I got my first review today! It's a pretty short blurb (in German), but it basically says that I had "free sounding easy coloratura that sprang from my throat!" so I'm going to take that as a good sign :). My picture was also on there but it's somehow disappeared...
You can see it here:
http://www.fnp.de/hk/region/lokales/arien-kuenden-altstadtfest-an_rmn01.c.7898803.de.html
And here's another article about the program:
http://www.wiesbadener-tagblatt.de/region/untertaunus/bad-schwalbach/9061261.htm
Otherwise things have still just been REALLY busy. It's pretty hot here, in the mid-nineties (and it doesn't cool down at night!), and yesterday and today we've had two twelve-hour rehearsals for Der Freischutz--half inside and half outside. But inside is almost as bad as outside because there is no air conditioning anywhere, not even in our fancy hotel! Tomorrow we get most of the day free though, so my big plan is to go to the pool!
There are several performances of this opera and since I don't perform for several weeks I've been doing a lot of sitting around and studying during rehearsals, but I'm now completely memorized (even the spoken dialogue in German!) and the maestro has been really kind to me and taken me for some private lessons to help me with my German! I really appreciated it because that's definitely not in her job description, and also my German is improving so fast but it's definitely been harder for me than Italian or French! She seems to really be interested in helping young singers though, which is SO great.
Today our rehearsal was at the castle again and we climbed up to the top of the tower during the break. It was a long climb in the heat, but the view was so worth it! IT's in a little tiny town in the middle of green foresty hills--and in the distance you can see another castle! I found out today that the castle was built around 1100, and there's parts of it where you can definitely tell how old it is!
Pictures coming soon, I promise! I need to wait for a better internet connection to upload them.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Hey Everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've posted, things have been BUSY here!
Last night I sang in my first concert here (we've been doing operas, but I was in the chorus for those)! It was in Frankfurt, in the only part of the city that didn't get bombed in the war. It was right on the Rhine River and it was gorgeous! There were about 500 people there. It was a tenor concert, so first I sang part of Quando men vo with the other soloists, and then I came on to sing the Doll Song from Tales of Hoffman! I had SO much fun. Later in the evening we all came onstage for an encore, and ended up doing about two more encores! The tenors sang some Neopolitan music and we all joined in (if you don't know what that is, think of what they sing at the wedding in The Godfather). At the end, the mayor came up and gave all the soloists flowers! It was so sweet and made us feel so special. I also got a really nice compliment from one of the tenors about my singing. Afterwards we celebrated in the same place the concert was in a Biergarten (beer garden) that had big long tables on cobblestones and under grape vines.
Other than last night, I've mostly been in really intense rehearsals for the opera. Der Freischutz premieres this weekend but I won't be singing until late this month/early August, but I have to learn all the blocking now! We have put on a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana and Otello! Otello was in Buc, Versailles. It's a manor that the king built for one of his mistresses about two miles from Versailles. Unfortunately though, we were in rehearsals all day and performed all night so I didn't get to see any of it! I guess that's the life of a singer though :). After the opera, the mayor of the city put on a really fancy party for all of us! The next day we got to take a day trip to Paris! It was quite a whirlwind tour of the city, but it was really fun to see it and I took some of my Dad's ashes and put them in the river in front of the Eiffel Tower, so next time you're in Paris be sure to wave to him.
I've been learning so much here and having a great time. I must admit I'm a bit homesick, but mostly I'm so busy there's not even time to think about it!
More to come!
Last night I sang in my first concert here (we've been doing operas, but I was in the chorus for those)! It was in Frankfurt, in the only part of the city that didn't get bombed in the war. It was right on the Rhine River and it was gorgeous! There were about 500 people there. It was a tenor concert, so first I sang part of Quando men vo with the other soloists, and then I came on to sing the Doll Song from Tales of Hoffman! I had SO much fun. Later in the evening we all came onstage for an encore, and ended up doing about two more encores! The tenors sang some Neopolitan music and we all joined in (if you don't know what that is, think of what they sing at the wedding in The Godfather). At the end, the mayor came up and gave all the soloists flowers! It was so sweet and made us feel so special. I also got a really nice compliment from one of the tenors about my singing. Afterwards we celebrated in the same place the concert was in a Biergarten (beer garden) that had big long tables on cobblestones and under grape vines.
Other than last night, I've mostly been in really intense rehearsals for the opera. Der Freischutz premieres this weekend but I won't be singing until late this month/early August, but I have to learn all the blocking now! We have put on a performance of Cavalleria Rusticana and Otello! Otello was in Buc, Versailles. It's a manor that the king built for one of his mistresses about two miles from Versailles. Unfortunately though, we were in rehearsals all day and performed all night so I didn't get to see any of it! I guess that's the life of a singer though :). After the opera, the mayor of the city put on a really fancy party for all of us! The next day we got to take a day trip to Paris! It was quite a whirlwind tour of the city, but it was really fun to see it and I took some of my Dad's ashes and put them in the river in front of the Eiffel Tower, so next time you're in Paris be sure to wave to him.
I've been learning so much here and having a great time. I must admit I'm a bit homesick, but mostly I'm so busy there's not even time to think about it!
More to come!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Hallo!
Hallo! Germany is wonderful!
Since last time I wrote, my roommate (Tahani) has arrived. She is really nice, and has an amazing voice! It's been fun getting to know her and the other students from Colorado. The last girl, from Australia, arrived tonight. She is doubling my role so I will get to rehearse with her tomorrow.
Had another VERY long day of rehearsals. It's a lot of work, but I feel like I've made a lot of progress in just a few days. I'm learning a bit of German, and also getting to practice my Italian because the Maestro who is conducting Cavalleria Rusticana and Tosca and his wife are both Italian, so that's been really fun.
I will try to post some pictures soon, I only have the camera on my iphone right now so I haven't taken too many yet, but this weekend I plan to buy a camera!
Tomorrow is rehearsal for Der Freischutz (my opera) all day, and then Sunday we will perform a world premier of a mass by a german composer, and also Cavalleria Rusticana...and on the 30th I will sing Lakme in the Flower Duet, and Olympia's Doll Song!
Love to all!
Since last time I wrote, my roommate (Tahani) has arrived. She is really nice, and has an amazing voice! It's been fun getting to know her and the other students from Colorado. The last girl, from Australia, arrived tonight. She is doubling my role so I will get to rehearse with her tomorrow.
Had another VERY long day of rehearsals. It's a lot of work, but I feel like I've made a lot of progress in just a few days. I'm learning a bit of German, and also getting to practice my Italian because the Maestro who is conducting Cavalleria Rusticana and Tosca and his wife are both Italian, so that's been really fun.
I will try to post some pictures soon, I only have the camera on my iphone right now so I haven't taken too many yet, but this weekend I plan to buy a camera!
Tomorrow is rehearsal for Der Freischutz (my opera) all day, and then Sunday we will perform a world premier of a mass by a german composer, and also Cavalleria Rusticana...and on the 30th I will sing Lakme in the Flower Duet, and Olympia's Doll Song!
Love to all!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Hello everyone!
I am here in my hotel room in Germany, taking a bit of a rest after what has already been a busy day! So far I am still one of the only people here (one other boy and his teacher got here today), but my roommate will get here tonight. She is one of the other soloists and is from Sri Lanka, so I'm excited to meet here. Two of the other soloists (there are five of us all together) are German and live near the school, so I have been seeing alot of them for fun and for German lessons, as well as my voice teacher Romana.
Everyone is really nice and fun to be around, and I'm excited to meet the other students as they arrive. The town of Bad Schwalbach is absolutely gorgeous. It's very small and cute, and surrounded by green forests and has a beautiful park and pond in the middle that I'll be walking through every day to go to school. The hotel we are staying in is really nice (and I just discovered the free internet in the room!). It has a pool, sauna and steam room, and the BEST continental breakfast I have ever seen! Lox, bagels, cheeses, breads, fruit, and anything that's not there you can ask for and they will make it for you! I'm still a little jet lagged (yesterday, my first day, was much worse though), so I haven't had much chance to explore the town, but I am hoping to get to look around more in the next few days.
I have had two voice lessons so far, and really like my teacher. She doesn't speak the best English, so sometimes it can be a little confusing (my German is terrible as well), and she definitely wants to hear a darker sound than I am used to making, but teaches in a very healthy way and I'm excited to learn more.
Since most people aren't here yet we haven't started rehearsals yet, but we will soon and I will probably become much busier!
I'll update again soon and in the meantime will try to take some pictures to post!
I am here in my hotel room in Germany, taking a bit of a rest after what has already been a busy day! So far I am still one of the only people here (one other boy and his teacher got here today), but my roommate will get here tonight. She is one of the other soloists and is from Sri Lanka, so I'm excited to meet here. Two of the other soloists (there are five of us all together) are German and live near the school, so I have been seeing alot of them for fun and for German lessons, as well as my voice teacher Romana.
Everyone is really nice and fun to be around, and I'm excited to meet the other students as they arrive. The town of Bad Schwalbach is absolutely gorgeous. It's very small and cute, and surrounded by green forests and has a beautiful park and pond in the middle that I'll be walking through every day to go to school. The hotel we are staying in is really nice (and I just discovered the free internet in the room!). It has a pool, sauna and steam room, and the BEST continental breakfast I have ever seen! Lox, bagels, cheeses, breads, fruit, and anything that's not there you can ask for and they will make it for you! I'm still a little jet lagged (yesterday, my first day, was much worse though), so I haven't had much chance to explore the town, but I am hoping to get to look around more in the next few days.
I have had two voice lessons so far, and really like my teacher. She doesn't speak the best English, so sometimes it can be a little confusing (my German is terrible as well), and she definitely wants to hear a darker sound than I am used to making, but teaches in a very healthy way and I'm excited to learn more.
Since most people aren't here yet we haven't started rehearsals yet, but we will soon and I will probably become much busier!
I'll update again soon and in the meantime will try to take some pictures to post!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
i am here! please excuse the tzping, i am on a german kezboard and i dont know how to tzpe a certain letter (guess which one!).
i am the first singer here, which is luckz becuase i got picked up at the airport, and got to have coffee with mz voice teacher, romana, and a singer from the met, eduardo villa! later todaz ill get to explore the little town of bad schwalbach, which is verz green and beautiful, have lunch and relax at the hotel, and then jump right into a voice lesson with romana before going to bed finallz! tonight ill also meet two of the other girls ill be singing with who live in Germanz.
sorrz for the short update, more to come!
i am the first singer here, which is luckz becuase i got picked up at the airport, and got to have coffee with mz voice teacher, romana, and a singer from the met, eduardo villa! later todaz ill get to explore the little town of bad schwalbach, which is verz green and beautiful, have lunch and relax at the hotel, and then jump right into a voice lesson with romana before going to bed finallz! tonight ill also meet two of the other girls ill be singing with who live in Germanz.
sorrz for the short update, more to come!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Almost here!
It's almost time! My next post will be from Germany (finally!). I'm leaving early Monday morning (so early it will practically be Sunday night). I'm getting really excited and must send huge thanks to all of you for your support--I would not have been able to go without it and I'm so grateful.
If you want a postcard while I'm there please let me know (if you don't want to post your address on here, send me an email: mollie.solow@gmail.com).
If you want a postcard while I'm there please let me know (if you don't want to post your address on here, send me an email: mollie.solow@gmail.com).
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
13 days!
Hi everyone! Welcome to my Germany blog. In two weeks I'm heading off to Deutschland and this is the spot to keep updated with stories and pictures of my time there.
Right now, I'm getting ready by finishing learning my music (I'll be singing Annchen in Der Freischutz by Carl Maria von Weber, as well as some other concerts), packing, and enjoying the rest of my time in San Francisco with Ryan and Bear. As soon as I get back, I'm moving to Charlotte, NC for grad school, so I'm also packing up my apartment and getting ready for some big life adventures!
Check back soon, I'll be on a plane in 13 days!
XO
Right now, I'm getting ready by finishing learning my music (I'll be singing Annchen in Der Freischutz by Carl Maria von Weber, as well as some other concerts), packing, and enjoying the rest of my time in San Francisco with Ryan and Bear. As soon as I get back, I'm moving to Charlotte, NC for grad school, so I'm also packing up my apartment and getting ready for some big life adventures!
Check back soon, I'll be on a plane in 13 days!
XO
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