For years I have loved opera. We don't have opera around here. I would have to travel at least 4 hours to Chicago to see an opera. But I have had the privilege to see "Madam Butterfly". I was fascinated and loved every minute.
When I was in college, I took some voice training, and have been singing ever since. It has been my desire to learn a tenor aria (solo) and perform it at least once. Recently, I heard David Phelps perform "Nessun Dorma" from the opera, "Turandot." It was wonderful. I, again, was fascinated. I found his performance on Rhapsody and downloaded it to my MP3 player. The more I listened to it, the more I liked it. It is short (2:38) and it is in my range.
So I started searching for the music. I found it online and downloaded it. For you sheet music lovers out there, musicnotes. com is a wonderful source. You have to join and pay for what you download, but it's cheap by today's prices for sheet music. And they have all kinds of music. BUT, I digress.
I talked to my friend at church who directs our choir, and who is also the person who accompanies my two quartets, and she agreed to work with me to learn the music. I am challenging myself to learn it in Italian, which, of course, was the original language in which it was composed.
I am not in a hurry to do this. I don't care if it takes several months to learn it, but I am enthused. It gives me a goal.
My voice coach in college always told me that I could sing anything I wanted to sing, so I am going to give this a shot.
Peace,
JE
5 comments:
Good for you, JE! You'll feel a real sense of accomplishment when you can add it to your repetoire!
By the way, you don't have to go all the way to Chicago for opera. There are several universities between Indy and Chicago. Most have music departments and probably do opera as part of the curriculum. There will be several performances open to the public throughout the year, I would bet. The students are most likely quite talented and will amaze you with their skill and enthusiasm! Another plus, those performances will not only be closer to home, they will probably cost 1/3 as much -- or less. Why not give it a try?! They may not be big name stars (at least not yet!), but they will be better than you might think! The up and comers need audiences too! :)
(Another fork in the road of our twinness...Opera is just NOT my thing.)
Wow. What a great goal. I would love to hear you. I know it would be fantastic!
Denise, (my wife), for years was the prop lady for the Intermountain Opera, here in Bozeman. I went to the opera here about three times a year so that I could observe her handiwork - I almost got to the point where I enjoyed opera - almost.
Good luck in your quest and achieving your goal!!
Terry
I have noticed that when I mention opera, eyebrows go up and the corners of mouths go down. Music can't please everyone all the time. I don't like jazz very well, which my oldest grandson can't understand at all. I also frown at rap. So I guess it's to each his own.
I don't think I would like a steady diet of any one kind of music. Take Broadway Musicals, for instance. If I hear the music from "The Music Man" one more time, I will jump off the porch rail! But, "A Chorus Line" is a different story altogether. Funny how that works.
Terry: Thanks for your words of encouragement. You, too, Mel. I appreciate them. Maybe a lofty goal, but I will give it my best shot.
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