sing in an opera

Although performance is not my main objective, I definately think that a future voice/choir teacher should have a wide range of knowledge and expertise. Plus… Who wouldnt love the rush of the perfect melody on stage infront of hundreds?

For three years a group of dedicated amateurs in my community put on full-scale operas. We enjoyed it immensely, and so did the meager audiences, but it was too expensive to last long. Unfortunately an awful lot of opera-lovers are snobs and wouldn;t pay $25 to see “amateur” opera. Would rather pay $75 and drive to San Francisco. Oh well. Now I sing barbershop music instead.

Spring 2006 I participated in my first opera. At first I wanted to drop out because of the other chorus members (who weren’t friendly) but the beautiful music kept me in it. I’m glad I stayed, and I made some friends!

It was college and I had an amazing opportunity to sing in la Boheme. I will never forget it.

It was a children’s opera that I auditioned for through my school and it was a fantastic experience.

This is something I have been doing for a very long time. I performed in my first opera in 1992 when i was 11 it was and still is fantastic fantastic. You stand there on the stage whether in a lead role or the chorus and watch the faces looking up at you.

The emotion just runs through you filling up every part of your body, with a good cast playnig the roles you can weep real tears over the same dead body for a year of rehearsals and touring.

But of all the things my favourite is the matinee when all the OAP’s turn out and you stand there as the curtain goes up looking out on a sea of glass (spectecle) stars. You sing with all your heart and they glitter back at you.

Learn vocal music, in Italian. Audition. Dress nice. Sing from the heart. You will get the part. It starts with rehearsals, staging, costumes, wigs, makeup and finally, Opening Night. Your first scene, you are in the chorus, a Popolo de Pekino. The curtain rises and the smell of a hundred perfumes waft up in the rising current of air from the audience. The orchestra swells and you sing about a princess’s beauty matched only by the pale moonlight. You writhe and dance whilst singing this enchanting melody calling out for challengers to a test of love when failure equals death. Opera will find your humanity, your tolerance of others, and love. The best seat in the house is the one just stage left of the diva.