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posted by mitchdy at 12:29 AM August 10th, 2010
Let's face it, Al and I love Switzerland. It is so gorgeous. I have been inundated with rehearsals, but when we do have a little time off, we are taking trains to somewhere, hiking, and seeing the glory of God here in Switzerland.
Last week was all musical rehearsals. That was a long and exhausting week to do while jet lagged, but being this is my first Amneris, helpful. We started staging with Calixto Beieto yesterday. It's going to be without borders, but it is very intense work. He directs you to a place that is deep and definitely beyond comfort zones. It's thrilling, terrifying and exhausting! I am looking forward to this intense work.
I hope this finds you all very well...
posted by mitchdy at 2:15 PM July 16th, 2010
My family and I spent an amazing week on houseboats on Lake Shasta. We celebrated my parents 50th wedding anniversary! We had a lot of fun, then I jetted (literally, as a board member picked me up) to Jackson Hole and performed Les Nuits d'ete by Berlioz with Donald Runnicles and the orchestra. For the first time in my life I had a bit of altitude sickness, but I guess flying in from sea level the day of the concert was just too much (I was replacing an ill Susan Graham at the last minute) the 2nd concert went much better, thankfully. Now I am home, getting some much needed down time. We are off to Aspen on Monday for a master class and 2 concerts, then home a few more days, and off to Switzerland for 3 1/2 months. The packing for that trip has already begun, but it is daunting!
Just a readers digest version of what has been going on with me for the past month. I hope this finds you all well!
posted by mitchdy at 11:03 AM June 24th, 2010
My time in LA, with the opera here, has been so fulfilling. First of all, have sung both Fricka's, Sieglinde, 2nd norn and Waltraute... I think I am figuring out Achim Fryer's style... and am making music with Maestro Conlon. Singing duets with Placido Domingo has been, as always, thrilling. Meeting the lovely Mrs. Gene Kelly, Josh Groban, Michael York, Stephen Rae, and last but not least, PAU GASOL, after performances. 
I hear Cheech Marin was there, but I didn't meet him. Teaching master classes for very talented singers, doing live interviews, singing fund raising concerts, riding bikes on the beach, training for the breast cancer walk, seeing friends and family, graduating with my bachelors one year, and my doctorate the next, and making good friends. Anyway, these were some of the fun exciting things that happened during our 2 seasons with the LA opera for the RING. Thank you Christopher Koelsch, Placido Domingo and James Conlon for a very wonderful and memorable time.
posted by mitchdy at 8:00 PM June 19th, 2010
This is the last week for the Ring cycle in LA. Our final Walküre is a matinee tomorrow,(UGH) so I am trying to rest today, and hopefully sleep early so I can get up and get my voice moving.... So interesting after all of this time to see this Ring come to an end. I am very excited and in need of a vacation/break, but also sad to see it go.
I hope this finds you all well!
posted by mitchdy at 10:49 AM June 8th, 2010
Tonight starts the 2nd cycle of the LA RING. It's a bit daunting to think that in 2 weeks, it will all be done. After years of work, and living in LA for 8 months total... It has been a fantastic time, sometimes frustrating, but rewarding! I have enjoyed working at the LA opera very much. This is always such a great time though, after all the hours and hours of rehearsals, to perform it. To make amazing music with James Conlon, and participate in creating this magical Ring.
posted by mitchdy at 1:02 PM May 30th, 2010
Tonight is opening night of Walkure here in LA. Last night we opened Das Rheingold, which went very well... not easy to be doing shows back to back... hopefully I have been careful enough and taken good enough care for it to be ok!
I am very excited and have the expected nerves... such a pleasure and delight to sing Sieglinde, and 10 times more with Domingo as Siegmund.
I would like to say thank you to Jay Hunter Morris, who I did all the rehearsals with. You are a truly wonderful colleague and a delight to work with.
Toi toi toi for the whole Walküre cast tonight...
posted by mitchdy at 1:51 PM May 26th, 2010
Tonight is Die Walküre final dress rehearsal. It is closed, which I have decided I am pleased about. I am excited, but nervous...and trying still to memorize all of my hand gestures.. the truth is, every time I have the opportunity to work with Placido, I am thrilled. He is such a generous and gracious colleague. It is an honor and a delight to work with him again, and I find because of his energy and life in Siegmund, it raises my Sieglinde game... I wish TOI TOI TOI on the whole Walküre cast.
posted by mitchdy at 10:30 AM May 23rd, 2010
We are getting close to the opening of the LA ring. We are in final rehearsals this week, which are closed... I appreciate that, as then it truly can remain a rehearsal. There is something about when anyone goes to watch a rehearsal, in their mind they think it should be performance ready... and if anything goes wrong it's somehow a disaster. It's amazing what can improve from final dress to opening night, in every way!
I am very excited. It's the most creative and unusual RING I have ever seen. It is really a wonderful ride.... When I saw the pictures of what we looked like I was amazed and how cool it looked. I had no concept of that on stage. Don't get me wrong, the RAKE is not easy, nor good for anyones back. You have to learn how to support your voice on such a raked stage... but with the lighting and special effects it's exciting and wonderful. It is definitely other worldly.
posted by mitchdy at 12:10 AM May 6th, 2010
Tonight we had the 1st and 2nd act of Walkure Sitzprobe. It was so exciting! It is just a thrill to be able to sing this amazing music. Jay Hunter Morris is just a gem to work with. He is such a lovely man, and sounds fantastic (he is the Siegmund cover, but Domingo isn't here yet so he sang)
Linda Watson is wonderful, so creamy and rich.... and a great colleague to boot!
It was an exciting evening... will be hard to get to sleep tonight, but have act 3 tomorrow and notes for the opera....
I am so very blessed...
I hope this finds you all well.
posted by mitchdy at 11:11 PM April 16th, 2010
My apologies for my delay in a journal entry! Things have been very busy in LA. We have done 2 performances of Gotterdammerung, and have 3 left. Last week we started Rheingold rehearsal, and this Tuesday we start Walkure rehearsal as well!! Not easy keeping the 4 roles straight in my head, but I am enjoying the challenge! This cast is simply fantastic. Both personally and professionally I enjoy working with them. This production of Achim Fryer is fantasy, and is exciting and challenging to become part of that world. I understand it on a much different level this year. James Conlon continues to be making magic with the orchestra. I am very excited for the whole RING to start the end of May. If you haven't seen this RING, I highly recommend it. It is unique and creative in a way none has ever been in the US.
I hope this finds you well and enjoying spring!
