Yesterday I auditioned for Orvieto. It was a good experience even though it didn't go very well for me as my mind had a memory lapse on stage for the first piece(The second time this had ever happened to me.) Nerves... it was somewhat awkward... I was a bit nervous than usual. The jury was perfectly nice about it and helped me because they knew the words. Either way it wasn't my best. I knew "Take O Take Those Lips Away" too. I did it for Jury last semester perfectly. It's just one of those things where you have to really go over your pieces again after putting them away. But next time I will be better prepared for next year. I felt like I was prepared, but it happens when we can't control our nerves. They get the best of us sometimes.
After the audition I got to work on my Swedish pieces with someone who knew the language pretty well. I don't have to sing it in Swedish, but I want it to be more authentic and traditional. Nancy was amazed at how well I pick up the diction. It was a great experience and I am excited to sing these two Sibelius pieces. I might put them in my Sr. recital instead of my Junior recital. My Junior recital is next semester instead of this semester. This way I will be better prepared and have all summer to work on the rep. I want to have a recital specifically dedicated to women composers for my Junior recital; although I might have to add an aria or two for the requirements. Not a big deal really. Then for my Senior recital I think I will to do a Music Around the World theme. I just thought about this as I was researching pieces for my Presentation project in Rep. Seminar. Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Spanish, German, Swedish, Lithuanian... There is a Lithuanian piece I would like to do from an opera as a duet with a mezzo that is actually from a Lithuanian opera. If I can get the sheet music, that would be epic!
Nancy also gave me a great idea for the Concerto Competition next year. But one thing at a time for now. I have enough on my plate, but definitely on my to-do list of music to work on.
I've been living in a cloud of doubt this semester. But I think realizing that everyone here has their best interest for me at heart helps and talking to Dr. Owen last week helped put some things into better perspective. I shouldn't let my past define me and I shouldn't let someone's opinion of me effect my performance as a student or a professional singer and musician. I've gotten too far and I guess I am just at that phase of extreme doubt because of past setbacks. Everyone has setbacks. So Luther didn't work out. And really, I have gotten way more performance exposure here and a supportive community of friends. We are all musical, artistic people who wish each other the best in all we do, and that is how it should be.
No comments:
Post a Comment