Well Kids, that's all she wrote.
I have officially learned how to be an opera singer in exactly 6 weeks. Anyone else a little exhausted...
There is little I can say write right now in attemps to summing up my experience. I will rather take this time to say goodbye.
To Kim, you are my tipping point!!
To the faculty and staff, you are my accountability, and support and love
To my fellow peers, you are my friends with whom I have built relationships of love, honesty, trust, respect, encouragement, peace and more love!
To Billy (my car), you are my wheels
To my family, you are my past, present and future
To Menno and Lee, you are my grounding and reason I could survive this amazing program. Your listening ears and giving hearts made this place home for me!
To the Universe, you are...
...rocking my world!
Over and Out!!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
W6D1 - The R and J Spectacle
Tingles...I still get tingles when I think about last nights opening show of Romeo and Juliet. If anyone reading this ever gets the opportunity to see Gounod's Romeo and Juliet, don't you dare pass it up. You will never regret it. Gounod sets Shakespeare's timeless classic to a french style of music that will take your breath away, almost quite literally. The staging and blocking that Michael has done as well as the work with colours and costumes has taken this story to an entirely new level. It is beyond Leo and Clare on the Hollywood screen. I would go as far to say, and my judgement is a little naive, only because I have only really been slashing in the shallow end of the opera world. However, I would go as far to say that this version, here at NUOVA, is beyond what the world stage could create. The story of R and J is of young lovers. Somewhere between 13 and 16. So the fact that it is being played by young growing artists, gives it an entirely different feel. The emotion is raw, real, and reveals so much about the youthfulness of the story.
I had a significant musical experience at the end of act 3, before intermission. We are all staring each other down, Montegue's vs. Capulet's, walking backwards as we stare at each other basically screaming the words of the song towards each other like fire arrows. I couldn't physical feel anyone, we weren't actually fighting, but the energy around us was fuming with anger. The sparks were flying, and no one was actually fighting. Our connection was so strong, that I could feel my whole body tingling as I left the stage. Every cell was buzzing with energy and shooting it across the stage. It was something I have never experience in such high magnitude. WOWSA!
So if you ever get the chance, go see Romeo and Juliet at the Opera, you will never look back!!
OVER AND OUT!
I had a significant musical experience at the end of act 3, before intermission. We are all staring each other down, Montegue's vs. Capulet's, walking backwards as we stare at each other basically screaming the words of the song towards each other like fire arrows. I couldn't physical feel anyone, we weren't actually fighting, but the energy around us was fuming with anger. The sparks were flying, and no one was actually fighting. Our connection was so strong, that I could feel my whole body tingling as I left the stage. Every cell was buzzing with energy and shooting it across the stage. It was something I have never experience in such high magnitude. WOWSA!
So if you ever get the chance, go see Romeo and Juliet at the Opera, you will never look back!!
OVER AND OUT!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Day off/Not a day off
Today was not a day off, because we had Falstaff run throughs all day. Mind you, we did get to sleep in, which was delightful, but it wasn't a day off. The run throughs got better each time, which was very nice to see. I am apart of the chorus and although we don't do much, shows would not be nearly as complete withouth a good chorus. It was exactly the same in Beatrice and Benedict. We are only on for one scene but the added human presense on stage is what makes a show complete.
I am very excited to start running the shows infront of an audience. Tomorrow night is our first Romeo and Juliet show, and I can't wait for an audience to witness the brilliancy of Michael's work through us on stage. It is going to be breathtaking. AHHH, i am getting tingles just thinking about it.
I don't really have much more to add to that today. It was more of a summary today, not much to reflect on. My mind is still trying to keep soaking everything up until the program is over. It's hard to believe that in a week I will be home. I am certainly going to miss everything. But first lets get the show on the road. Toi Toi Toi everyone. CHeers
Over and Out!
I am very excited to start running the shows infront of an audience. Tomorrow night is our first Romeo and Juliet show, and I can't wait for an audience to witness the brilliancy of Michael's work through us on stage. It is going to be breathtaking. AHHH, i am getting tingles just thinking about it.
I don't really have much more to add to that today. It was more of a summary today, not much to reflect on. My mind is still trying to keep soaking everything up until the program is over. It's hard to believe that in a week I will be home. I am certainly going to miss everything. But first lets get the show on the road. Toi Toi Toi everyone. CHeers
Over and Out!
W5D6 - Inconsistent masculinity and femininity
Hey folks,
Sorry this blogging things has been a Little inconsistent in the last week. We are in production week now and everything gets a little screwed up. Every day is very long, and it's starting to feel like the program is actually coming to an end. I'm not sure I'm ready to leave yet, but at the same time, I am ready to present these shows to the world, and then have a little break.
My goal for these runs are to really work on connection. Following my instincts on stage, while also reading the energy given by other people. We have done some A Tech class on the the space around our bodies. When someone enters your space your energy changes. The energy connection can be very beneficial on stage.
I also want to let my left brain just remember what to do, and not be judging my every move on stage. That's enough LEFT BRAIN, it's time to take a break from judging everything I do. Through the other NUOVAites i have been informed that I look very masculine on stage - something that I have been very conscience of my whole life. I have always been worried that I would read too feminine. Once again, just getting in my own way. When you are confident and completely aware of yourself on stage, you could do anything, masculine or feminine, and it will read well. It's not about it being masculine or feminine, it's about committing to whatever choice you make. Don't think, just react!
And that is my food for thought in the last few days! Until next time:)
Over and Out
Sorry this blogging things has been a Little inconsistent in the last week. We are in production week now and everything gets a little screwed up. Every day is very long, and it's starting to feel like the program is actually coming to an end. I'm not sure I'm ready to leave yet, but at the same time, I am ready to present these shows to the world, and then have a little break.
My goal for these runs are to really work on connection. Following my instincts on stage, while also reading the energy given by other people. We have done some A Tech class on the the space around our bodies. When someone enters your space your energy changes. The energy connection can be very beneficial on stage.
I also want to let my left brain just remember what to do, and not be judging my every move on stage. That's enough LEFT BRAIN, it's time to take a break from judging everything I do. Through the other NUOVAites i have been informed that I look very masculine on stage - something that I have been very conscience of my whole life. I have always been worried that I would read too feminine. Once again, just getting in my own way. When you are confident and completely aware of yourself on stage, you could do anything, masculine or feminine, and it will read well. It's not about it being masculine or feminine, it's about committing to whatever choice you make. Don't think, just react!
And that is my food for thought in the last few days! Until next time:)
Over and Out
Saturday, June 19, 2010
W5D4 & 5 - Collecting Information
It's hard to believe that a week ago we were putting on Beatrice and Benedict. It feels more like a year ago, to be honest. I am so amazed at how much happens in one week. 7 days, that's it, but it's just packed full of stuff. Friday was a full day of Romeo and Juliet. It was our tech dress rehearsal, and I have to say, it is all coming together quite smoothly. Everything feels great. I still have some memorizing to get done for the chorus parts, but otherwise, everyone is doing amazing. The leads are absoluetly fantastic. I wish you all could come see it. The story of Romeo and Juliet is classic, and timeless. It seriously gets me everytime. I can't even imagine going through what they went through. It's the ultimate love story, and you start to realize that this story of star crossed lovers is all around us. Movies use this plot all the time. It's just that good. We never get sick of watching the passions of true love. Love in which you would die for the other person. Love that goes beyond all evil. It's absolutely beautiful. And, Charles Gounod, the composer, wrote some of the most stunning opera music I have ever heard. His themes are breathtaking. Every theme is like sunshine, awww, I get tingles just thinking about it. And when you add the orchestra, it's as if the world has stopped for a moment in time, and you are totally in the now. NO WHERE ELSE, just here!
Because the schedule has been different this week, I have had more time to process the last 4 works. Or at least to start the process of processing. (if that makes any sense) The voice teachers are gone, and there are not more acting or dance classes, it's just tech rehearsals for the opera's. It is still really busy, and long days, but the pace is different. It's almost helping to prepare us to rejoin the real world. Life has still been going on outside our bubble, and somehow we are going to have to pop the bubble of NUOVA. It's been amazing, but our time is coming to a close. IT's completely bittersweet. I don't want it to end, but at the same time, I need a break. I love the process, but i also need some time to live with this new understanding of myself. There has been some major self development going on in the last 4 weeks, and I am genuinly interested to see how I reenter normality. Because what I have been living in, is anything but normal. However, I feel completely blessed that I have been able to embark on this journey. So much more awareness of myself. Awareness is not the first step, AWARENESS IS THE CHANGE. Once you are aware of something, it is already starting to change. Becuase i am more aware of myself i am constantly changing and settling, and changing and settling. Nothing is constant. And when things are changing, you can't judge it. You CANNOT judge while you are trying something. You can judge yourself, or analyse yourself, after you have tried something, or after something has changed. The left brain should not be involved in trying something new, or following your instincts. As Kim has said many time, "TRY, CORRECT, AND CONTINUE, CORRECT AND CONTINUE" If you are judging yourself while you try something, you will not be able to fully engage in the potential of this new thing, and in the end you will never know this things full potential. (TOO many potentials) I hope that was as clear as murky water.
Lots more to talk about, but now it's time for a good sleep.
Over and out!!
Because the schedule has been different this week, I have had more time to process the last 4 works. Or at least to start the process of processing. (if that makes any sense) The voice teachers are gone, and there are not more acting or dance classes, it's just tech rehearsals for the opera's. It is still really busy, and long days, but the pace is different. It's almost helping to prepare us to rejoin the real world. Life has still been going on outside our bubble, and somehow we are going to have to pop the bubble of NUOVA. It's been amazing, but our time is coming to a close. IT's completely bittersweet. I don't want it to end, but at the same time, I need a break. I love the process, but i also need some time to live with this new understanding of myself. There has been some major self development going on in the last 4 weeks, and I am genuinly interested to see how I reenter normality. Because what I have been living in, is anything but normal. However, I feel completely blessed that I have been able to embark on this journey. So much more awareness of myself. Awareness is not the first step, AWARENESS IS THE CHANGE. Once you are aware of something, it is already starting to change. Becuase i am more aware of myself i am constantly changing and settling, and changing and settling. Nothing is constant. And when things are changing, you can't judge it. You CANNOT judge while you are trying something. You can judge yourself, or analyse yourself, after you have tried something, or after something has changed. The left brain should not be involved in trying something new, or following your instincts. As Kim has said many time, "TRY, CORRECT, AND CONTINUE, CORRECT AND CONTINUE" If you are judging yourself while you try something, you will not be able to fully engage in the potential of this new thing, and in the end you will never know this things full potential. (TOO many potentials) I hope that was as clear as murky water.
Lots more to talk about, but now it's time for a good sleep.
Over and out!!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
W5D3 - The Adventures of K A J
Here is my attempt to accurately describe, in words, what the last 12 hours of my life has been like.
BALKDA B:ALKBENEWOB A:LAKSNBQW:
OQW B:LAKSNB:OQWNB:LQWJ:ALAHHHHHFFFFFF
FFFFKKKKKKKKKDDDDDDDDD:::SJJJJ!
I stayed over at Kate's apartment yesterday and at 2:30 in the morning she started having an allergic reaction. Alex and I took her to the emergency room, and we ended up staying there from 4 till 7:30. So far, NO sleep for Justin, Alex or Kate. Then Kate and I went to me our Nuovites who had been called at 6:30 in the morning for another edition of Breakfast Television. Once again, didn't got to bed, I went and got changed and performed on Breakfast television in a Romeo and Juliet men's scene. Finally, at around 10 o clock, I went to Kate's room and slept till 12:30. At this time I was called to Romeo and Juliet rehearsals all afternoon, followed by a Falstaff chorus rehearsal. Then, I had a few minutes to eat some supper, and make my way to the Zits Orchestra Rehearsal for Romeo and Juliet, which finished at around 10. It's been an amazingly long day. Kate is doing well, and that is really all that matters. and as much as I would have liked to sleep even just a bit last night, the experience of going to the hospital, and then later attending a full day in the life of NUOVA was priceless. It was kind of a test to see if I could get through the day. I was surprised how much energy i had stored up for those crazy days.
Not much more to say today. During the Orchestra run, I felt like I was getting a lot of resonantes in my voice. It didn't feel as contrived, rather more natural and free. It's a slow process, but every like make adds in a whole new layer!
OVER AND OUT!
BALKDA B:ALKBENEWOB A:LAKSNBQW:
OQW B:LAKSNB:OQWNB:LQWJ:ALAHHHHHFFFFFF
FFFFKKKKKKKKKDDDDDDDDD:::SJJJJ!
I stayed over at Kate's apartment yesterday and at 2:30 in the morning she started having an allergic reaction. Alex and I took her to the emergency room, and we ended up staying there from 4 till 7:30. So far, NO sleep for Justin, Alex or Kate. Then Kate and I went to me our Nuovites who had been called at 6:30 in the morning for another edition of Breakfast Television. Once again, didn't got to bed, I went and got changed and performed on Breakfast television in a Romeo and Juliet men's scene. Finally, at around 10 o clock, I went to Kate's room and slept till 12:30. At this time I was called to Romeo and Juliet rehearsals all afternoon, followed by a Falstaff chorus rehearsal. Then, I had a few minutes to eat some supper, and make my way to the Zits Orchestra Rehearsal for Romeo and Juliet, which finished at around 10. It's been an amazingly long day. Kate is doing well, and that is really all that matters. and as much as I would have liked to sleep even just a bit last night, the experience of going to the hospital, and then later attending a full day in the life of NUOVA was priceless. It was kind of a test to see if I could get through the day. I was surprised how much energy i had stored up for those crazy days.
Not much more to say today. During the Orchestra run, I felt like I was getting a lot of resonantes in my voice. It didn't feel as contrived, rather more natural and free. It's a slow process, but every like make adds in a whole new layer!
OVER AND OUT!
W5D2 - Step by Step
Today was another busy day here at NUOVA. However, it did get to start a little later than usual. We only had to be there at 11 o clock today, which was amazing, because I got to sleep in till 7:30. Imagine that, 7:30, now that's called sleeping in. I woke up and made myself the best yogurt combination, muesli, and ate it on the deck with the sun streaming on my face. I brought the phone with me, and called my dear friends Rachel, Heather, and Megan, who are working at camp. It was really nice to chat with friends from my other world. Strange to say other world, but at this point, it feels like I have 2 lives. NUOVA and REALITY. Or it's kind of like work and personal life.
Most of the day was filled with Romeo and Juliet runthrough's. Which are starting to feel much more smooth. I love when the whole story starts to make sense.
Another thing I keep realizing is how important language is. I spent the evening with Kate and Julia, and after going out for a lovely coffee date, we came back to Kate's room and started taking apart the R and J text. I have never fully understood, until now, how crucial it is to know what you are talking about. I mean it seems obvious, but I've never really done it. I've never experienced it. AHHHH, it's continuing to blow my mind. We took the opening prologue dialogue and read the literal translation (from French to English) and then they asked me to put it into my own words, as if I was telling a story. It was a completely eye opening experience. I will never learn a piece the same way again. And this experience makes me want to know how to speak many languages. I don't know if you all know the story of R and J, but I am going to give you a translation of the opening prologue.
"In the city of Verona, there once were two rival families. The Montague's and Capulet's. This endless war caused much blood to be spilled over the steps of each families castles. Like a shining light, piercing the stormy cloud, Juliet appeared, and Romeo loved her. And forgetting to hate each others names, they were inflamed with the same love for each other. But, cruel fate, and blind hate, they paid for there love in numbered days. Through this tragedy birthed love between the families."
There you go folks, that's the story of Romeo and Juliet in a nutshell, and now I actually understand what the heck I'm staying in the chorus in the prologue. Now it will be much easier to start memorizing the French because I can actually tell a story, and communicate something to the audience.
Tonight was the English Song Soriee night, in which I sang Barber's Opus 45. It went so much better than I thought it was going to go. I felt open and myself onstage, and that was affirmed in the comments I received afterwards. It felt really good to give an honest performance, holding nothing back, and living in the moment. These are the step by step moments. I have to remember that I'm not all of a sudden going to change, and everything will just work. It's a process, and I have to love where I am right now, and use it to be awesome. It sounds selfish, but we could all do a little better at being awesome. We all have it in us to be better! Why not try?
Lastly, I want to make one more comment about sports and performance. Never have they be so connected in my mind. After seeing a Baseball game on Monday night, I have craving sports. I crave the intensity, the physicality, the anticipation, the emotion, the rawness, the roughness, the right and left brain thinking in harmony, the not thinking, and just doing, the constant changing, the sweat, the collaboration, the beauty of being totally in the moment! I want it now. And never has it been more clear that all of these things exist in opera and performance; they have too. I have to just figure out how to apply these things that I already do instinctively in sports to my performing! Let the process continue!!
Time for bed,
Over and Out!
Most of the day was filled with Romeo and Juliet runthrough's. Which are starting to feel much more smooth. I love when the whole story starts to make sense.
Another thing I keep realizing is how important language is. I spent the evening with Kate and Julia, and after going out for a lovely coffee date, we came back to Kate's room and started taking apart the R and J text. I have never fully understood, until now, how crucial it is to know what you are talking about. I mean it seems obvious, but I've never really done it. I've never experienced it. AHHHH, it's continuing to blow my mind. We took the opening prologue dialogue and read the literal translation (from French to English) and then they asked me to put it into my own words, as if I was telling a story. It was a completely eye opening experience. I will never learn a piece the same way again. And this experience makes me want to know how to speak many languages. I don't know if you all know the story of R and J, but I am going to give you a translation of the opening prologue.
"In the city of Verona, there once were two rival families. The Montague's and Capulet's. This endless war caused much blood to be spilled over the steps of each families castles. Like a shining light, piercing the stormy cloud, Juliet appeared, and Romeo loved her. And forgetting to hate each others names, they were inflamed with the same love for each other. But, cruel fate, and blind hate, they paid for there love in numbered days. Through this tragedy birthed love between the families."
There you go folks, that's the story of Romeo and Juliet in a nutshell, and now I actually understand what the heck I'm staying in the chorus in the prologue. Now it will be much easier to start memorizing the French because I can actually tell a story, and communicate something to the audience.
Tonight was the English Song Soriee night, in which I sang Barber's Opus 45. It went so much better than I thought it was going to go. I felt open and myself onstage, and that was affirmed in the comments I received afterwards. It felt really good to give an honest performance, holding nothing back, and living in the moment. These are the step by step moments. I have to remember that I'm not all of a sudden going to change, and everything will just work. It's a process, and I have to love where I am right now, and use it to be awesome. It sounds selfish, but we could all do a little better at being awesome. We all have it in us to be better! Why not try?
Lastly, I want to make one more comment about sports and performance. Never have they be so connected in my mind. After seeing a Baseball game on Monday night, I have craving sports. I crave the intensity, the physicality, the anticipation, the emotion, the rawness, the roughness, the right and left brain thinking in harmony, the not thinking, and just doing, the constant changing, the sweat, the collaboration, the beauty of being totally in the moment! I want it now. And never has it been more clear that all of these things exist in opera and performance; they have too. I have to just figure out how to apply these things that I already do instinctively in sports to my performing! Let the process continue!!
Time for bed,
Over and Out!
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