opera scenes
So, on FRIDAY, I was informed that the person singing the part of Madam Goldentrill--who had gotten better, and so I didn't have to learn her part--got bronchitis and wasn't getting any better, and that the part had been given to me, to sing at the performance NEXT MONDAY. I hadn't looked at it in almost a month. And I was asked if I could have it memorized by today. To which I, of course, said yes. Because "no" isn't in my vocabulary, apparently.
It is thirty pages long, and about 3/4 of my part is in The Stratosphere. It is in English, which is good because that makes it easier to memorize, but bad because it's harder to sing. It has to do with how vowels are formed on the high notes; Mozart wrote the original part in German, and it made a lot of sense, but then someone had to go and translate it to English and did a crappy job of making it singable.
But GUESS WHAT, YOU GUYS? I DID IT. It's memorized. I'm consistently singing the high notes well. I remember most of the staging. I even found a dress for my diva costume.
It worked out. By the grace of God, it worked out. It's times like this that I just know that I'm finally doing what I was built to do, what I was born to do. Last April, or heck, even last semester, I don't think I could have even dreamed that I would be doing any of this...singing in Madama Butterfly? Singing a coloratura aria, a rambling atonal song, and three other moderately difficult pieces for my jury? Replacing someone last-minute for a coloratura role in a scene with two other students that are well known for their incredible talent? I would have laughed at you if you told me even just a year ago that I would be doing any of that.
A year ago, I was actually scared for my life. I didn't know where I was going or why. I was losing hope like I lose pencils. Which is fast. But now...not even The Stratosphere seems to be a limit for the things I'm finding that I can do, nor a limit for my hope.
I have been blessed. The more I trust in the one who has blessed me, the greater the things I'm able to do.
It is thirty pages long, and about 3/4 of my part is in The Stratosphere. It is in English, which is good because that makes it easier to memorize, but bad because it's harder to sing. It has to do with how vowels are formed on the high notes; Mozart wrote the original part in German, and it made a lot of sense, but then someone had to go and translate it to English and did a crappy job of making it singable.
But GUESS WHAT, YOU GUYS? I DID IT. It's memorized. I'm consistently singing the high notes well. I remember most of the staging. I even found a dress for my diva costume.
It worked out. By the grace of God, it worked out. It's times like this that I just know that I'm finally doing what I was built to do, what I was born to do. Last April, or heck, even last semester, I don't think I could have even dreamed that I would be doing any of this...singing in Madama Butterfly? Singing a coloratura aria, a rambling atonal song, and three other moderately difficult pieces for my jury? Replacing someone last-minute for a coloratura role in a scene with two other students that are well known for their incredible talent? I would have laughed at you if you told me even just a year ago that I would be doing any of that.
A year ago, I was actually scared for my life. I didn't know where I was going or why. I was losing hope like I lose pencils. Which is fast. But now...not even The Stratosphere seems to be a limit for the things I'm finding that I can do, nor a limit for my hope.
I have been blessed. The more I trust in the one who has blessed me, the greater the things I'm able to do.