We're gonna rehearse this until we get it right!!

The weekend was what you might call a marathon of rehearsals, and I'm just talking about the ones I am a part of, but I'm not complaining one bit! Let me give you an idea of the rehearsal schedule, which began on Wednesday, September 8th. The principals have been at it daily since then for approximately six hours a day, with only the 16th, the 23rd and the 30th off, plus (abnormally I believe) the 27th in honor of Renee Fleming's appearance with the Winston-Salem Symphony, which is eagerly anticipated! The female chorus members and I are asked to work basically three hours on each Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, except that yesterday (Sunday) we were there about six hours. The male chorus has more time on stage so they have rehearsed a few more hours than we have. On Saturday the 25th we will move into the Stevens Center, and the working hours start lengthening when sets, costumes, makeup and orchestra enter the picture. Can't wait for that!

The first time the orchestra works with the principals is at what is called a sitzprobe (pronounced "zits probe"), and again thanks to Wikipedia, a definition:
Sitzprobe (German) is a term used in opera and musical theatre to describe a seated rehearsal where the singers sing with the orchestra, focusing attention on integrating the two groups. The equivalent Italian term is prova all'italiana.

After the sitzprobe, which will occur on the afternoon of Sunday the 26th, there are only two (dress) rehearsals with the orchestra! It is always fascinating to me that so little time is needed to put the two pieces together, but all parties come to the table knowing what they're doing. In the meantime, I can't say enough about the talented Nancy Johnston, who is flawlessly portraying the orchestra until the rest of the instrumentalists show up! Angela Ward is also a masterful accompanist who works with the principals, and on occasion with the full cast.

So the two dress rehearsals are on the 28th and the 29th, with the latter designated as Student Night, an opportunity for students in grades 6 through 12 to witness live opera at a greatly reduced price. See the Piedmont Opera website at http://www.piedmontopera.org/learn/student_night for details (chaperone(s) required.) That will be our first live audience, let's hope they are kind! Opening night for the rest of the world (don't I wish) is Friday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m.

I just wish I had a video camera with a live feed so everyone could experience the delight of these rehearsals. That is the only way I might be able to capture the pithy remarks of Maestro Jamie and Director Steve, which are always little life lessons unto themselves. Sometimes they are hysterically funny, other times bitingly critical (never mean-spirited), but always they are focused on drawing the best out of each performer. We are SO lucky to have these two working for the cause of great opera, both at Piedmont Opera and UNCSA!

Last evening our Azucena (Shannon Magee) was not feeling well, and had to leave rehearsal. During a scene in which she plays a prominent role, Jamie was singing her part and the rest of the cast pretending she was there. But her dramatic presence was sorely missed, so all of a sudden Steve jumped into the fray and took her place with great flair! We all watched with mouths open, and erupted in applause and bravo!s when the scene came to an end. Steve (sweat dripping and shirttail out) said, "I've only got one of those performances in me and I've used it up tonight!" What a treat to be a witness.

Another highlight for me occurred when Jamie gave me permission to actually sing a line with the chorus (and everybody else on stage at the time!) Of course I'll have to try that out quietly, since it is Italian after all! The line is "Mesta e la tua canzon", hope I spelled that correctly, which I think means "How tragic", sung in response to Azucena relating her sad story around the gypsy firepit. Watch for it!

One more item, I am now officially a monk! To the strains of Miserere being sung by altos and male chorus, I carry a cross onto the stage, followed by three devout monks (truth be told, they are all lovely sopranos) who kneel in front of the cross when I stop for them to pray briefly, then we all leave in procession. A while later we walk back across the stage, signifying an important event has just occurred. (To find out what, see the opera!) With our lovely brown robes you won't be able to recognize any of us, however.

But I'm still devoted to Azucena (when I'm not with Leonora, since they are both lovely people.) The gypsy costume absolutely rocks and I can't wait to get back in it!
La Zingarella