Whew!

Whew. I can't believe I haven't blogged in almost two weeks. Things have been really hectic for me.

Since February, I have been in rehearsals for this gig I just did, The Children's Requiem. This past Saturday, we performed it in Woodstock, NY to a very appreciative crowd. The requiem deals with the Central Park Jogger case, the affect violence in communities have had on young African American males and how will we go about changing things. The piece is very powerful and moving. We are now on break for a couple of weeks before we perform it again at the Riverside Theater on June 24th.

While that is on hiatus, I am now working on Songs in the Life of a Martyr that I am singing in a couple of weeks. The music is interesting and very beautiful, but I don't have a lot to sing. I am grateful for that opportunity.

In between all of this, I have been numbing my mind with Mozart. LOL Mozart the bane of my existence along with Liu. May I just say, Tanto Amore is whipping my arse. *sigh* It is possible, but sometimes I wonder where Puccini's head went every now and then. Those leaps are quite taxing and I am not going to even get into floating. I have an easy float, but something about Puccini...my float wants to take a vacation.

With other things out of the way, I am hoping to get back on my gym schedule. I haven't been on a piece of equipment for a while, due to the schedule, but I have been walking almost 3 miles every day. Since I work a 9-5, I take my lunch hour and just walk while listening to whatever is on my heart for that day. It obviously has worked. The doctor said I had lost 6lbs. and he had a look of being pleased. I really want to get into a yoga class. My former teacher told me I needed one. I probably still do. LOL I need a way to center my breath and my energy when I get nervous. *rolling my eyes*

Before I go...I was reading Opera Chic when I got in from Woodstock and I saw this article. I can't begin to say how enthralled I got in this. I have heard Hope sing on many occasions and her voice is absolutely glorious. I am just curious if this is more about a look that is stereotypically considered for Donna Anna or if this is about getting rid of things the old regime had in place?

Exhausted

I am convinced my teacher suffers from insanity. LOL No, I don't really believe that, but I do respect her passion and love for the art form.

By the time I leave my voice lessons, I feel like I have been in a kickboxing class. She works until she gets the product that she wants to hear.

Today we worked on opening my jaw. As most singers know...that is one of the most important parts of singing....you gotta open your jaw. Well, mine stays in a locked position when my breath is doing its own fandangle thing. Just a mess.

Well, today, she was convinced that it was going to flow...and flow it did do. *sigh* Not after bending over, squatting, gripping my arse, her pulling my arms forward...you just name it, she did it.

By the time I got done with Porgi amor, I was ready for a long bath and a good night's sleep. That didn't happen...I had a rehearsal until 10 and for some WEIRD reason, I am still up. *sigh*

I am going to go and watch today's episode of oprah. Thank God for DVD.