UAB Opera tickets on sale

UAB Opera presents a double bill of Purcell's DIDO AND AENEAS and Britten's THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE March 11-12 at 7:30 pm. All performances in the Sirote Theater of the Alys Stephens Center. For tickets, call 205-975-ARTS.

Dr. Kris Voice Students: recording

Folks, the CD recorder has taken a real nosedive. Please be sure to bring your iPod, computer, or SD card to record your lessons. Also, everyone remember to journal every week on your lesson and/or your practice, and bring your notated vocal exercises to every lesson. I'll try to give you at least one new one each week, so that you each have a good arsenal of them at the end of each semester. Thanks!

Baroque gesture links

As we continue to refine our gestures, try this link for some more background!

Rehearsal tomorrow

Our costume fittings begin at 6pm in the Sirote and will continue through rehearsal. Not everyone will be able to be fitted in one hour! All by way of saying, if you can't come till 7, the world won't end. We'll have to pull people offstage to get fitted anyway. But if you CAN come at 6, please DO!

13 days and counting...

Orchestra and more

Folks, the rehearsals with orchestra have been posted. I have also included a required Purcell rehearsal for THIS Sunday evening, which includes costume fittings for everyone. Be there!

NO rehearsal tomorrow, Wednesday. We all need a day off.

Good work today, everyone. Your focus continues to improve. I'm proud of your work!

Rehearsal adjustments

We'll work BOTH shows tonight (Tuesday): check the Google calendar for details!

Check the opera schedule

Folks, I've adjusted tomorrow based on your work yesterday (which was excellent) and some singer's health (which is not). Tomorrow is Britten until 5:30, then dance with Sarah Grace for the last hour. Since we ended early yesterday, we'll start a half hour earlier on Sunday to be done in time for the 4pm piano recital.

Great rehearsal today!

Fabulous work today, folks. It's not every day (or even every year) I can let you go an hour early. Bravi tutti!

Memorization dates for the opera

Purcell: absolutely, positively, comfortably off-book 2/21 (our first day in the theatre...a run-through for our lighting designer)

Britten: off-book 2/25 (our run-through for the lighting designer)

Work a bit each day and it shouldn't be terribly overwhelming. You've been doing great work!

SNATS DVD viewing continues

We'll continue watching the DVD of THE AUDITION this Monday at 3. Let's also discuss if you want to have a workshop on Exercise for the Singer--my trainer will do it for cheap, and we have the money in the budget. Post here if you can't be there: let me know if you want this!

Dance rehearsal tomorrow

Dido dancers: Mark Kunkel, Isiah Burgin, Micah Brooker: meet with Sarah Grace tomorrow during Chamber Choir time. You don't have choir, so learn the dance instead. Looking forward to seeing your work!

Monday meeting 2/7/11

SNATS Monday at 3pm in the Choral Room: we'll watch THE AUDITION, which follows 2007 MET competition finalists. A rare backstage look at the pressures and possibilities that young singers at this level encounter. Let me know if you want me to bring food: we have money in the budget.

Sunday's rehearsal at original time

Folks, Sunday's rehearsal is changed back to the original time, 1-4pm. Lori, come if you can. Joseph, come whenever you're back in town.

Opera canceled 2/3/11

Due to the freezing rain, opera rehearsal has been canceled today. The schedule for Friday and Sunday has therefore been altered: please check it! Thanks, and be safe.

Neat blog on vocal health

Folks, a fellow vocal professional emailed me about his blog, which has lots of great information to add to our Vocal Health session the other day. Check it out here. There are many herbal alternatives to western medications that he discusses, and could be well worth a try. As always, talk with your doctor about any contraindications these remedies might present with any Western medications you are currently taking.

Great blocking rehearsal today!

Thanks for your work today, folks. We got a LOT done. I'm proud of you: your focus improved as we went. I neglected to mention that you can "mark" anytime during blocking rehearsals. This means you can sing softly (but always with support), take things down an octave, or otherwise save your vocal energy. These rehearsals aren't about the music...but still review it! We're off-book (memorized, or as close as possible) starting February 13.