Champagne Kicks In!

Everything takes time, especially when it comes to music appreciation. Some music knocks us out right away, other - has to be slept on.

Before last night Troy had heard Don Giovanni's "Champagne Aria" Fin ch'han dal vino several times, but did not seem to care much about it.

It goes without saying that I did not push - just skipped it and played whatever he liked to hear.

Last night on our way home, quite unexpectedly I should say, he LOVED it. He loved it to the extent that he demanded to listen to it over and over again, all the 30-minute ride long and would not even try to listen to anything else!

He had the happiest of faces, clapped, laughed every time he heard Don Giovanni (or should I say Cesare Siepi) laugh, and cried when I parked the car at our house and turned the music off.

All I could do was to promise that tomorrow we'll listen to it again.

On a side note, Don Giovanni seems like a darker opera, don't you all think?

I really have to do some thorough pre-listening to sort out what would be acceptable for Troy to listen to.

P.S. That's none other than Simon Keenlyside in the picture, performing the famous hit.

Mozart Says It All!

During this past month Troy has discovered quite a bit of Mozart, and got very familiar with our new Le Nozze Highlights CD.

The incredible music of this opera is in a way very accessible to a child.

Not in a way of simplicity, but rather in a way that beauty can be accessible in its harmony and clarity.

For a couple of weeks his favorite was Eh vieni non tardar, as some of you may still remember.

About a week ago he switched to a new fave: the finale of the opera Tutto e tranquillo e placido.

What amazes me is that this is not your typical catchy Mozart’s tune, such as Non piu andrai or Voi che sapete. It’s an almost 8-minute-long piece, consisting of a bunch of fast switching (no doubt, genius) melodies. In other words, from a child’s perspective, this has to be the most complex piece in the whole opera, but – what do I know after all? My 19-month-old loves it against all predictions and assumptions.

When it was time to get out of the car Tuesday morning, Troy begged me to let him stay till the end of the piece, (the best part, Contessa perdono was still coming). I did not have the heart to say no. You don’t say no to those things. You just let your child enjoy the music, feel blessed, and come to work a few minutes later.

Now slowly but steadily, (for Troy is so young that we have the luxury of all this time on our hands to explore and learn as much as we can at our very own pace), we are moving towards the new horizon: Don Giovanni.

(Oh, I know, I know... Please don't say that I am insane or that it's too early for Troy do do these things or that the story is not toddler-friendly. Just read this to the end and then feel free to criticize in the comment section.)
Guess what Troy’s favorite is, so far?

Ah! Fuggi il traditor (Donna Elvira’s Aria).

Now, with my readers’ permission, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the ultimate gem that this aria is.

A minute and a half long, which means very short, and yet absolutely and perfectly brilliant. Written in the old tradition of aria antiche, this anger aria, does not sound that aggressive. Rather extremely intense, passionate and stunningly beautiful.

As we all know, in this aria Donna Elvira, already abandoned by Don Giovanni, warns the country girl Zerlina, the new object of Don Giovanni’s passion, about his deceitful nature and literally tears the girl out of her seducer’s arms.

This is not a weak weepy girl lamenting her misfortunes. This is a strong, intelligent and dangerously vengeful woman, irresistible in her noble anger and noble desire to save an innocent girl from a wrong step in her life.

What a delightfully dynamic character!
How fortunate can a singer be to have the voice to sing it? And what a wonderful challenge may it be to only have a minute and a half to stun the audience both vocally and artistically?

Back to Troy, how magic does the music have to be for a little guy to demand to listen to it again and again and sit in his car seat with a happy smile and such a grown-up and inspired face?!

And mind you, little does he know about what is going on in the opera. I do tell him stories of the operas we listen to, but of course, very shortly and in simple words. For example, here is what I say about Ah! Fuggi il traditor! :

“This lady Donna Elvira says: This guy is bad. He was mean to me, he will be mean to you. Don’t talk to him – run, run, run!” Funny, right?

Don Giovanni. Kids' Version.

But I guess, this is as much information as Troy needs at this point. The learning is in and through the music anyway. Mozart says it all. And explains it much better than me. He is the teacher. I am just an assistant.

FCS: A Healthy Addiction

I have a question to you all.
Do you all have a healthy addiction?
No, besides opera.
Yes, opera is, no doubt, the best addiction, at least for anyone who finds time to read this blog ( well, almost anyone, anyway).Yes, opera keeps us young and slim ( we do eat less ice-cream and donuts to be fit for the new season, don’t we? At least in August? At least in the last week of August?)
Seriously speaking, I am extremely proud to share that I have one very healthy addiction. I am addicted to working out in the gym. Years of aerobics, tennis and running did their deed. I am completely hooked and am finally starting to see the major positive impact of workouts in my life.
I usually do not write about problems or stress in my blog, even though, like everyone else I have it all, and sometimes more. However, the best thing I can do to get rid of everything negative that the day brings is to just let myself run on the treadmill for at least 20 minutes straight, letting my mind go completely blank (the best feeling in the world, trust me), with absolutely no thinking involved! And then fill the rest of the hour with muscle adductor/abductor exercises and what not.
I love it. I really do. Now, because our Friday Culture Shock section is always my monologue, let’s make it a conversation this time! Feel free to pitch in and share your healthy addictions. No pressure, but if everyone shares, it will be fun, I promise.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Black Sunday

Yesterday was (what I call) Black Sunday.
The long waited for Sunday when Met tickets go on sale and over the hills and far away opera lovers, quite a crazy crowd on their own in the best of times, go completely insane at their computers and phones, trying to get the best available seats at the most reasonable prices.

It was quite a battle if you ask me. I hate to complain, because I love the Met, but all the stories that you keep hearing about not getting through, losing selected tickets, servers not working, etc. are true.
Lucky are the members – they don’t have that adventure to experience!

Several months ago a fellow blogger, who also happens to hold a membership at the Met, offered to get tickets for me at a member’s (slightly lower) price which was very sweet. However, at that point I had no extra money to spare and no idea what I would be doing in the coming season.
So, regretfully I did not use that offer and decided to see how my plans would shape up.

A couple of months ago, I came into possession of a small fortune (does that sound like Jane Austen to you?). A certain company offered me a contract for a small translation, having priced my work at $50.00 per page. Yep, that’s how expensive translation is these days.
Anyway, only a couple of hours of intense work dropped a check for $350.00 into the pocket of yours truly, thus making the season planning easier and so much more pleasant.

Meanwhile, my plans shaped up quite all right.
My very dear friend and a regular reader of this blog, Tatiana, is coming to visit me from Russia in 2 months!!! Our friendship dates back to the 90-s, when we went to school together in Moscow. How exciting is it for me to see her again and show her how I got settled in this country and let her meet my family and them – meet her.
So, of course we are going to New York and by all means, we are going to the Met!

Tatiana is not as big of an opera fan as I am, even though she is of this blog, but I think she will fall head over heels with opera, once she goes to the Met. Now, my dear friends and opera lovers, what do you all think of my choice of the opera to take her to?

Carmen with Elina Garanca in the title role and Nicole Cabell as Micaela?! I think I made a good choice. We have Balcony Row A seats (no heads in front of us!!!! Yay!)

My other Met trip (yes, there will be two of them this season) is coming up in April 2011. You guessed it right – Rossini. Le Comte Ory, an all-star production, directed by Bartlett Sher, conducted by Maurizio Benini, starring Juan Diego, Joyce and Diana Damrau!!!
All sharing one stage! A real opera miracle!
Plus, I am going to see it on the big HD Broadcast day. But even that is not all yet. Guess, who I am seeing it with? My mom!!!
How did I get so lucky, that for the first time in two years my mom wants to go to the opera with me? And to the Met too! Oh, I am not sure, how much of my joy is coming through my writing, but I am super-excited about this!
So, my friends, these are the 2 biggies of the season, and of course, I’ll update you on other local opera outings, as I decide to attend.
I would be happy to read about your plans for the upcoming season in the comment section. What operas are you planning to see? Met visits?
Cheers!

FCS: Friday, the 13th.

It's Friday, August 13th
Friday, the 13th, that is.
No, I am not superstitious.
Just stating the fact here, that's all.

FCS: A Letter from Rosina

I have a very pleasant and very music–related FCS for you all this week.
However, before we start – the fine print. All photos, except for the top one, are courtesy of Joyce DiDonato.

So the fall is coming (What? there will be days when it’s not gonna be 98 F?!! Seriously?)
and it’s about time I start planning my next Opera Appreciation Seminar.

Per my students’ request, I decided to devote the fall seminar to (for once!!!) a happy opera. Some thorough thinking and picking later, my choice fell on an opera that has a very special significance to me personally and will always have a huge place in my heart. Il Barbiere di Siviglia , my friends. Il Barbiere…my first live opera!
Even though I know no better Count Almaviva than Juan Diego Florez, and no better Rosina than Joyce DiDonato, I have to consider the specifics of my audience. My students are seniors, conservative and somewhat nostalgic about the days when opera “ was not as crazy as it is now” and had “real scenery” and “real costumes”.
With that in mind and a very deep sigh, I left both the Met and the Covent Garden Barbiere’s standing on the shelf and decided to play it safe by choosing the famous 40-year-old Ponnelle’s version, starring Prey, Berganza and Alva.
Then (is that perfect timing or what?) Joyce DiDonato, who, as most of you know, just completed that same production run at La Scala , published this amazing blog post with pictures of people-free set and most importantly, Rosina’s room where she had to spend some time during Act 1. If you remember, Rosina spends most of Act 1 up in her room, answering Almaviva’s serenade from there, and talking to Doctor Bartolo from the balcony. I have to admit, I never thought that artists have more than a chair to sit in, while singing off-stage. Turns out, I was all wrong. Opera goes far beyond the stage and visible scenery is as important as invisible one. For an artist to perform his/her best, they need to be in it the whole time– does not matter where they physically are.
As you all see, the room is fully furnished and decorated. How many of you could imagine that?

When getting ready for my seminars, I always compile a handout with important dates, facts and pictures, something that my students can sort of “hold on to”, take home with them and look at later. This time, however, I was thinking about compiling a little Rossini booklet. It’s Rossini for goodness sake – what a character! What a life!

So I dared write to Joyce and ask for her permission to use her unique photos for my booklet. Joyce replied with this very nice e-mail that I would like to share with you all. I feel truly honored to have heard those wonderful words of encouragement and inspiration from the best Rosina of our time! Also, do not forget to click on that link and listen to the song. It’s hilarious – enjoy! Have a very nice weekend, you all!

Dear Raisa!

I hope you don't mind my writing you directly, but I thought maybe it's better to respond to your post privately. You are MORE than welcome to use the photos - I love that you are teaching the class, and surely you are bringing a world of enjoyment to many people that might not be as "mobile" as they once were, so you bring the world to them. That's lovely.

Yes, please use them with my greetings to the students, and have fun with it!!!

By the way, you might enjoy to play a bit with the tune of Figaro's Aria - just to give them all a laugh. It's addictive, however, so consider yourself warned!!!
It's a song by Louis Prima, called "The bigger the figure" and it's, well, it's delightful! Here's a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYF-oV-2myc

In the meantime, thanks for your support and take good care!
Cheers,
joyce

Just Like Andre Rieu

I confess Andre Rieu has become sort of an ideal for my 1 1/2 year-old son.
Besides watching the famous Live in Vienna DVD every weekend and loving it ( if he could he would watch it every day, I am sure), he has recently started copying the way Andre Rieu plays the violin.
Every time you ask him: Troy, show me how Andre Rieu is playing, he lifts his left arm up to his shoulder level and moves his right arm, just like a violinist.
He does that with the happiest of smiles and the dreamiest of faces, as if he is working magic or hears music while doing it, and - strangely enough, demonstrates some flexibility in his right wrist, which makes it look all the more real.
Another interesting thing is that he does it exactly right: left arm "holding" the violin, right arm "holding" the bow. Interesting...