Monday, Tuesday, time is flying by....

Back to work on Monday after the lovely adventures of Sunday.  We had a 9:00 a.m. class with Bolcom and Morris--Cabaret Songs.  I was a bit late I as I enjoyed my coffee and oatmeal outside.  I get up plenty early, I just find so many things to think about and look up in my tiny little room, so I am always rushing in the morning.  Today, I decided to sit outside in the sun and not rush.  I heard several of the Cabaret Songs--"Love in the 30s" was a new song for me, and is basically the story of Arnold Weinstein and his father (a kid asking his dad questions and getting lots of teasing answers back but with love) and it was just charming.  Bolcom got a bit testy for the first time (rightfully so)--"Arnold slaved over every word and I slaved over every note-it doesn't feel good to not the right notes coming back to you."  Ouch.  Always know the notes when you are playing or singing for the composer!  I also really liked "Waiting" (when Arnold was dying in the hospital, his girlfriend called Joan and she sang him that song over the phone, a cappella) and
"Over the Piano" which I already knew but it was fascinating to hear Bolcom talking about the Cabaret songs as an attempt to reproduce a time and place in NYC in the 60s.  I asked him if he was a part of that scene, and if he had played as a cocktail pianist. The answer to both was YES, and great stories ensued.  He spoke highly of Lieber and Stoller and Kay Swift (Can We Be Friends) so I plan to get more familiar with their music.

Afterwards, I told them that I thought they should write a duo autobiography because they had so many stories and experiences- Joan said she has been approached and they are thinking about it. I had my picture taken with them!

This is Sarah, a new mentor, singing for Bolcom.  They really liked her performance of "Timomachus's Picture of Medea," one of the Ancient Cabaret songs. I really like Bolcom's socks!

Then on to a Katz class, "Lieder Capriccio" which was all Strauss songs. "Standchen," "Liebeshymnus," "Nacht," "Lob des Leidens," "Heimliche Aufforderung," "Kornblumen" and "Epheu" from Madchenblumen (I WILL do this set!), and "An die Nacht." Great songs, great session.

On to a masterclass with outstanding soprano Amy Burton.  I am excited to get to work with her later this week in a private coaching.  Her class began at 3:45 in Meyman Hall which was so cold that I had to leave before it was over.  It was an "Into to French Song" class, so I knew the rep and much of basic diction work she was doing with them, but I learned some really important things.  First, Frenchvocaldiction.com, then a very illuminating take on forming the nasal vowels (resonating in the nasal cavities, not closing them off), and an a ha moment about accent insistence- I also copied the handout I borrowed from my buddy Robert from Vallet and saw that it is covered there as well.  I can't believe no one ever told me about this before, though of course I hear it now that I know what it is.  I also enjoyed the french cabaret singers Amy played in class--so much to learn.  After I left the class and defrosted in the courtyard, I slipped in to the last few minutes of William Sharp's masterclass.  I heard him sing years ago at Luther College, and he still sounds divine.  His class was on settings of Langston Hughes, and I will definitely need to listen to all the songs I missed.

Lounged in the sun until my roommate Jihae arrived, and we hoofed it down to the Staples Center where we watched the LA Sparks defeat the Washington Mystics.  It really was awesome to be in the stadium, and I really enjoyed the high scoring, scrappy play of the women.  Girl power!

On the way home, we stopped at the Original Pantry Cafe that Nathan and I tried to go to on Sunday but couldn't get in.  This diner has been open 24 hours a day since the 1920s!  Jihae and I split a breakfast and still couldn't finish it, and I had a strawberry shake that almost made me burst on the way home!

Ah, LA