Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Today was indeed another day

And it was a much better one as well.

Thank you for your words of encouragement and support in the comments (and a few worried personal emails) - it all helps a lot. Luckily however, today was a much brighter, easier day. Maybe I really did just need to make some rain so I could find a rainbow.

I had a lovely rehearsal with the conductor this morning (I brought him a bar of chocolate to thank him for being so nice with me yesterday), followed by a staging rehearsal where they actually let me wear my costume and wig so that I could practice how it all felt during some of the trickier staging moments. I reconfigured the staging a little during part of my aria that was troubling me and it worked much better, and I even almost finished figuring out that cadenza I need to add into the second act. Then while I was having lunch in the cafeteria, I was introduced to the man who will direct Agrippina - the show I will sing here at the Staatsoper in the winter, who was just in town for meetings about the opera, and was very happy to get a look at me as he plans his production so he knows what he has to work with. I was sitting at the lunch table about to shove a sandwich down my throat when the director introduced himself to me, and asked whether I would mind meeting the costume designer, Christian Lacroix. I said of course I would love to meet Christian Lacroix, being that he is a famous fashion designer and I LOVE FASHION! As the director walked away, the singer I was sitting with said to me excitedly, "Chistian Lacroix?? I was going to wear a shirt by him just today - I was this close!!" When I met him, he was so delightfully self deprecating and sweet that I couldn't believe he was the same famous designer whose name I had heard all these years. But he was - and it was funny to have a famous fashion icon look me up and down and assess my body because he's going to make clothes just for me!! Luckily, he seemed pleased with what he had to work with (I can do boy with this body - that at least I know) and he mentioned something about tight jeans tucked into boots, which sounds awesome to me!! I think in my zealousness to meet him I might have also told him I would cut my hair for the production. I'm usually adventuresome and don't mind doing crazy things like that for the right moment, but who knows if I'm going to regret that decision later!

The day ended with a trip to the Sony Center, where they play all the american movies undubbed and without subtitles even, where I got to see the new Quentin Tarantino flick. All in all, not a bad day. Not bad at all.

5 comments:

ken said...

Glad you're feeling better and hangin' with the fashionistas. How did the Germans react to the Tarantino movie?

K Marie said...

I just wanted to tell you that I LOVE your blog. Thank you so much for putting it all out there. A friend posted the link on her FB page and, being enamored of all things musical and all things "behind the scenes," I couldn't resist. Well, I loved the most recent entries so much, I ended up going back to entry number 1 and reading it straight through like a book, in every spare moment, all weekend long. I was sucked in by your honesty, graciousness, good humor, and the obvious joy you take in your profession.
I'm not in the music world at all; I'm just your average 30-something suburban working mom, but I do enjoy singing and take lessons from a young opera singer just for fun. (Some people take a pottery class; I try to learn to trill and hit high Cs. To each her own...) It's so much fun to read your blog and learn more about this unique world that seems so mysterious to the average Jo on the street.
I'm sorry for posting what my husband termed a "fan letter...from a dork," but since I am both a fan and a dork, I can't argue with that. Just sincerely wanted to say thanks.

Julie said...

So glad today was better! I will second the previous blogger-I love reading all your posts- Its very different from my volunteer at lunch- pick up from school- get the homework done routine! Choir practice is about as close as I get to what you're doing- enjoy every minute! (Or at least most of them!)

Katypracht said...

Holy Christ-ian la croix! Wow, I must say I cannot WAIT to see pictures from that production! :) Especially if you decide to cut off your luscious locks...;) You'll just have to save your hair so you can create a fabulous weave.

So glad to hear this was a much better day,

:) Katy

sestissimo said...

No such thing as a dorky fan letter - letters of encouragement are highly appreciated on this end!! I am really thrilled people are enjoying my writing because knowing I'm going to write everything down really allows me to experience things in a whole new way. As for the German perspective on the movie, I have no idea because the theater was pretty empty. But I would think any movie about Nazis and WWII must be weird for them to watch.