Monday, November 21, 2011


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Did I tell you I used to sing opera? I've been thinking about that lately, because I've been dreaming about that lately. That's scary. Some thirty-forty years scary.
It's the reliving of my past life before death in slow motion over a period of, oh
let's hope some twenty years or something.

All I ever wanted to be was an opera singer. From the time I was really little and my mother played her Wagner operas on 78's. I'd act out what I thought was in the music on the living room floor. Then we'd play "Giselle" and I'd dance. I'd sing hymns and as I got older, I became fascinated with "The Tales of Hoffmann." I sang Antonia's aria to our dog "Boythorne's howling in the background.
Ah, those were the days.

Then, there was the audition and introduction to "In the Garden" a contemporary opera. (I'll have to look up the composer.) As a teenager, I was accepted. Two weeks later, the troop left the area to become beatniks in California. So much for my first attempt at singing in an opera company.

I sang in church. I sang in the living room. I sang for people I didn't know. I auditioned for the Liederkranz Foundation scholarship at eighteen, on a real stage, and was so nervous, forgot the words. Then won a scholarship to work with a teacher in Queens.

That was fun. We put on "La Boheme," somewhere in Queens. I played Musetta, my first real role in the opera. And, I had a crush on the tenor. He had to be in his thirties. I think I was glad when I got accepted into Manhattan School of Music.

My voice teacher was that Metropolitan Opera star Herta Glaz. Not only was she a great voice teacher, but a great human being. She took me under her wing. When I sang in Europe several years later, she took me into her home during the summers to coach me for some roles I was to sing at the Landestheater Coburg. I believe she's gone now. She died at a little over 100. Is that cool, or what?

Learning more about my opera life than you ever wanted of need to know, to be continued.

I'm on a schedule now. The horses get ridden Monday-Friday. They rest on Saturday and Sunday while I write and throw my computer against the wall. I might need to install padded walls.

Take care everyone. Have a great day. Help yourself to another blueberry muffin and don't fall into the lake. (just kidding. That's my virtual world, not my real one)

Pat

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this blog regarding your Opera career. Many writers have more than one talent. Few pursue more than one and that's a shame. How can we know our true selves if we limit ourselves to one career? Brava to you, Pat, for daring more than one development of talent.
Patricia Jones

Unknown said...

Thank you Patti,I appreciate your comments.I'm not sure whether it's better to be great at one thing or good in many. I'm sure it's frustrating in either case. My grandmother,speaking of her family, said "Thank God I'm not talented." She was. She was a great organizer, a great cook, made clothes and,during prohibition, made wine in her bathtube.

don't you love grandmothers?

pg

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