New York Trip Day 5

I am actually pretty drained today, and it kind of ended on a sour note (punny!).

Ok, so today I had a lesson with Thomas Goodhart, a professional baritone here in New York, and has sang at several major opera houses. It was a very interesting lesson to say the least. Some teachers have different techniques, but his was a variety of teaching by example. Well, he is a very tall and large low baritone and I am a skinny high tenor. Obviously, there is some dissimilarity between the two of us, which made the "teach by example" technique very difficult. I have a another lesson with him later, but I would classify the lesson today as shaky.

It got better because the next coaching I had was with Valerie Trujillo. She is the reason why I am here, and just a wonderful person all around. But, we went through "Dies Bildniss" and worked on detailed musicality elements of the piece. We also went through some planning as to where I will go from here, and what literature to study as well. Again, I can't say enough about Valerie, she is just a great musician and great person. Oh, and by the way, she says "hi" to everyone back in Manhattan.

The afternoon I spent listening to singers test out some new repertoire and musicality ideas. I really love some of the arias, and I could hear "Ain't it a pretty night" from Susannah a million times and it is always like the first time I hear it. It just makes me melt. Even small art songs were sung like "Gia sole dal gange" and even the great arias of opera like "Nessun dorma". It is just a showcase or exhibition where we can try things out, tweak things, etc. It was just a lot of fun, and the ambiance of the place was great; they sang in the parlor of a New York mansion, really classy, and the sunlight was shining through the curtainless windows, with trees and gardens outside...really a neat place to make art.

I also had a consultation with Scott George, Met auditions winner in '79 I believe, and the president of a talent agency. He was very complimentary and I was left with a very positive response, very similar to that of the other management group last Saturday. He thought, just as the previous group thought, that I needed more performance under my belt, and hopefully I will be able to get that within the next year, but again, he was very interested and I am still a baby, so I feel like it was another great first step.

The final audition recital this evening was great for all of us. We got a closer look into what management looks at when they see singers. The heldentenor here got extra special attention, and I think that they may be interested in him. I wish I could sing the literature he sings, but I will not ever have as big of a voice as he has - he's 37 and maybe 6'3'' and large (Pavarotti size) - so he can pump out some air for sure. But the night ended on a sad note, kind of a reality check on the competitiveness of the profession. I am just very happy to have had this opportunity and to be able to sing well and to love music and most especially, to have the degrees I have, so I don't look like a fool ;)

Tomorrow's Schedule: Wednesday 6/17

Lesson with Deb Birnbaum - Met, NYCO, Chicago Lyric voice teacher - 10

Staging coaching - 11

"The Singer's Body" Seminar - 1:30-5

Luis Burkot Audition Recital - Opera North Music Director and Conductor - 6:45-9