(3:18pm)
I just finished a coaching with Maestro Behr. I have to review a lot about the proper way of executing Italian recitatives. It’s tough as s***. I also have to make sure that I can recite the lines, not just in Italian, but also in English. I don’t have to do an exact word-per-word recitation, but every form of verbs would matter: “can” is different from “would”, and “believed” is different from “had believed”. That will be my big homework for Figaro. We slightly dealt with the tension of my tongue on my jaw. Earlier today, I coached my French with Mdme. Collier. She helped me tremendously on my French, especially in “La fleur que tu m’avais jetée”. My schedule is done for the moment, but we are planning on having an “Act II” rehearsal (students only) later tonight. I actually have nothing else to coach, so I’ll just keep rehearsing all the other music I have to learn, especially for the Marilyn Horne Foundation Competition. I’ll be posting more of what will go on tonight.

It’s now 11:40pm, Wednesday, June 25.

The day started with Dr. Mester (Throat Doctor) explaining to us about the voice, health and how to take care of it.

I had another lesson with John Churchwell, and sang for him Faure’s “Nell” and “Après un Rêve”. He told me a lot of very important issues regarding the proper production of certain vowels, as well as keeping the line smooth, as well as the transition of registers from low to middle to high. It was very very educational. He helped me a lot today.

That was the only lesson I had today. I was supposed to have one with Warren Jones, but since Justin Plank (baritone) is still recuperating, the scene from Thaïs is postponed. Instead, I spent time with another vocal pianist, Marie-Eve Scarfone. In addition to singing songs and running new repertoire, we spent a lot of fun time doing parodies of songs and arias. She is a fun girl.

Later, Meaghan, Joni, Shannon, Tim, Anotonio and I drove to Foster Freeze (Carpinteria), and we all ate ice cream. After that, we all came back to Cate School. I watched a little “Whose Line Is It Anyway” at the Community Center, and chilled with Phillip, Antonio, Alexander and Howard.

Tomorrow will be another semi-big day, and I give more information about my lessons and coachings with Mdme. Collier and Maestro Behr.

Check back tomorrow for more…