My ssssinging career :)

What can I say? I did it. I finally settled into Chautauqua. The last week was intense. After a full week of coachings and lessons on three simple songs... I finally performed. I was anxious all week about the Fourth of July Concert: A Celebration of American Composers. Mostly because "Forever Young"is almost entirely a Capella and because "The Serpent" changes meter almost every measure. I had about five days to collaborate with my accompanist and figure out the timing. If I'm ever nervous about a performance it's memory related. I feel completely at home on stage. I was a very lucky girl. Yes, the sing-in was nerve wracking, but I would now have 15 minutes to perform for my peers, coaches, teachers, and public of Chautauqua. How was I lucky? Well, I was first on the program. I got to get my act done and over with right away. I was excited. So excited that I had done my hair and make-up around 2:00pm when the concert didn't start until 7:30pm. Oops. I wore a blue dress in accordance with the holiday and I splashed glitter around my arms (gotta keep it classy ;)). There was a short welcome of the audience and then I made my way to the stage and sang my guts out.  It felt so good. I can't even describe the feeling in words. The audience was perfect. They laughed and cried in all the right places. I started with "Where the Music Comes From" (Lee Hoiby) . This is one of my favorite pieces because I sing about how I want to be with the friends around me, wake to the living spirit inside me, grow, feel, and love. I then sang "Forever Young" (John Corigliano). It's an arrangement using Bob Dylan's text and it's simply stunning. This another song about a blessing from God and staying forever young. I had three people in mind during the singing of the song and almost cried as I sang. When I first heard the song I hated it. It's definitely on my top ten. Then, after having two very personal songs I sang "The Serpent" (Hoiby). Now, this song has a whole bunch of sass and then some. The song it about a serpent who had to sing. The birds of the forest didn't want to hear it so they bought him a drum, horn, and flute. He wouldn't touch them. You ssssssee...he's ssssssseriousssss about his sssssssssinging career. :D It is so much fun to sing and I plan on keeping it in my repertoire until I die. The night was a huge success. I received many compliments and some of the students are even calling me Baby Birgit. (This coming from the famous opera singer, Birgit Nilsson. She was a celebrated Swedish dramatic soprano who specialized in operatic and symphonic works. Her voice was noted for its overwhelming force, bountiful reserves of power and the gleaming brilliance and clarity in the upper register.) I feel wonderful. I'm still flying high from the performance. What can I say? I can say... Let's do this. :)