For the love of Benjamin Britten

So I really shouldn't go this long without posting, particularly when I'm trying to be good about this new venture. Oh well...
I'd like to start off by remembering Luciano Pavarotti. I was never a huge fan of his (because of the acting), but MAN, did he have a voice!! Beautiful and substantial with Italian diction you could take dictation to. I just listened to a Nessun Dorma recording and remembered how great his voice really was. We've lost a lot of greats this year and it begs the question: will we have another great generation of singers? Is this it? I mean, Renee Fleming works, Thomas Hampson sort of works, but Anna Netrebko, Angela Gheorghiu? Don't get me wrong, they have their appeal, but a Regine Crespin, Beverly Sills, Luciano Pavarotti, Jerry Hadley they are not. Sad, but true. Ahhh, bel canto!

Before I depress myself too much, I must report that I am busier than ever this fall (and spring). Things are starting to look up and not just in the choral work department. I have solo work: not much, but enough to keep me hungry and pushing for more work. I will be singing a solo recital on January 8 at St Barts and sharing the stage with my pal Vince Peterson. He will be debuting his new choral group and we will be doing all living composers music, including Vince's! After that, I will dive headlong into rehearsals for PETER GRIMES!!! Yes, I'm singing Ellen Orford with One World Symphony here in NYC. It will definitely be a good challenge for me and one that I am absolutely up for. Those performances will be January 25 and 27 (I will only sing one of them since we are double cast - stay tuned for the exact date I will be singing).
I also have many auditions and many choral contracts, so I am going to have to keep a close watch on my vocal and bodily health. Not a lot of partying for me, nor any loud bars & restaurants. I'm going to have to be good, which is difficult at times. I like to be social and my teacher rides me about it all the time. But for good reason. I have learned over the years that my voice is particularly fragile and I cannot afford to push it the way I sometimes do. So, no partying for moi. La voce, la voce!