Concert, Puebla, Masterclasses...
Hi there! This week was all about music and family. Rehearsing Dichterliebe and, Op. 34 with Elisa Avalos and also she was singing Frauenlieben und leben. We had few days of rehearsals in which working with the pianist Jaime Arellano we were finding together how to interpret this beautiful Schumann songs together. I am very grateful to both of them for their effort and involvement. I thank Elisa for organizing the concert and her husband Omar for their enormous hospitality. For giving us housing to me and my parents for few nights.
We had finally our concert at the City Theater on Wednesday and it went really well. To perform a Lied concert is a bit unusual here in Mexico and more in a city like Puebla, where these type of concerts are rare. It was a very rewarding experience and I am grateful for it. We created a nice atmosphere and because we had subtitles, the people really appreciate it and could understand and go on the trip with us through the different poems and feelings, they made a really big difference. The following two days I gave some masterclasses which Elisa organized. I had 6 Students and it was great to work with them. The level was really wide but I enjoy finding with them together a better way of singing and we had a lot of fun and also deep search, specially to make them aware of their own sound, how to stop and correct and not sing without any direction or without listening to themselves with discipline. As I mentioned in blogs before I do enjoy teaching a lot, but it is incredibly tiring as well, when for an hour I solely focus on helping them, and search to create a communication path to which each of them will understand, coming from understanding each one different student, for they think individually and different from each other.
Being in Puebla with my family and friends was something really special. I had family coming from Veracruz, Mexico City , Ixtapa, Mexicali and to them I am grateful for their support. There was so much interest for this concert it made me happy. Elisa, Jaime and I made the best we could to perform something special to the audience. After 10 years since I sang Dichterliebe, I feel now how understanding the language much better and having more control over my voice, I was able to convey more colors and ideas into my sound, all in order to express and make a better interpretation.
As you know I love Coffee, so during my time in Puebla I have been tasting some normal coffee but I found some very special coffees which tasted great. I bought already some beans I am looking forward to try. This time I am trying to find Mexican Beans, and to my surprise there is a whole wave of toasters here in Mexico growing really fast. I most also not forget the delicious food you can find here in Puebla and really affordable.
Next week I will stay in Puebla some days and then go back to Mexico city. I keep doing my exercise and reading daily and now also writing daily since few weeks, kind of journal but more creating the habit to put my thoughts and feelings on paper, to clear my mind and focus.
Take care and see you next week here.
