W1D7 - Master Class with Nico and Carol

I confess that this entry was not writen on Sunday, but rather Monday afternoon, because I didn't come home last night...after the master class everyone came to the St Josephs Cafeteria and we just chilled and relaxed together. It was nice to have some time, NOT inbetween rehearsal, where we could just talk about everything. It was a chance to further let our gaurds down and get to know each other away from work; work being NUOVA. It was great!

The day started off a little differently then most. Menno and Lee Klaassen, aunt and uncle, packed there bags and left for Europe, I think. They are going on a historical tour for the next 2 weeks. So I have the house to myself...PARTY TIME!!! haha, just kidding. There is no time for such things in this program. Well, that's not really true either, opera people know how to party, we just have to wait for sunday nights to relax. I feel like we are living like pastors, getting Monday off.

So Menno and Lee left and I went to school a little earlier to go out for coffee with my friend Lindsey Gable. Then we had Lunch Box Talk from 11:30 to 12:45. Basically it was a question answer period where we could ask any of the facualty anything we want. We talked a lot about what worked and what didn't work while they were building their careers. It was great to hear about how they got to where they are, some really big nuggets of golden advise. But in the end, what resonated the most was that you make it what you want it to be. You have to network, you have to make opportunities, you have to get our there and find work, and be open to anything. Take any opportunity you can get your hands on, within realistic reasoning. We also talked about student loans, and many of the facualty made it plainly clear that you want to get out of debt as fast as possible. Money can tie you down. There comes a time when you need to get out of school and start using the Right side of your brain. Start building your own criteria. School is very important, but there comes a time when you need to jump out of your comfort zone and explore the world of opporunites out there. You can learn so much by just living. Singing is just one part of living, there is so much more to life. So much of what we are learning about at NUOVA is about living "your" life, and no one elses. The role, and what Opera you are almost secondary to the things you learn about practicing, and taking care of your body.

The rest of the afternoon I was in a staging rehearsal for the Overture of Beatrice and Benedict and then the first scene of dialogue. Our director is Robert Herriot, and I can't even try to begin to describe how much we all love him already. He is a mind blowing director who is so specific and fantastic. He has so much energy, but knows how to focus it! He knows what he wants, but lets you find it. And if you are having trouble finding it, he gives you little nuggets of advice to help you get there. He doesn't just give it to you, it's your journey. It was quite an emotional first rehearsal, especially after an intense first week, we were all feelin a bit worn down. So as soon as you start feeling things, walls start to come down and people start to open their hearts to the roles they are playing. And what is brilliant about Robert is that when something is not working, he gives you the opportunity to go to extremes in order to find it. Kim Mattice Wannat, the founder and director of NUOVA, read a quote to us in the Lunch Box Talk from Albert Einstein, " The definition of Insanity is when you practice some over and over the same way expecting a different result." I can't tell you how many times I leave a practice room so frustrated that I just didn't get it, when all I did was practice it over and over the same way, expecting something different. It's the same when in these acting rehearsals with Robert. He asks for something, and when it's not what he wants, we need to try something else. I've discovered for me, that that means I have to go to the exact opposite place in order to try and find a balance. I am very very excited to keep exploring the acting world. It is absolutely fascinating. Acting is hard, like really, I have so much respect for actors. It's completely different than singing. You can almost hide behind the notes when you sing. Actors have action and words, thats it. Every line you say has to have intent, you have to breath in the intent everytime you get ready to say a line. You also have to be listening to everything around you, so you can react properly to everything onstage. In acting, there is no wrong choice, but you have to learn how to make the best/strongest choice. There are many roads to rome, and in the same way, you have to practice finding the best way there, FOR YOU!! I am very excited to keep working on Beatrice and Benedict. Robert, combined with our class creates an amazing evergy that is so so so much fun to work in. If anyone wants to see one of the most rare opera's ever performed, done by a cast of people directed and coached by the best in the business, come to Edmonton on June 11 and 12. I gaurentee you will not be disappointed. This opera experience will change your opinion of opera forever. Opera is so dramatic, but because of the stunning music, it has the ability to take the listener to a new place. Opera is not just big singers betting loudly for 3 hours. I have begun to fall head of heals in love with Opera. I always loved Classical music, but this is different. In opera it is the music which allows the singers to take the words to a different level. It is also always exciting because it's almost always about love. The one topic that no one ever gets sick off.

In the evening I went out for supper with Amanda Cockrane from Calgary. She is a flight attendant, and has her masters in opera performance, now just trying to find out what is the next best step into the professional world. She is a very special girl, and that was my first impression from the minute I saw her) She has a depth and glow that comes from the inside. Her wit and sarcasm are very contagious!

After supper we attended a masterclass lead by Nico and Carol Castel from New York. They are absolutely magnificent human beings that have so much knowledge to offer about performance, language, and living in the performing world. My heart is filled with so much joy just thinking about them. I definitely want to keep working with them after the program ends. (Heck, I want to keep working with all of the faculty after I leave.) After Carol and Nico's session I am starting to understand the important of resonance, and articulation. In order to sing properly you have to sing on the vowels. On the vowels is where the voice resonates, and if you know how to articulate the vowels properly, the sound with come easily.

Well, once again, a day filled to the brim with golden nuggets of knowledge and advise. What can I say, it's the best program in the country, and many many many people would agree. I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. I'm off to memorize more music. This is Justin Gerhard signing off.

Over and Out!!