This whole blog business began because people were asking me about my performances and all that was involved. Since I am traveling to Italy and so many other performances in the next month I thought what better way to say in touch with family and friends. Then I was asked by the production company I am touring with to blog about my experiences in Italy. I wrote a very popular public blog, "A Girl's Guide to the Universe and Other Misadventures" until this past spring when I made it a private blog for friends and family.
I have added journal entries and pictures from that blog to this one from my Carnegie Hall Trip.
So here it all is...honest (it might be a little too honest at times) and upfront. While the moments of performance may look glamorous and put together things are not always what they seem. The reality of tech rehearsals (also known as the fifth circle of hell), jetlag, dehydration, exhaustion, ego, and logistics are the true reality. It is amazing one can stay inside of their head at all--and that is where the performance is made--inside the head.
But all that said in every performance there comes a moment. This is the moment when as an artist you are not just singing a piece technically but when you are one with the music. It goes far beyond talent. There is something beyond talent. It is about this moment. How to explain...Okay...you know when you first meeting someone and there is that spark between you. When you see this person your head spins? Take that and multiple it by 10,000 and you will be there. Exhilaration seems to be the nearest thing to explain it.
This is why song repertoire is so important. You can never possibly reach this level if you are performing a piece that you don't connect with or flat out hate. You would never have enough of a connection with the piece to be able to reach that level. But this is also a quagmire. As musicians we all know that opportunities to perform are few and far between, so we take every opportunity that comes our way even if it is not right for us. At times the chance to perform overrides the need for pure artistry.
