BellaVoceSingers

I’ve never written a blog entry.  In fact, I don’t really read other  blogs, but sometimes thoughts run through my head so rapidly that I feel desperate to write them down in order to hold onto that moment that got my head churning in the first place.  Tonight, I had one of those moments. 

Not too long ago, I read that a new production of Puccini’s opera Tosca was booed at the Met. Naturally, I had to run to a performance to make sure to find out what the commotion was all about…the People were reacting pretty negatively to a new interpretation, to a new representation of a very popular opera. Artistic choices aside, I find it is fascinating how a representation of a work can become so emblematic that an audience may be so resistant to any change in "vision"...

Practice, Practice, Practice!!!

It's an oldie, I know, but still a goodie, and very fitting for where we are in the semester right now. It was a fantastic rehearsal the other night! I was so pleased with everyone's work and how focused you all were. But don't get cocky. Please practice. It doesn't take much time out of each day, and the results are truly worth it in the end.

September brings with it a renewal, even as it takes us into Winter. With falling leaves comes a new school year, a new repertoire. It’s always quite striking just how music is imprinted in our minds in the way that we interact with the world: with our emotions, our past, our future. This past week, while I was traipsing along the Irish countryside instead of singing alongside everyone at rehearsal, I was reminded of the power of music and memory at almost every turn, especially through many songs we have performed together.

So here it is - my first blog entry ever! I'll just get right down to it: I am very excited about this new semester of singing! I was inspired for the title of our concerts this year - Peace and Love - somewhat by the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock this past summer. It's a theme that obviously resonated with many people then, and (as cheesy as it might sound) peace and love are things that I think we could all use a little more of in our lives.