Saturday in the City!

Good afternoon!  Got up early after a strange night's sleep with lots of weird dreaming (I think it was the sushi.  It confirms I am slightly allergic to shellfish.  Ug) and walked with the group down to Bottega Louie for breakfast.  I had a luscious caffe mocha and a chocolate croissant, which was just kind of OK.  Reverie bought some macarons to take home (the first session ends today and Reverie, Wanda, Kristine, and Kerry are all leaving), and we got back in time for our 9:30 Scandinavian class with Katz.  Loved all the repertoire--Kilpinen, Grieg, Ture Rangstrom (who the heck is that and why haven't I heard of him before?), and Sibelius.  I knew only one of the five songs so it was exciting.  There are new diction books available now from Sibelius Academy Press on Swedish and Finnish diction- MINE!  I'll have to track some of the rep. down as well.  I love when I learn new rep!

Sat outside in the luxurious sun and then had a light lunch--omelet with the works (if you smile a lot, you get extra cheese!).  Another mentor named Ivy is now here, and she joined us today-pictures to be added later.  I'm now in a "Germany in the 20th Century" master class--Berg, Korngold, Schoenberg, and Marx.  Great stuff, and it actually surprised me how much I liked "Natur" of Schoenberg and "Selige Nacht" of Marx.  I hadn't yet heard Julia Gebhardt sing, and she was wonderful.  She sang "Unverganglichkeit" by Korngold.  Delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Mine!

Caught up!!!  Some summarizing thoughts to this point--
1. I wish I was singing more, but there is definitely work I can be doing on my own.  The lesson with Audrey was wonderful and gave me a lot to work out.  I have homework for my next coaching with Michael Rader on finding specific images for each phrase of "So In Love"  (I think I forgot to write about my individual work with him.  I'll add that later).  I have music for "Lucky Child" and I should be learning a Musto song, as I may have a private coaching with him next week.  I need to photocopy the songs by Taneyev and Buchardo, and also Reverie's Russian song before she leaves.  I should memorize "Lime Jello" as well, and also sing "Piangero."
2.  I enjoy LA! I want to see a movie here, see the Getty Contemporary (next Thursday), go to the Staples Center.  Also need to call Michelle.
3.  Text, text, text.
4. Don't hurry so much with music preparation.
5. Recital rep:

• Heggie-"Lucky Child"
• Larsen-"When I am an Old Woman" "Two Lovers" "Turn, Turn"
• Previn 4 Songs
• Maude Valerie White (?)
• Musto/Dorothy Parker mixed set
• Duke Alice in Wonderland songs?
• Irving Berlin

Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

6. Learn some Spanish rep, Russian rep, Swedish rep, and more American

7. Work less and sing softer