Ann Arbor/ Philly/ NY Carnegie Hall

Ann Arbor was another fantastic concert, in a beautiful hall with a
majorly weird acoustic. It's wide, like the Barbican, and directional
like the Barbican, as well. You hear one or another instrument well,
depending on where you're sitting. Onstage, you hear one or another
instrument well (and all the others badly), as well! I kept thinking
the oboe was really HONKING and even turned around to see if someone
had gotten sick and they'd replaced the regular oboist! It was just
where I was sitting. I got to see the orchestra with Tetzlaff, as
well, who played the impossible Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. It was
an extremely personal and edgy interpretation. He made no concessions
to "prettiness" or "look at my technical wizardry" - it was all about
getting his musical gestures across. His technique is amazing, but
what struck me the most dumbfound was the lack of pretension and idea
of "tradition." Wow.

The next day, my husband came in town for just the night. What a
treat! He was able to attend the concert, and we took part in the
beautiful party afterwards, as well. The next day, we saw each other
off at the airport and went each our own way - my beautiful husband to
Italy and me, to Philadelphia with the orchestra. What a life!

In Philly, it rained and rained and rained. I prepared Romilda for
Serse with the lovely pianist Don St. Pierre at Curtis, dreaming up
fun cadenzas and leaving others for "a rainy day..." I missed the
Liberty Bell again... The morning after the concert, I dragged all my
suitcases to the train station and made my way to Penn Station.

In New York, I worked every day with Gerald Moore on Serse, and found
that "rainy day!" Roulades, runs, and cadenzas ... We also ran
through some different repertoire to break up the Handel every now and
then. I had always told my friends that if I ever decided to sing the
Queen of the Night, to shoot me and put me out of my misery. OK, I
take it all back... I've decided to at least give a look at the Queen
of the Night - it's a nice exercise and might just be a nice role
eventually. What other role requires bravura, precision and yet is
supposed to be a mother and not some 14-year-old? I figure I can grow
into it! I used to think the role needed a steely-edged voice, but
finally just decided I'd try to sing it with MY voice and see how it
goes. Not bad, I must admit. Everyone's always asked me, so I
decided finally to listen! We'll see. It's an ongoing process.

I'll keep you apprised!