Practising, reading , “the next conversation”…

Hi there! This week was nice. I practiced very intentionally this week, just testing specific points on the way I make sound and in repertoire. I go also some music scores I bought online that I must learn. I am really looking forward to learn it.

As a part of my repertoire, I am learning and studying again “Salut demeure” from Faust (Gounod). I remember I sang it many years ago in a competition, I believe back in 2012 so like 13 years ago. When I met Gregory Kunde in Vienna for a lesson last december, he recommended me among other arias, to get Salut in my voice. I am now trying this aria and it feels really nice. After singing Massenet this summer, I feel very much the way my voice fits French repertoire. I must say my French can always be better and I am working on it. Specially when after recording I hear myself and I notice it. I think I am making the right vowel but it sounds a tiny bit open, instead of rounded, so I must think slightly rounder when I want to achieve the desire balance, so to my ear has to sound even rounder. Like in everything balance is of extreme importance, and we must keep searching for it. Balance is not a given, it is something we must work, something that has to be learn and trained, through discipline and, will of doing things right once and then over and over. It is a search that is constant and never ending, so I believe.

This week I had the time to cook some nice meals for us, do my 4 time a week routine exercise and I am reading my daily Holiday and Tolstoi, plus writing my morning pages and making few notes on the book I am currently reading, I finished “tiny experiments” las week and this week I am reading “the next conversation” by Jefferson Fisher. I must say I was a bit hesitant to read it but so far is very nice and complements really well the line of reading I am doing recently (the last 5 years) hehe.

I hope you are well and had a nice week. Take care and see you again soon.