Classical Music II

[Voronwen]

Originally Posted by Tessar

I'm glad you're okay with your choice! Unfortunately I know too many singers who seem to regret having given up the chance at a career for a family... and I never really know what to say to them.

I definitely am. The mainstream career path calls for a lot of traveling and being away from home (as you know), and once i got married i decided that my marriage would be my first priority in life, and that it wasn't fair to my husband for me to be away for months at a time. I didn't think that was good for a marriage. Many people seem to do ok with it, but it wasn't for me. The only pang i feel is because of right now having to live so far from any metropolitan areas, the opportunities are so few and far between But my husband is considering a career change himself in the nearish future, which would mean selling our beloved house, but the bright side to that is that i'd be near the city again and free to do a lot more again with my music than i've been doing while here. It's all about choices, truly... often very difficult ones. It's best to pursue this while you're still young and single.

My profiles still say "aspiring", though, because while i am no longer pursuing a full-time career, i am always keeping my eyes and ears open for local opportunities and keeping myself ready for them. One never knows. Of course, where i live now (the middle of nowhere), most of the opportunities are for concert work, not opera. But that's ok. As long as i get to work with colleagues of a certain calibre who appreciate my background and what i have to offer, i'm happy with the occasional chance to do so.

Yes, I am aiming for a career. Originally I wasn't because I thought I had no potential... but my most recent teacher told me that he thought I had some potential, and a guy I took a lesson from today (whom I respect very much) told me that at this point he thinks the only reason I would fail to be capable of having a career is if I do something stupid. So I have my fingers crossed big time and I'm workin' my butt off

GOOD for you!!! With that attitude, you'll go far!

You probably have a lot more potential than you think. Often we are our own worst critics. Listen to your teachers and those you work with (coaches, conductors, etc). They know what to look for, and if they're trustworthy, they won't steer you wrong.

I doubt I'll ever sing a lead at the Met. or anything, but hopefully getting leading roles at some slightly smaller opera companies wont be out of my grasp.

Keep in mind that it's not about where you sing, but how well If you have a very good technique and are dedicated to a certain standard of quality and excellence, you will still be able to move hearts, whether it's at the Met, or at your church (or anything in between).

But some people, and I like to think I'm one of them, are just so passionate about it that we couldn't see ourselves doing anything else. I went into music even though I was afraid I had no potential, which in retrospect is really stupid... but thankfully it seems to be working itself out

You do indeed seem to have the passion for it! I wish you all the best in your endeavors.

I think you're probably a great example of that passionate attitude, too.

I hope so. I guess it depends on how one defines it. Some would say that i'm not, because of my decision. But those who define it as that undeniable drive inside to continue to improve and to work at a certain level of quality, and to keep on singing come what may, would likely say that i am.

Who do you take lessons from?

My teacher is a college professor who had an international career of her own before she started teaching. She still sings internationally sometimes, in fact she just got back from a performance in Prague a few months ago.

I've so enjoyed our discussion on this thread. I'm always happy to be able to encourage a young singer!

[Tessar]

Listen to your teachers and those you work with (coaches, conductors, etc). They know what to look for, and if they're trustworthy, they won't steer you wrong.

I agree. The hardest part is figuring out who's trustworthy . But luckily I'm learning how to spot the good ones (I hope!).

Keep in mind that it's not about where you sing, but how well If you have a very good technique and are dedicated to a certain standard of quality and excellence, you will still be able to move hearts, whether it's at the Met, or at your church (or anything in between).

I'm wildly in love with you already . I entirely agree... If the technique is good then that's what's important. I would very much like, for the sake of my ego, to have a 'legacy' of singing in famous opera houses... But I've heard too many INCREDIBLE singers, who have never set foot on an opera stage, to think that being a lead in an opera is what makes you good.

I honestly believe that a lack of 'success' does not invalidate the effort you have made. Maybe I'll never have a career... maybe other, better, singers will constantly be hired instead of me. But that wont change the fact that I'm going to give it everything I've got, and my ultimate goal is to become the best singer that I can be and make something beautiful for other people to enjoy.

I believe that if I work hard SOMETHING good will happen. Hopefully with music, and hopefully it will be my current dreams... but whatever it is, I don't think I'll be let down in the end so long as I do my part of the work.

But those who define it as that undeniable drive inside to continue to improve and to work at a certain level of quality, and to keep on singing come what may, would likely say that i am.

Like I said... I've seen too many amazing singers who have never even worked professionally. The passion is all about how you deal with your gift.

[Voronwen]

Originally Posted by Tessar

I'm wildly in love with you already .

Oh my!! Now you're making me blush

I honestly believe that a lack of 'success' does not invalidate the effort you have made.

This is exactly right. There's a statistic i read about regarding the staggeringly low percentage of people who actually make full-time careers out of classical singing While we need to be realistic about it, we can't let it scare us off from it either (which i can see is obviously not a problem with you!). The 'statistics' aren't a doom sentence and we can always sing. No one can ever take that away from us.

my ultimate goal is to become the best singer that I can be and make something beautiful for other people to enjoy.

Your heart is in the right place!

I believe that if I work hard SOMETHING good will happen. Hopefully with music, and hopefully it will be my current dreams... but whatever it is, I don't think I'll be let down in the end so long as I do my part of the work.

And your work ethic is admirable!

Like I said... I've seen too many amazing singers who have never even worked professionally. The passion is all about how you deal with your gift

Yes, when it comes down to it, that's the bottom line.


I hope one day i get to hear you.

[hectorberlioz]

I'm listening to Berlioz' "Symphonie fantastique," in celebration of a certain special birthday girl who purchased this piece

*throws a party*

[Earniel]

Hahah, don't let it get over your head. I've only just bought it, I may not even like it in the end. But I've got Vivaldi's Gloria and Bach's Magnificat, a compilation CD of classical pieces for wind instruments and a compilation of Gregorian chants to listen to first. And I'm still listening to Beethoven's 5th and 6th at the moment, so it may take me a while to even get there.

[hectorberlioz]

That's OK. I'm just glad you were curious enough to get it.

[Earniel]

*thinking: don't say it wasn't curiosity but because it was cheap, don't say it wasn't curiosity but because it was cheap, don't say it wasn't curiosity but because it was cheap*


Uhh...

Right.

[hectorberlioz]

Yeah, I guessed that was it

Five points from Gryffindor.

[Earniel]

Dude, not everybody has a vault full of gold like Harry Potter, ya know.

[hectorberlioz]

You know, I wonder how HP would be if he was poor instead of conveniently rich . Kinda nice to have it different, though. You don't have to worry about plot points that involve money.

Anyways, back to Berlioz: really great symphony! *pretends to be on topic*

[Voronwen]

I've been listening to the Mozart Requiem almost non-stop all day long. It's all i've wanted to hear. Truly it's my favorite choral work of all time.

[Tessar]

This is a clip from my voice lesson today. Unfortunately I'm not in great voice because of allergies and I wasn't very warmed up (we did more talking technique and stuff than singing) but this is what he's got me doing.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/audio/play/80662376

God I love this voice teacher. O_o Still lots of work to be done, but this is just from a few minutes of working on the song... he got everything working together much nice than I was before.

[Jonathan]

Fabulous Tessar. Nice "Aaah's" too

When a felon's not engaged in his employment
Or maturing his felonious little plans
His capacity for innocent enjoyment
Is just as great as any honest man's

Our feelings we with difficulty smother
When constabulary duty's to be done
Ah, take one consideration with another

A policeman's lot is not a happy one.
When constabulary duty's to be done, to be done,
A policeman's lot is not a happy one, happy one

[Earniel]

Ah, too bad we can't come over to listen when you perform the real thing. Would have been fun.

[Voronwen]

Whooo!!! How did i miss this post before?

You have a lot of potential! It's not every day that you hear technique like that at your age.

Keep up the good work!

[Tessar]

Thanks guys! I'm really excited . I'm just so happy that I got the part... I'm gonna work hard and try to knock everyone's socks off when they get to hear me in a month and a half at rehearsals.

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Ah, too bad we can't come over to listen when you perform the real thing. Would have been fun.

Well, performances are in October, so if you get your plane tickets now....

Originally Posted by Voronwen

You have a lot of potential! It's not every day that you hear technique like that at your age.

Danka . I owe it all to two fantabulous teachers... real technique masters. It's certainly not natural technique . They have to beat it into me... I'm hoping to be as good as they are some day.

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Fabulous Tessar. Nice "Aaah's" too

Thank you . My parents were extremely amused by the little 'ah' sequence so I left it in .


But speaking of Erwin Shrott (what? <.< it's a great segue!), has anyone heard his CD or seen his stuff on youtube? He's got a great baritone voice... I love how he plays around with the sound as he sings and speaks... I feel like it really brings the songs to life.

[Varnafindë]

Thank you for sharing with us, Tessar!
Yes, it would have been nice to be able to come over and hear the real thing - but I'm afraid that time isn't the main issue

[Voronwen]

Originally Posted by Tessar

Danka . I owe it all to two fantabulous teachers... real technique masters. It's certainly not natural technique . They have to beat it into me... I'm hoping to be as good as they are some day.

I'm sure you will!

And yes, i agree 100%, having a good technician as a teacher is the best thing you can ever find. I've had five different voice teachers in the last 10 years and only two have been excellent technicians. I credit the first of those two with the building of my technique - she was awesome! The second of the two is my present teacher, whom i credit with the maintenance These kinds of teachers are a treasure, they're hard to find, and not every singer finds them. They're a blessing.

Now you're making me wish i had at some point invested in a high-quality recording device of my own, so that i could share a clip, too! Alas, i have not. But perhaps the next time i am in a recital or something, i can have it recorded. ETA, actually there might still be a recording of myself and another soprano singing the Rossini Cat Duet from a recital 3 years ago - i'll have to look into that. I sang the top part (yes, with the interpolated high C ). If i can get this i might be able to post it. I think i have improved since then, however, as i had not yet found Excellent Teacher #2.

When do you start with the summer opera workshop?

[Tessar]

I'm not, in general, a huge Renee Fleming fan because of the way she slides around when she sings... I LOVE the voice, but the way she interprets most of the music she sings isn't what I like to hear.

BUT... I think she did this perfectly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQlQQ...eature=related

I never would have imagined her singing Glitter and Be Gay, but her high notes are sooooo impressive.

[Voronwen]

I know what you mean about her scooping, etc - very distasteful. But i also agree that the voice is amazing, and that her rendition of this aria is perfect! I usually can't even stand listening through this aria, as i've heard it done badly and over-the-top so many times but Renee does an excellent job here!

I read somewhere that she started out as more of a coloratura, and transitioned to full-lyric soprano over time. Hearing this clip, i could believe that.