Lifestyle choices
I've just spent the last three days in rehearsals with the cast of a Carmen which Opera Brava are doing. While this is a small company, it's probably the most prestigious one I've worked with so far: no orchestra, only piano, but they have, like, proper costumes and nice sets and lighting and everything (and a movement coach: v important in the dancing bits). Plus the singers are all pretty impressive vocally and can act, and have had enough reheasal to gel as a cast.
I've had very little to do as I'm only doing one performance, which is not until July, so basically I'm just observing the main singer doing Micaela and scribbling notes, with a couple of moments running through things when there was time. Plus I was the outsider, so I had to turn up my sociable chattiness dial as far as possible and concentrate on being friendly and not intimidated.
I suppose I was wondering if this basically less than exciting example of what real singers do with their time would be disappointing, but in fact it wasn't: this was a less than ideal rehearsal setup, but the preparation is still much more than something I have to go through before the good stuff, ie getting on stage and actually performing.
I really think I can do this: it's just the finding my way there that presents problems. People have been telling me all my life how stupidly hard it is to make a living as a singer, though, so that's not exactly a new idea.
I've had very little to do as I'm only doing one performance, which is not until July, so basically I'm just observing the main singer doing Micaela and scribbling notes, with a couple of moments running through things when there was time. Plus I was the outsider, so I had to turn up my sociable chattiness dial as far as possible and concentrate on being friendly and not intimidated.
I suppose I was wondering if this basically less than exciting example of what real singers do with their time would be disappointing, but in fact it wasn't: this was a less than ideal rehearsal setup, but the preparation is still much more than something I have to go through before the good stuff, ie getting on stage and actually performing.
I really think I can do this: it's just the finding my way there that presents problems. People have been telling me all my life how stupidly hard it is to make a living as a singer, though, so that's not exactly a new idea.