Japan, Mexico, teaching…
Hi there, this week I was in Japan at the beginning and on Wednesday I flew back to here, Mexico City. I had three incredible days in Tokyo after being in Osaka, Nagoya and Kyoto. Then, on Friday had the furtune to give my first Masterclass and a small chat at the Escuela Superior de Musica where I did my Bachelors under the guidence of Maestro Hector Sosa. Saturday went to a concert Mexican baroque music and folklore music of a dear friend, it was nice. Today Sunday I was at Palacio de Bellas Artes, where it was the Ramon Vargas 40 year career celebration. It was a very good concert and I am glad I managed to see him and heard him live, after like 10 years, since I heard him back in Zurich while I was at the Opera Studio and he was singing at the Theater Ballo in Maschera. So this week here in Mexico has been very inspiring with lots of music, and I love whenever I can see other colleagues on stage, and learn new music and just enjoy it.
What can I say about Japan, about Tokyo... I love it there, during my trip I was twice in Tokyo and it was like the 5th time there, and I cannot get enough of the city, the food, the culture, the amazing coffee places, the vibes, the fashion, the museums, etc. I was staying in Ginza both times during my 14 day visit in Japan this summer. I am the whole time looking everywhere and trying to capture the small and big details of such a gigantic city. It is never enough time, so many things to see and visit and try... but I am so grateful I was there and I enjoyed a lot. I was also glad I could teach to 2 tenors which I knew already, they are young and still studying. I also went to new parts of the city which I have not visited before.
From the coffees I visited in Tokyo I fell in love with Bongen Coffee located in a small street almost hidden in the Ginza area, also the White Glass Coffee in the middle of Shibuya area, also Blue Bottle at the Omotesando location, it was really nice and such cool interior designs that these coffee places have. Another place I really liked, it is called Cafe Gallant, it is located in Ameya Yokocho, it is very retro and incredibly, people can still smoke inside and the waiters are all in uniform and it is all very traditional, so nostalgic.
The Masterclass I gave, was one of the highlights of my week, I heard 6 talented young singers and thanks to Maestro Hector Sosa and Maestra Amelia Sierra, I was able to give my advice and to work a bit on their repertoire and voices. It was a big reminder of how much talent we have here in Mexico. I really think that with the right preparation we could have many more Mexican singers in Europe and the rest of the world. But they need more discipline and specially more guidence and a lot of curiosity which can only come from them. I am still an active singer and I do hope it will be like this for many years to come, but I can honestly say that I really like teaching. Because I have read a lot and specially experimented a lot with my own voice and finding my way, that I do really enjoy teaching as well. I feel a deep respect for each individual as a person and as a singer, so when I do teach, I take in consideration what I believe is most important to open the breach between student and teacher and that is understanding the psicology of the student and how and which kind of language can be use to communicate the ideas to them. It is so important to have the right kind of communication for them to be able to understand, specially something as special as singing and when they are only learning the basics of singing. I really enjoy and do want to teach in the future, it brings me joy. I do learn as well when I teach, not only about their voices but as well as my own understanding of the voice as an instrument. Sometimes when you say things loud and clear to a student you are also listening to what you are saying and I do reflect on it and keep learning.
I hope you are well and please take care. See you here next week.
