible to find another singer and I would have to do it, with an announcement if necessary. I turned up on the night feeling really rough and was duly promised an announcement. I got on stage and found myself getting sicker by the second and losing my voice very rapidly, but I carried on, knowing that the audience knew I was sick. But they didn’t! Someone had decided that I wouldn’t need an announcement and so it wasn’t made, at least not until after the interval, by which time it was all a bit too late. Singers take note. If you are ill and need an announcement, don’t set foot on the stage until you are sure it has been made.However, it’s been a successful run, and it was nice to be working in such a gorgeous theatre.
On a slightly different note, I sat on the panel for the first round of RCM auditions for a couple of days before Christmas. It was really interesting. There were, of course, one or two heartbreaking situations, one or two funnies, and the odd extraordinary case like people who came thousands of miles to audition but hadn’t bothered to learn their music by heart. But what was most striking was the standard of some of the people we had to turn away. It is staggering how many really good singers there are out there who now aren’t able to make it into college.
We have a new head of singing at the RCM, Nicholas Sears, who seems as if he will be great, although he has big shoes to fill in following Neil Mackie. I must say I’m loving teaching there.
Finally, Audrey & I are giving a recital at Holy Trinity Church, Church End, Bledlow, Bucks, to raise money for the Choir to get new robes. It should be a great event. Tickets are 10 GBP each. We would love it to be a sell out.
Addios