Springy

Despite being pretty low on sleep, I'm feeling a bit springy - in the hopeful sort of way and the bouncy sort of way. The crocuses are peeking out of the ground, and, while today was still freezing cold, a lovely blue sky lit up the cityscape.

Life remains incredibly hectic since we're now in Tech Week for Figaro. This is where you actually move into the theatre and start working with the Real Set. While good directors and stage managers do their best to mark on the floor of rehearsal rooms where set pieces and doors will be (using colorful tape), there's no substitute for actually dealing with three dimensional props, windows, and walls. Things inevitably change as you realize that Gee, you actually can't see the conductor through that particular chair if you crouch down there at that moment. Overall, though, the show looks amazing, and I'm so proud to be in a cast with such incredible colleagues. There is so much talent here, and I feel really lucky to see it all up close.

Also had a great coaching today with the opera coach. I'm working on two pieces sung by Ophelia (as in the Shakespearian Ophelia.) Shakespeare has influenced so many composers across the centuries, and his text has been set in all different languages with all different levels of fidelity. My pieces are a lovely 20th century art song in English by a composer named Castelnuovo Tedesco and a little-known 19th century aria by a composer named Faccio, who wrote Amleto - Hamlet in Italian. The works are strikingly different in style and even, to my mind, the level of Ophelia's madness. Very fun and interesting. Plus, the coach enthusiastically commented that I've really become a very different kind of singer since arriving here in August. :) It's always nice to feel like you've learned a lot, you know?

~Hope