Tamino, Rinuccio, Tebaldo…

Last week I posted the second part of my London trip. Now I get to tell you some of my last week. We had a performance of Gianni Schicchi which I really enjoyed and I was looking forward to it. I did not sing Rinuccio since November so I was really happy to sing it again after practising a lot my aria which is not very easy and it has some challenging phrases. I was happy after the performance because I could managed what I have been practising.

We went to Stuttgart to see our friend Marie Jacquot conducting Don Giovanni at the opera. She did a very good Job and because it was a concert version of it, the orchestra was on the stage and I could see the musicians and Marie conducting which was very refreshing. The singers as well were really good, focusing more on the music and I was proud to see a dear colleague with whom I studied together many years ago at the Academy in London, her name Diana Haller. Diana is a croatian mezzo and she has been in the ensemble in Stuttgart already many years and this time she portrayed Donna Elvira elegantly.

This week I had three performances, one of Capuleti singing Tebaldo, one from Schicchi where I sing Rinuccio and today sunday we had a performance of Magic Flute where I sing Tamino. It was a busy week because I am also working on my voice a lot on certain aspects and so everyday I have been singing a lot plus preparing Lensky.

Tomorrow we have our first musical rehearsal with Enrico Calesso for our upcoming production of Onegin. I am really looking forward to sing Lensky. I believe this is a role that will suit me really well. Only time will tell, but I feel that it will be like Nemorino, what I mean is that with Nemorino I really feel at home. Of course, Nemorino is a very challenging role and a long one, but I feel it fits me really well emotionally, vocally and simply the character I find it so enjoyable and it is a pleasure to sing it whenever I have the chance. I do really enjoy Nemorino. With Lensky is a different type and also it is not such a long role but it has a lot of the emotions as well and it has one of the most beautiful arias in the repertoire, which is Kuda Kuda. Like another true romantic heroes or characters, Lensky faces death and not only welcomes it but rather provokes it with challenging Onegin.

Next week we are having our first stage rehearsals and I am looking forward to discuss the role with the stage director. I will also have one performance of Schicchi and two shows of Magic Flute plus I have a small concert on Sunday for a church service.

I wish you all a good week ahead of you. Until next time.

yours,

Roberto