Back in the US

Well, I have been back in the US for a few weeks now and the question I seem to get more often than not is, 'Are you glad to be back?' Simply stated and in one word...No. To say some people are best suited for certain cities versus other cities has always been something I have debated. I often thought most cities were about the same and you can find something charming about every city where you live. While I still believe this is true, I now believe that for each person, there are cities that better fit that person's personality. Paris definitely fits mine. I happen to be someone who loves: great music, great food, loud and lively people, great museums, great history, and great civic pride. These attributes perfectly describe Paris (as I see it). I will admit, I can't wait to be able to move back to Paris and once again breathe in the smell of such excitement in a city like Paris.

On vocal notes...I have mentioned how I have been going through some vocal changes under the direction of dramatic tenor, Howard Haskin. All the feelings I mentioned before are still ringing true on a daily basis and the best way I can describe my feelings with singing is this...I feel like someone who has been blind his whole life and all of a sudden can see. In that case, the person realizes the new sensations and the new gift, but doesn't know what to do with it. There is a lot of bumping into things and not quite judging distances correctly. However, every day there is improvement and you don't know how you ever could have lived as you did before. I can't imagine singing as I ever did before I changed technique recently and I can also say I catch myself saying, 'Wow' more often than I ever did in the past. I definitely thank Howard for that.

Before I left Paris, I did a concert of 'The Rake's Progress' and was glad it came off well. It was difficult to learn the music so quickly, but it was well worth it and I look forward to further developing that role in time. I also recorded the Liebeslieder Waltzes a week ago in DC. This was also a quick study for me. Luckily, I have sung these before. Next up is 'Les Pecheurs de Perles', with Center Stage Opera in March. I have started looking at some of this and am already thinking I am going to need every moment I have to really get this role perfect.

I would like to give a strong and hearty congrats to singers at Indiana University for their production of 'Die Zauberflöte'. Their was some great singing, great acting, and amazing playing in the pit. Also, congrats to my former schoolmate, Hirotaka Kato for his peformance in this production. Another congrats to another schoolmate of mine, Paul Corujo, in Center Stage Opera's production of, 'Madama Butterfly'. It was a real pleasure to see this company continue to develop. The sets are really starting grow in complexity and it really makes for a great show.