Day 5: New York
You think you've had a rough audition day? Top this.
It's All About the Shoes
Tonight's dinner conversation found its way to the subject of ladies' audition and concert shoes. I don't know how you girls do it. You look like a million bucks in those stiletto heels. But I'd have trouble staying upright, let alone getting around the stage and being grounded enough to sing. Great advice from my veteran soprano friend: tango shoes. They have to look fabulous, but they're built to be danced in. Teddy's Shoes.
Tonight's dinner conversation found its way to the subject of ladies' audition and concert shoes. I don't know how you girls do it. You look like a million bucks in those stiletto heels. But I'd have trouble staying upright, let alone getting around the stage and being grounded enough to sing. Great advice from my veteran soprano friend: tango shoes. They have to look fabulous, but they're built to be danced in. Teddy's Shoes.Added Value
Chicago Opera Theater's Brian Dickie wrote yesterday about a mock auditions class he held. He found, as I did, that singers are becoming much more savvy about certain aspects of the audition process. One of the things I've noticed recently is that (generally...) résumés are in better shape than they were ten years ago. Some of this, of course, is due to the availability and sophistication of personal computer desktop publishing. (Remember, though, that no spell-checker out there can fix the names and titles on an opera résumé.)
In the last couple of years, though, I'm finding the pendulum swinging a little too far in the opposite direction. Some singers are so busy being their own publicists that they forget that their main task is to learn to sing. I know... When you're just too tired or frustrated to deal with one more practice session, it's far easier to tweak the fonts on your résumé, write glowing prose for your bio, or photoshop your latest production shots for your website. These things are helpful in starting your career. But they don't take the place of those long hours in the practice room or with a score.
Hocus Pocus!
Chicago Opera Theater's Brian Dickie wrote yesterday about a mock auditions class he held. He found, as I did, that singers are becoming much more savvy about certain aspects of the audition process. One of the things I've noticed recently is that (generally...) résumés are in better shape than they were ten years ago. Some of this, of course, is due to the availability and sophistication of personal computer desktop publishing. (Remember, though, that no spell-checker out there can fix the names and titles on an opera résumé.)
In the last couple of years, though, I'm finding the pendulum swinging a little too far in the opposite direction. Some singers are so busy being their own publicists that they forget that their main task is to learn to sing. I know... When you're just too tired or frustrated to deal with one more practice session, it's far easier to tweak the fonts on your résumé, write glowing prose for your bio, or photoshop your latest production shots for your website. These things are helpful in starting your career. But they don't take the place of those long hours in the practice room or with a score.
Hocus Pocus!
Popped into the Hansel and Gretel matinee at City Opera this afternoon. It's the revival of Jim Robinson's terrific production. We got there in time to see the changeover into the Central Park location, and had to leave soon after the appearance of the witch. ("Angela Petitfour", above at left). We were/are/could be toying with the idea of doing a H&G at the Filene Center some season. As much as I love this production, though, it's quite New York-centric, and doesn't feel like the right thing for us.
Too Many Notes
If J. Alfred Prufrock measured out his life in coffee spoons, I've measured out my Novembers in arias. 30 singers a day seems to be just about my limit. I push it occasionally, as I did today (35, three of whom cancelled due to illness), and it's always a challenge. It's our responsibility to stay as fresh for the people at the end of the day as we are in the morning, and somehow we manage it. This afternoon I think we got a little punchy in between arias, so singers entering the room sometimes looked at us a bit askance.
Relocating
Final day in New York tomorrow. Then off to Houston. Repacking this evening for the air travel marathon of the next 7 days. See you down south!
2 comments:
You chose the EXACT pair that I have, Kim! We must have equally good taste. I also highly recommend the NeoTango shoe for that, "I can't believe she can walk in those" ultra-sexy look.
H&G on the Mall?
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