Wow, I can”t believe it’’s a year since I last got round to doing this. That shows how madly busy things ave been around here. So, briefly, here’’s what Ive been up to. Loads of Opera on the run, which has been a lot of fun. Heaps of teaching and lots of learning to sing the way I want to. I got myself in really good shape, then went out to do my first Ballo in Maschera for Opera 2005, in Cork. All went really well until about 3 days before the shows, it felt as easy as falling off a log. Then I got laryngitis. Ballo with Laryngitis is no fun. I got away with the first two shows, but only just, then, in the third, my voice just gave up in between the end of the 2nd act and going on for the final act, which is a gap of about an hour. Horrible experience. We had to get someone to sing from th pit while I mimed for the final performance.
Then it was on to Zurich where a couple of weeks standing in for rehearsals on The Greek Passion turned into a full blown cover, which was great. Whilst there I realise that I”ve always been shoved in the direction of Italian Opera because I could do it but, frustratingly, I”m actually much much better at more modern music. I love doing Britten for example and I loved doing the Greek Passion. I hate the fact that Italian Opera is often so caught up in making impressive sounds. I found myself nearly walking out of performances of Rigoletto and Aida in Zurich simply because what was going on on stage was so gratuitous and had so little to do with telling a story, but, one has to say, the singers were giving their audience exactly what they wanted. I wish I had discovered all ths years ago: my career might have been very different. It’’s hard to change people’’s perceptions of yourself so late on.
The choir continues to go from strength to strength. We had a great weekend in Norwich Cathedral. You can hear us practicing the Missa Brevis by Palestrina by visiting You Tube. We will be going to Wells Cathedral to do 4 services on 28 & 29 March, which is hugely exciting for me as it’’s my favourite cathedral. I love conducting this choir; they”re just the most fabulous bunch of people.
Sorry it’’s been so long I”ll try to be more regular.
Happy New Year to you all.