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posted by mitchdy at 8:53 PM January 9th, 2012
We are well into 2012...I hope this finds you well and dry(we had a HUGE rain storm in Houston today)! We have so far spent the year in Houston. We are enjoying our time in every way. We have a great apartment, interesting area of town, gym in the building...and I am having another fabulous professional experience. We are doing Rape of Lucretia by Britten, and I am Lucretia. It's a fantastic cast. Rory McDonald is conducting, and a joy to work with...both musically and personally. Arin Arbus is our director...she comes from Broadway theaters, and this is her first opera. I have enjoyed our interactions immensely. We both are striving for a very natural, realistic character and production. Judith Forst is Bianca, who is just fantastic, and Lauren Snouffer is Lucia, who sings beautifully! The 2 men I mostly work with (most intensely) Collatinus (My husband) and Tarquinius (my rapist). They are played by Ryan McKinny and Jacques Imbrailo, and are class acts... they both sound amazing, and are great colleagues. It's rounded out with Joshua Hopkins as Junius, Tony Griffey as male chorus, and Leah Crocetto as female chorus, who are all great!
I am having, simply said, a fantastic experience... Lucretia is a very rewarding role both vocally and theatrically.
ALSO, Anita Yavich is our costume designer....and for me is simply perfect. I have hired her for a couple of my concert gowns because she designs for me so well.
All the best!
ps, did ANYONE see the Bronco game yesterday? GREAT end!
posted by mitchdy at 10:07 PM December 13th, 2011
Hi everyone! Sorry for my absence.. between jet lag, severe jet lag, and trying to keep up with twitter, facebook and LIFE... I have been remiss.
I hope this finds everyone well, and getting into the holiday, Christmas in my house, spirit! I love it. I love the decorations, the family time, the special meals, the carols... It makes me very happy. I'm like a child.
I am in NY for a quick 3 days of voice lessons... Since I no longer live here, I have to visit every 6 months or so for a little tune up. It's impossible as a singer, with our instrument inside of us, to do this on our own. We can keep it going for a long time, knowing technique the way we are trained to, but fine tuning needs to be done by those we trust to know what to do!
I have had such an amazing couple of months... Huge Bluebeard tour with Esa Pekka Salonen, Sir John Tomlinson, and London Philharmonia. We had 10 performances around Europe, and it was a dream. Really one of the greatest experiences of my career!
Then I went directly to Sydney, where I did Mahler 2 with the great Ashkenazy, Emma Matthews who was lovely!, and in the gorgeous Sydney opera house!
After these trips, I was more jet lagged than I had ever been in my life!! But it was exhilarating!!
I am happy to have a few weeks off now (Except for my voice lessons) and to enjoy Christmas with my family... then we head off to Houston for Rape of Lucretia!
I wish everyone a wonderful holiday...
posted by mitchdy at 8:09 AM October 25th, 2011
Well, our Bluebeard tour is in full swing. We have done 2 of our staged productions. One in Birmingham on last Friday, and last night in Lisbon. We are back in London for the day, and tomorrow have a concert version in Basingstoke. We head to Spain for the weekend for 2 concerts, one in Vigo, and one in Madrid. This is such an incredible experience. EPS is simply amazing. This is not an easy piece by any means, and I feel as if he guides me through it and is always there. We are staged in front of the orchestra and him, so that makes it somewhat complicated with such a musically difficult piece. But he makes it work. Sir John Tomlinson is one of the all time greatest colleagues, on and off the stage. Judith remains one of my favorite roles to sing. It's a huge and wonderful delicious challenge... I learn so much every time I do it. And the Philharmonia is truly fantastic orchestra, that brings so much drama and color to the music. So needless to say, this is one of those experiences in life that I am really trying to stay in the NOW and am so thankful for!
posted by mitchdy at 9:00 PM October 11th, 2011
I have had a very fulfilling and exciting fall so far. It seems like I've been on a lucky streak having such amazing experiences, with fantastic people. I performed in Hong Kong for the first time, performed with Pinkas Zukerman again in Ottawa, and to top it all off I performed the concert in remembrance of the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks. Amazing. I am now heading out for a big tour with the Philharmonia of London. I once again will be singing Judith, in Bluebeards Castle, with the great Esa Pekka Salonen, and Sir John Tomlinson as Bluebeard. We will have 10 performances in 6 European countries, with 4 being staged. I hope this finds you all well, Michelle.
posted by mitchdy at 12:12 PM September 15th, 2011
Am home, after a whirlwind tour of Hong Kong and New York. The entire trip was fabulous... all Mahler. First in HK with Lawrence Renes conducting, and Stuart Skelton as my Das Lied counter part. Then in NY for the Sept 11 concert with the NY phil of Mahler 2, Alan Gilbert conducting with Dorothea Roschmann as the soprano. The latter was so poignant and powerful. It felt like a huge giving and pouring out of emotion from the entire NY Phil, the chorus, Alan and us soloists. It didn't feel like a performance. It was extraordinary, thrilling, and one of the most beautiful renditions of Mahler 2 I have ever experienced... Thank you all for the amazing experience. It was an honor to be part of the concert.
Thank you everyone that sacrificed on that fateful day...and everyone that fights for our freedom and safety.
posted by mitchdy at 11:51 PM September 3rd, 2011
Just leaving Hong Kong, after a wonderful week here. This is such a beautiful and lively city. I had a wonderful time with Lawrence Renes conducting, Stuart Skelton singing 1-3-5, me singing 2-4-6, and Sarah, Stu's partner, being lovely and supportive. Thank you to everyone at the HK Phil... including Michael, Raff, Michelle, Kristy and Alice... among others. I look so forward to returning. This was a very special week. On to New York!
posted by mitchdy at 8:27 PM August 23rd, 2011
This has been a very interesting summer. I had a major and unfortunate cancellation, which gave me a whole month at home! It has been wonderful... I have worked on lots of music, exercised, stained the deck, spent time with family and friends, and cooked a lot. But I am excited to get going into a very exciting fall. Friday, I leave for my first visit to Hong Kong, to sing Das Lied von der Erde for the opening season concerts. Then I go to NY for the Phil's concert of Mahler 2 to commemorate Sept 11. This is such an extreme honor for me. If you are interested in seeing/hearing the concert, it will be on PBS in the USA on Sept 11 at 9 pm EST. It is also on TV in Europe, but I don't have information on channels.
After that I look forward to working with Pinchas Zuckerman on Alexander Nevsky in Ottawa. And an amazing tour with London Philharmonia and Esa Pekka of Bluebeard, with Sir John Tomlinson in the title role. We will be visiting 10 cities in Europe, including London, Vienna, Paris, Madrid, Dortmund, Lisbon and others.
Then I fly to the other side of the world, Sydney Australia, for the first time. I am very excited to work with Ashkenazy, who is one of my favorite pianists. We will be doing Mahler 2.
Have a great fall!!!
posted by mitchdy at 9:36 PM July 23rd, 2011
I am back in Aspen for the fabulous music festival. Tomorrow I will lead a master class with 6 very talented young singers, and then Monday night I am part of a chamber music concert. We are doing Brahms 2 viola Alto lullabies, and Elizabeth Buccheri and I are performing 5 more Brahms songs. Allan and I love being here.. it's a highlight of our summer.
posted by mitchdy at 10:14 PM July 6th, 2011
I hope you are all having a lovely summer. My thoughts go out to those dealing with the wild fires, dust storms...or just plain too much heat!
I am having some time at home, which is absolutely lovely. I had a great trip to Japan, and some wonderful concerts. I do love Japan!
I hope all you Americans had a wonderful July 4th... I love fireworks!!
posted by mitchdy at 8:16 PM May 27th, 2011
Greetings after me being quite delinquent about journaling! I have just finished a wonderful, Mahler filled trip. As you can imagine, this being the 100th anniversary of Gustav Mahler's death, I have been doing many Mahler concerts. Mahler 2, 3, Wunderhorn Songs, Wayfarer songs, Das Lied von der Erde, and Kindetotenlieder! The recent trip was Mahler 2 with Andrew Litton in Bergen Norway, Wunderhorn with London Phil and Maazel, recital with the great Kevin Murphy, and Kindertotenlieder with Pittsburgh Symphony and Honeck. Both musically and personally this trip was a high point. I am now having some down time before going to Osaka for Mahler 3.
This Monday we celebrate Memorial Day in the US...where we thank and remember those who have fought for us, and who died for our freedom, for our great country. Thank you for sacrificing your life for us. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your devotion. God Bless You.
