Music

I have been having wonderful head voice experiences in recent time. I had a revelatory practice session where I was singing the Habenera (Carmen), and Que fais tu blanche tourterelle (Roméo et Juliette); I wanted more expression in the upper register and it wasn’t coming to me innately. I took out one of the most beloved cavatinas of Bellini: Ah, non credea mirarti… Though I will never sing this for an audience, opening the score produced a whole other world expanded itself to me. I was transported to a plane where I could express the most cherished notes with evenness of tone. A prayer-like reality.

Watch the beloved Maria Callas sing Ah, non credea…

I’d be remiss not to mention Neil Shicoff… a singer whose stage presence and vocal freedom has recently re-ignited my deep love for the operatic stage. He shows us that opera IS all encompassing and a fully embodied experience. Watch him in the finale of Tales of Hoffman.