I'm a singer and it's Christmas

Op-ed

I'm a singer and it's Christmas. It feels like I have a rehearsal or performance every single day. My Facebook feed is full of spam about performances (half of which I'm in) and memories of past statuses congratulating my fellow performers on a job well done. My partner and I are like ships in the night. My Mom guilt is at record levels. So many babysitters, late nights, and not enough sleep for my little guy who still needs Mommy to fall asleep.

Bocelli & Evancho to sing at Trump inauguration, opera folk feel weird about it

Editorial

Personally, I suppose I feel a bit icky that it was within the opera world (which does include popera) where the Trump people found artists willing to perform for his big day. Like it somehow shames by association a whole community of opera singers who are largely liberal-leaning.

In review: The (reimagined) Winter's Tale

Review

Hovering somewhere between medieval inspiration and abstract improvisation, Kim Ashton's music served as evocative incidental music, offering subtext and commentary in what felt like a live version of a film score. With admirable listening skills, the quartet played from memory, removing one more barrier that can separate the audience from the creative process.

It's beginning to look a lot like **SUB NEEDED**

Op-ed

The past few weeks every time I log on to my social media feeds, or open my inboxes, I find the same messages. "Sub needed for Dec 23, 24, 25," etc., outlining the money made per call. This doesn't just happen at Christmas either. I see the same barrage of posts happening during Lent/Easter as well.

#Roundup2016: Greg & Jenna's Top 10

Editorial

"I totally loved interviewing baritone Sidney Outlaw. He has a peace and wisdom about him that translates into his work. He answers every tough question about the industry with some form of "take it to the practice room." He was easy to talk with, and funny enough to make me wish we could have done a podcast out of it."

Don't miss: The Pirates of Penzance with TOT

Interview

"Pirates is part love story, part silly romp which pokes fun at everything ranging from love, youth, getting old, authority to politics."

What I learned about money from Enrico Caruso

Op-ed

The voice in my head wants me to be a brilliant actor, an incredible singer, the best blogger, a life changing financial planner, and everyone's favourite friend. I want all the things. You see… I'm not the kind of guy who can do just 'one thing'. I like having multiple focuses… focusi? And so I'm constantly in conflict with my want to do all of things, and my want to be great at all those things. The smaller the focus, the larger the voice.

Artistic success: pay it forward

This field is small, it is competitive. I understand the urge to protect your job(s) and hold onto employment you’ve worked hard to get. This is a deeply rooted urge, grown from the subconscious fears that "I am not good enough" and "Maybe this other person could do it better". In some people, this manifests into a refusal to help others up the ladder, an inability to send the elevator down for someone perceived as a threat.

Talking with singers: Jessica Pratt

Interview

"It is our diversity that makes for a healthy industry. I prefer to think of us all contributing in our own way, rather than all competing, which seems like such a limiting view to me. The only competition that I feel constantly is competition with myself, to try overtime to improve something in my performance or my technique."

Risky opinions: there are 2 types of singers...

Editorial

To be fair: maybe these singers can do subtle, and we just didn't get the chance to see it (and most of the above examples come from an arguably different era of directing opera). But they're still quite different from singers like Diana Damrau, Christopher Purves, Krisztina Szabó, Barbara Hannigan, Alice Coote, and Allan Clayton. These guys are versatile, and they really do pair their beautiful sounds with mature, layered dramatic performances that feel organic and believable, rather than hokey and overdone.