The Singing Bowl! :)

Gratitude 85

This afternoon at Relay for Life, my yoga instructor, Gail Spirit Sky, had a little mini yoga session, and she let me clang the singing bowl! tehehe! It pretty much made my day. I told her I needed to get me one of those to keep on my desk so that I could give it a tap to bring me back in check whenever I started to freak out. ;)


Last night was Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha's annual formal. (Phi Mu is the men's music fraternity.) It was pretty sweet. I took my friend Isaac along as "my date." haha! He is such fun! He's a brilliant dancer, too.

Except for the probably all of 5 couples, most of us took friends as dates. It is so much more fun that way. We all danced and laughed the night away. I got ready at Katie's (aka Bryan's), got to wear my pretty "Doris-Day"-style dress with my cute "silver box" purse and great-grandmother's pearls, danced to "Benny and the Jets," and swing danced with Isaac. Good times with my sisters. ;)

my opera buddy, Katie! ;)

my girls! ;)


Hannah and Adam (one of the few actual couples) are so silly!


And...the cheesy "prom" picture! haha! We couldn't resist!

Directly following formal, we were signed up for Relay for Life. I got there about midnight with some of the girls but was about to fall over because I was completely exhausted. I don't know how I had made it all day. I got about four hours of sleep the night before because I was studying for my music history exam that I had neglected to get an a headstart on studying for last week, and then we went to Panera Bread at 6am to study, eat bagels, and drink coffee before the exam. That was fun. I am glad we did it, but I don't normally function well on little sleep. Also, I do not drink coffee very often, so I get extra giddy and start talking a lot faster than normal. Jaj! I think the exam went pretty well, though. There were some things I had to throw some guesses on, but I feel pretty good about it. We'll find out Monday I hope.

Anyway, for me to have been as alert and have as much energy all day and evening that I had yesterday was very surprising. I ended up staying at Relay for about an hour and then went back to my apartment for a shower and some sleep. It was necessary. We had split up in shifts, so I returned for the last shift at 11am. I am still super tired but doing better. I am going to do absolutely nothing tonight but be a vegetable and go to bed earlier than usual for a Saturday night.

Tracy and I had Rachel and Sarah put in jail at Relay! haha! It was a fundraiser but so hilariously done. ;)

I ought to practice, but it is best not to push it. The voice is easily strained when you are very tired and/or exhausted. Not healthy. Oooh! Yesterday, I took a look at "Ah, non credea" from La sonnambula! Lynn wants me to work on it! Eek! It is such a brilliant piece! When I learn music now, I start with solfa only (using my tuning fork, not the piano, if possible) and only begin to take it away when I am absolutely secure with it. I refuse to be a parrot; I am going to learn my music the right way.

Lynn has me looking at all sorts of fun stuff. I get to play around with Queen of the Night stuff but just as an exercise of the voice...too young to be serious about performing that...the F's came so easy yesterday...and I wasn't even nearly in best voice because I was tired. There are some Mozart concert arias in store, perhaps "Poor Wand'ring One" from Pirates, "Qui la voce" (Eek again! More Bellini!) from I puritani, The Doll Song from Hoffmann, the list goes on. We are just going to do some playing around for a bit. I seriously want to do some of Pauline Viardot's settings of Chopin's mazurkas, too. They are sweet! Ah! I love singing! And such beautiful music to work on! There are the moments when it feels like nothing but work, but so many more times I feel like this is nonsense...I seriously get to do what I love and [hopefully] one day get paid to do this?! This is crazy yet absolutely amazing!! :)

P.S. I flipped on the tv before I sat down to write, and Mannequin is on. haha! '80s trip! This came out in '87, the year I was born, but I remember numerous occasions growing up when we watched this. :)

Wash away the thoughts inside...

Gratitude 84

Standing in the rain today, I feel a great sense of comfort. I feel God close by me in the raindrops falling around me. I don't know what it is about the rain that makes me feel this way, but its timing is beautiful...just when I need it. The drama is still there, the to-do list is only slowly being crossed off, my eyes droop with tiredness, I still want a holiday, and my beloved tuning fork is probably forever gone. Yet, I can stop and simply breathe. The rain shall wash away my troubles and remind me of the blessings I have. I will survive and let God guide my heart. :)


Adding to this gratitude, my voice lesson yesterday was more like a therapy session for myself, Lynn, and I guess Chad, too. It's been rough for us all lately, especially the past week or so. We shared some gripes, counted the blessings (because it could ALWAYS be worse), sang a little, goofed off, played around with some new music possibilities, shared opera anecdotes, and for a few moments of the day, distracted our minds from the troubles awaiting outside the studio door. Chad just sat on the sofa the whole time. haha! I think we all needed that lesson. Thank you, Lynn!

Also, I got caught up in writing my concert review for music history last night, and as odd as it sounds, those hours were rejuvenating to me. I don't know how writing a paper can be "relaxing" but perhaps writing about music was just as therapeutic as listening to it in those moments. Yesterday, I was ready to just hop on the next plane to anywhere for a few days. I need a holiday and was thinking the only way to do it was to not think and just pick up and leave for two or three days. I wanted to be anywhere but here...somewhere where no one knows me, and I know no one, sitting at a cafe sipping wine and/or tea and eating bagels for a couple of days. However, my pocketbook does not exactly agree with that. I seriously contemplated it, though. Wouldn't that be nice?

La sonnambula

Ah! Need I say more?! haha! I am totally in love with this opera...and Bellini, in general! He was brilliant!

Gratitude 83
Saturday, I saw the Met HD broadcast of La sonnambula with my friend Katie. (We decided that from now on we are opera buddies! haha!) It was PHENOMENAL!! I had never seen this opera before, but it has captured my heart. Ah! I love it! Perhaps even more than La Traviata...and I love that one a lot. ;) I don't even know what to say; I am just speechless. It was that good. Natalie Dessay is not my favorite, but she did a really great job, too. I am probably biased, but I would have loved to hear Anna singing Amina...esp. opposite Flórez! Eek! And the modern staging of it...at first, I was not sure I would like it, but it was so well done. And Juan Diego Flórez waltzing in wearing jeans and a letter jacket...that's okay with me! haha! First, he and his voice are both gorgeous. Second, his passion for the music is so sincere, and that is the most beautiful thing to see and hear. :) Katie had never heard of him before Saturday...now she is obsessed! haha! Yup. Google him if you don't know him. He is easily probably the best Bel canto tenor of today. :)


The rest of life on super-speed (because I seriously need to be studying for my music history exam on Friday! Yikes!): Ugh! Drama! I hate it! And it is consuming my life right now. It sucks. I hate to say it, but I am ready for this semester to just be over. Five more weeks. And everything is hitting me all at once, and I am stupidly slacking. I need to get with it and start moving. I think I just need a break but can't get one for awhile. Oh, well. I will get through it. Oh, people! Oh, drama! Blech! Also, you might want to note...just because you finish your recital does not mean your work for the semester is over! ha! Oh, quite the contrary...God, I am sure, got a nice chuckle out of my thoughts that the rest of the semester would be a breeze! Boy, was that a naive idea! Semmi baj. Nothing troubled. I can do this...or, at least, I am trying...

(P.S. I apologize for my irritated tone in that latter part...life's been frustrating and a little upsetting lately...and to top it off, I can't find my tuning fork! This is a terrible tragedy! AH!)

An Operatic Tragedy!

Today, is a tragic day...I just realized that my Hungarian residency permit and visa expires today, making me an offical U.S. resident again... How sad! :( haha! Oh, well. Life goes on...and I shall return there someday. It was quite dramatic when I discovered this a couple of hours ago, though! Oh, the Ides of March!


On a bright note, (Gratitude 82) I don't think I have laughed as hysterically and as much for as long a period of time as I did last night in years. haha! I mean, I laugh A LOT, but this was crazy. It's been an interesting weekend...not exactly what I had planned, but it was fun. Tracy, you are freaking amazing! hahahaha!

Köszönöm szépen, Isten!

Thank you heartfully, God, as the above saying literally translates. I have a heart full of smiles and sincere gratitude right now. :) It has been crazy but magnificently beautiful week.

I called Chadwick Thursday night after my family left to leave him a message on how it went as I promised I would. He called me back yesterday evening to chat for a bit while he was waiting for Dr. Mathias in their hotel lobby. It was so sweet of him. Sounds like things are going alright for him. He seemed really upset he wasn't here that evening, but that is why we have recordings! haha! Gram left cookies for him, too, so he's excited.

Speaking of the recording...I have been trying for an über long time to figure out how to post some of my tracks. I think I have FINALLY figured it out! Yay! ;) I just may be a genius. haha! That's definitely not true...just got lucky and had lots of determination to spend all the time. I am crossing my fingers this works...because right now as I write, my computer is freaking out or something because I hear myself in canon on "Chanson Triste"...funny but doesn't work so well! haha!

Chanson Triste



O lieb'



La Promessa



L' Invito



A csitári hëgyëk alatt




There are couple more tracks, but I haven't decided if I want to post them or not. I already was only going to post one or two and got a little carried away. Oh, well. haha! Hope you enjoy! Also, I want to give extra thanks to my family and friends. I loved having them there. Sometimes, I forget to tell them I appreciate it. (Gratitude 81)

Lastly, Lynn is the sweetest person I know! I am so thankful that she is my teacher and mentor. She just makes me smile. :)

Yes, the dress! ;)

I know you are dying to see the dress, the London dress, so here are a few pictures. Better ones are to come, but they will have to wait because they are not on my camera.

Gratitude 80

The recital went beautifully. :) I still cannot believe that I actually did this after being home barely 3 months. That's crazy talk! I don't think I will ever know how...especially after rubbing elbows with what could have been terrible illness on Sunday..., but I did it! Yay! Jól volt! :) The Rossini set...muah! Fabulous! ;)

Lynn was such a dear, checking in on us numerous times and giving us sweet cards. I love that woman! I could not have done ANY of this without her. She was so proud of us. She has been there through so much...kind of like Chad.

I thought of János tonight, too, before I stepped onstage. :) I would be wrong if I didn't say that he contributed to this accomplishment, too. One full set, my Hungarian set, I feel was his. But I know Lynn respects that. I am so blessed to have had such incredible teachers in my life.

Barb played beautifully. I do wish Chad had at least been there, but I am so glad I got the chance to work with her. She is great fun and has so many wonderful ideas, too. And the Rossini...I must admit, would not have had the spark that it did if it had been done any other way. ;) I still love you, though, Chad!

My family was here, and it was wonderful to share this experience with them. I am thankful they could come, however brief they were able to stay, as they had to leave nearly directly following.

I was surrounding by loving friends as well. :) The SAI circle was the largest I have ever seen it. How beautiful!

Pretty dresses, beautiful music (I really get to sing this stuff?!), sparkly jewelry, diva bows (that was totally one of my favorite parts! I won't lie! haha!), family, friends...I am so blessed. Now back to real life I suppose... But is it really that different? They are ever-present in my life. :) However, I do feel...well, I really don't know what I feel, oddly. I guess I thought I'd feel a bigger sense of accomplishment, but I don't know. It's like that was that and now it's done, so what next? I am glad I did this, pleased with the results, but yet, I feel something is missing... I don't know what I should be thinking right now... Life happens so fast...

Eeek!

My recital is tomorrow evening! Yay! :) Super excited. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, though. Nerves are good. You need them to a certain extent.

Dress rehearsal went great on Tuesday. We wore our dresses, so that we were accustomed to singing in them. Lynn loved it! Yay London! Yay pretty dresses! Yay Sophie for finding it! ;) I love it! Nagyon szeretem! I think my favorite part, though, is that I get to do the "diva" bow! hehe! (Elise is right...definitely a diva!) Sweet! Because it would not be so graceful for me to do an actual bow in that dress... Not that kind of show! haha!

Today, I had a lesson to touch up some places that were a little shaky at the rehearsal. Semmi baj. Nothing troubled. It's going to be great. I think I am still amazed that I am actually doing this tomorrow. Not even three months back in the States and giving a recital. I honestly think that is one of the firsts for the conservatory. Most students push it off a semester. Not me! I'm not chickening out! Watch out! Soprano coming through! Full speed ahead! haha! (I am so ridiculous!) I am thankful for having a teacher that encourages me, pushes me, and won't let me step away from a challenge but rather take it on wholeheartedly and reminds me of my "mantra" of courage.

Tomorrow, is a day of total relaxation and preparing for the evening. I have nothing, yes nothing, on my schedule for the day. I have no obligation to be in my science class in the morning because I turned my paper in early, and Chad is in D.C., so no piano lesson. I have to meet with my advisor in the early afternoon, but that won't take long, and I planned on taking a walk to the library anyway around then, so all is good. :) Keep an eye out for pretty pictures to come! OH! Speaking of picture...the photos I ordered from my travels came in the mail today! Yay! ;)

Gratitude 79
I am thankful for handwritten letters...receiving and writing them. :)

I Say a Little Prayer for You :)

Gratitude 78
This morning in stúdió óra (studio class), Lynn let her little diva out and demonstrated in the most captivatingly beautiful way a portion of Schumann's "Widmung." I can only imagine what she was like in her prime...


Well, yesterday, I awoke to the wonderful world of head congestion. ha! Of course I would! Germs have left me alone since the plague the day care kids gave me in May, and now they decide to come throw a party. Umm...not okay with me. Friday, I can be practically dying, and I wouldn't particularly care. Now, however, I care a great deal. Elise said that Giorgio Tozzi (Brian studied with him at Indiana...and Elise and Lynn with Virginia Zeani!) used to say that you were only sick because you had to sing. Go figure. Murphy's Law, I suppose. Then, Elise called me a diva with my pashmina around my neck and eating ginger and being overly melodramatic. (Me? Overly melodramatic? No!) haha! Probably true. Takes one to know one... ;)

I also sang this morning in studio class. One of my Rossini pieces. I might not feel the grandest, but I'm sounding pretty good, if I do say so myself! Lynn hadn't seen the email I had sent her last night yet, and she didn't even know I was suffering, I guess. Yay! Let's keep that up! Please say a little extra prayer for me tonight! I have worked so much for this recital and am super excited about it...now I just need to be able to do it! Dress rehearsal tomorrow afternoon. :) Off to rest some more... I am a terrible rester! I just can't sit still or fall asleep in the middle of the day anymore!

Note:

Just thought I'd forewarn not to try eating ginger root raw...my curiosity led me astray! That is some strong stuff! I think it could make you keel over. Making tea out of ginger root, though, is quite tasty.

Gratitude 77

I am thankful for the beauty of springtime. :)

Gratitude 76

I am thankful for my growth as a musician and continuously raising level of musicianship skills. I know the top is so far away, but I am beginning to realize how far I truly have come. (I also need to get my butt in gear in practicing solfege if there is even the slightest chance of continuing studies with the Hungarians.) It is the true foundation of the music; it is far more than simply singing a pretty tune. Without this, the music would be incomplete. I am noticing the professional-soprano-in-training within me.

Today, I had my rehearsal time for the Singer's Showcase (an annual concert of select junior and senior vocalists where they sing an opera or concert aria with a small/chamber orchestra). It went very well. I am singing Les Filles de Cadix by Leo Delibes. I love it! Nagyon szeretem! :) It suits me well. I am really excited to finally be singing with an orchestra. (However...interesting...that orchestra will be...)

I have been trying to take it easy the past couple of days. My throat is not feeling very happy. It could be a combination of contributing factors, but whatever the cause, it is making the singing part more complicated. (Also, I seriously need to work on my support. It just sucks.) So, this weekend, I am resting and doing everything I can to keep myself well. I want to be in tip top shape for this brilliant recital coming up! ;)