Chorus women rehearsing in the dressing room before the orchestra dress rehearsal.  Yes, we do act like this.

A Change of Tenor

Opera is always an adventure.  The best thing about live theater is that it is always changing.  Sometimes the changes surprise you.  The tenor we had hired to sing Samson had to leave because of personal reasons (it's personal, so I didn't ask) and Maestro Lyall had to call in another tenor to step in and assume the title role.  This isn't the first time that I've been a part of a show where someone had to be replaced and I'm sure it won't be the last time, either.  This is life; people get sick.  Life interuptus.  But, the show must go on.  Frank Porretta, a natural Samson (long hair and all), has jumped into the role and is taking contol of the DeVos Hall stage. We are very fortunate that Frank has agreed to come sing with us considering that this is the time he scheduled off to be with his wife and newborn baby.  Here's a link to the Press Release: Grand Rapids Press Article.

Time to dust off the Blog again!

It's been some time, but I finally decided to get back to the blog.  Opera Grand Rapids is in chorus rehearsal for Samson + Delilah by Saint Saens.  Once again I am dealing with the French language.  I actually really love the language; I just have some issues memorizing it. I would love to spend an extended time in France to learn the language, but that isn't going to happen any time soon so now I have to work on repetition instead.  So far I have been working on my notes (I sing the alto line) with a keyboard and rewriting the French on my computer so I can make note cards for when we start staging.  One more chorus rehearsal with Maestro Duane Davis on Monday and then we start staging on the weekend.  Time to buckle-down and get comfortable with this score!

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