New Year, New Blog

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Opera Obscura

September has been all about Hugo Weisgall. Baritone Matthew Hoch and I performed his musically challenging one-act opera Will You Marry Me? in recital at the University of Nevada, and next week we repeat the work at Auburn University.

While the vocal lines are taxing and not always tuneful, they portray the unique characters well, highlighting their humorous and sometimes awkward behavior as they negotiate their arranged marriage. Thank you to our patient pianist, Kosta Popovic. This opera is not Menotti's The Telephone!

Marriage on my mind

I'm looking forward to directing my first full production of The Marriage of Figaro this year at UNLV Opera. I'll be directing Figaro amid my own wedding planning, so this will be two dreams come true.

Disney Princesses #NATSinBoston

It's time for the the biennial convention of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. I'm Boston-bound to present a paper on Disney Princesses. Who said academic conferences aren't fun! In the words of Anna from Frozen, "For the first time in forever, nothing's in my way."

Prague, Lennon, and McQuillan

A whirlwind weekend trip to Prague led to my first trip to the Lennon Wall, and my third recording venture in this beautiful city. At the Prague Radio Symphony studios, I recorded Lee McQuillan's "Poet's Song" and "The Last Goodbye." Of course I had to wander past the Estates Theatre, where Don Giovanni and La clemenza di Tito premiered.

The Composer

April is coming to an end, and it's been busy with UNLV Opera's Ariadne auf Naxos. What a joy to combine my love of opera and ballet in what was the most complicated production I've ever directed. But ah, the sweet rewards of Richard Strauss! I identified with his Composer character, who relished his music come to life. Speaking of composing, it's been great having my songs sung this spring, from Evelyn Shreves premiering "Sky-born music sings" at the University of Georgia to Lenora Green premiering "30 Minutes of Wonderful" in Memphis May 1.

C'est magnifique

March has been magnifique, with recitals at both the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Mississippi State University. It was wonderful to finally perform with both Dr. Paul Houghtaling, bass-baritone, and Dr. Kevin Chance, pianist. From the absurd Virgil Thomsen to the divine J.S. Bach, the music was diverse and diverting. Still, my favorite was our finale medley of Cole Porter's "Ça, C'est l'amour" and "C'est magnifique."

Famous Fairies and a Vegetarian Canadian

Recital preparations are underway. Canadian-born pianist Amanda Johnston will join me in Vegas for a reprise of our recent recital at her school, the University of Mississippi. The fellow vegetarian collaborates with me on a program including some of Debussy's Vasnier songs, Canciones Amatorias by Granados, excerpts from the Strauss Brentano Lieder, and the Nevada premiere of my own song cycle, Pleas to Famous Fairies.

O Tannenbaum/Christmas Vrksasana

It's been a busy fall with teaching Yoga for Singers at the ACDA Western Division Student Symposium, singing the soprano solos in Mozart's Coronation Mass with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, and directing UNLV Opera's Suor Angelica and Sancta Susanna. 2014 should start off with a bang, thanks to the National Opera Association/Opera America/National Association of Teachers of Singing convention in NYC! Happy Solstice to all, and here's to a new year of abundance and ambition coming to fruition. #ManifestVisions2014

YFS on tour: Mississippi and Memphis plus Karmany

I just returned from a tour of the South, where I presented Yoga for Singers workshops at the University of Mississippi and the University of Memphis, as well as Karmany Yoga. The yogis at Ole Miss were especially enthusiastic. And the donation-based (and wonderfully named) studio Karmany was a wonderful host. Next up YFS goes to an ACDA Student Symposium. From Tennessee to Texas, university voice students learned how practicing pranayama, asanas, and meditation can enhance their singing. And I got to enjoy the Southern literary community of Oxford, to explore the blues of Beale Street, and to find my zen in the beautiful Japanese Botanical Garden in Fort Worth.

Suor, Susanna, and Strauss

It's that time of year, when arts organizations announce their upcoming seasons. I am pleased to share UNLV Opera's 2013-14 season. It starts with a duo of sisters, Puccini's Suor Angelica and Hindemith's Sancta Susanna, and concludes with the alluring Ariadne auf Naxos. It has always been a dream of mine to direct Strauss, one of my favorite composers. Mark your calendar so you can hear the talented singers of UNLV Opera Theater.

YFS Down Under and SFO in the High Desert

Mark a continent off my Bucket List. Earlier this month I traveled to Australia for the International Congress of Voice Teachers, where I shared Yoga for Singers at a conference session. It was heartening to hear that teachers are using my book in the UK and even down under! Queensland Conservatorium was a lovely setting, right next to Brisbane's version of the London Eye. Håkan Hagegård gave an elegant master class, but I was pleased with the abundance of CCM workshops, especially where I heard a rendition of "How Come You Don't Call Me?" that beats Alicia Keys. Next I'm looking forward to attending Santa Fe Opera for the first time. On the docket are an Offenbach operetta as well as the premiere of the Oscar Wilde opera. My pianist pal Patrick Harvey will appear onstage in Oscar, following up an onstage role as Jake in Houston Grand Opera's Show Boat. I like to think that I started this trend by costuming him as Felix Mendelssohn in my Fanny Mendelssohn, Alma Mahler, Clara Schumann show Your True Calling years ago.

Much Ado about Adieu

The Druid City Opera Workshop had a wonderful fourth year. The avid young artists were very prepared so staging was a rewarding and creative process. I enjoyed the variety of scenes I had the chance to direct. The Papageno/Papagena duet was fluttery and fun while "La ci darem la mano" explored some tantalizing boundaries. The West Side Story scene evoked memories of my own turn as Maria (back when I was 16!) while the Hansel and Gretel excerpt reminded me of when I first directed the show (4 years ago). Speaking of linguistic shifts, the Carmen quintet was done in English which just felt so counter-intuitive--so syllabic and un-French, but still fun. My favorite might have been "Adieu notre petite table" from Manon. Heather Keith delved deeply into this complex and vexing character, making me want to study the role again myself!

Sweet Om Alabama

Miraculously it is May already and the school year is drawing to a close. My final big event for the semester was a lecture for the University Forum sponsored by UNLV's College of Liberal Arts. My presentation was entitled Find Your Om: A Yoga/Meditation Approach to Stress and Success. A diverse audience asked many insightful questions after I shared scientific studies proving the positive physiological and psychological effects of meditation, as well as affirmations from successful yogis ranging from Deepak Chopra to Lebron James. Next, I look forward to my third summer trip to Tuscaloosa to direct opera scenes and teach yoga for singers at the Druid City Opera Workshop. Besides spending time with the inspiring and entertaining Dr. Paul Houghtaling, I get to spend the end of May teaching Mozart, Massenet, and Namaste.

Reunion Recitals, Pretty premiere, NATS in Nevada, and Last minute Lord Nelson

April has been a busy month musically. I returned to Indiana to hear my former student Ali Wregglesworth sing some of my songs (When With You Asleep & Penitent) at her senior recital at the University of Evansville. I also got the chance to present a recital with my former student, singer/pianist/composer Josh Kight. He wrote a song for me ("Les roses de Saadi") that I had the pleasure of premiering, despite its taxing tessitura! Back in Vegas at UNLV Opera Workshop's "I Feel Pretty," coloratura soprano Isabella Ivy premiered a piece I wrote based on the opening of the play Steel Magonlias: "There is no such thing as a natural beauty." The next day UNLV hosted the first Cal-Western Regional NATS Auditions, and the next morning/today I was called to step in for an ailing soprano at the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society concert. Luckily I had sung both the Lord Nelson Mass and the Mozart Alleluja before, but it had been a while and there was no time to rehearse with the orchestra. It goes to show, always be ready, and seize the opportunity to sing!

Spring cleaning, social media, & Sedona

It's spring break! Time to cleanse, update, reboot. Yoga for Singers is now on Instagram as well as Pinterest. I'm looking forward to a trip to Sedona this week, which should include yoga, hiking, and vortexes, oh my. Then it's time to prepare for NATS, a solo recital in Evansvile, and the final opera workshop of the school year. More information soon, until then "I shall see you in my garden, and spring will come and stay."

Another beautiful poster by talented costumer/graphic artist/soprano Daniella Toscano heralds UNLV Opera's upcoming production of The Elixir of Love. I warned my students that someone always falls in love during an Elixir and indeed it has happened yet again. Come to see the show and guess who! Donizetti's opera will always have a dear place in my heart. My first voice teacher gave me her Elixir own score when I was only 16, saying that she hoped to hear me sing Adina one day. I did go on to sing Adina, and now I am directing Adinas.

Grossmann & Donizetti

The life of a performer/teacher is a juggling act, but it's nice to keep all of the balls in motion. Tonight I was invited to sing the Lament of Juliet, Jorge Grossmann's "The Lark's Voice Doth Us Affray," with the UNLV Symphony Orchestra. The concert took place during my rehearsal for UNLV Opera's upcoming production of The Elixir of Love. Luckily my Assistant Director/Graduate Assistant is an incredibly experienced professional singer in her own right, so a recitative rehearsal continued while I was performing in a nearby building. Then it was lovely to return to rehearsal and stage Nemorino's and Adina's climactic arias. Elixir has always had a soft spot in my heart, and I hope my Vegas-themed concept brings new insights to Donzietti's well-loved work.

Portland: Espresso + opera

The National Opera Association convention in Portland was enlivening, thanks to lots of caffeine and lots of operatic insights. My favorite discoveries included the world premiere of a clever chamber opera entitled "How to Date a Coloratura" and the top-rated coffeehouse Barista. Best of all, the conference gave me a great idea for a new chamber opera of my own. More on that in the months/years to come. In his session, composer Kirke Mechem ("Tartuffe") said it takes 3 years to write an opera, so I better get going. It could also take 3 years to work one's way through all 68,000 square feet of Portland's Powell's Books.

Mayan/Solstice Afterglow

Well, we survived the Mayan apocalypse! Now it's safe to look forward to 2013. For me, it will bring my first trips to Portland, Australia, and who knows where else while sharing my musings on opera and yoga. Check out my latest Yoga for Singers YouTubevideo to help you destress over the holidays, or before an audition or performance. Forget traditional "resolutions." Find your flow in the new year, set your intentions, and follow through to achieve your goals. I am feeling peaceful after a Winter Solstice Chanting Hour last night: 60 minutes of Om by candlelight. Happy holidays to all!