Saturday, March 27, 2010

Parting = Sweet Sorrow. Indeed.

Warning: LONG post ahead. Read at your own peril. Or bookmark it and come back until you finish!

I am most happy to report that my hard drive has made a near full recovery, even if the "geniuses" at the Mac Bar installed a new version of my photo software without my asking (I'm certain they felt it was an upgrade), however, for me it's a disaster because all the files are now in complete disarray. However, I'll get it back, as I'll have some time on my hands next week...

(With the gorgeous Danielle DeNiesse who plays a super-smart, super-sexy Susanna.)

But it means I'm back in business and I have a lot of ambition to write down the vast myriad of thoughts that have been roaring through my head during this run of "Nozze" here in Chicago. I'll do my best to make good on my goal!

But, first things first, as tonight is the 11th show in a beautiful run of perhaps the greatest opera ever written. (Go ahead, let the debate commence!) I'll tell you, it must be a masterpiece, because to do 11 shows back to back and find new things in it each and every single night, and to feel such excitement to return to those very same notes and words time and time again - well, it's simply sublime.

I think if you take any trained musician (be it pianist, violinist, singer - yes, we're musicians, too!) they will all marvel at the dichotomy that is Mozart. His music bares a complexity that boggles the brain, and yet it requires the utmost simplicity to execute. It somehow carries a mastery of mathematics and symmetry, and yet it wafts off the page into something airy and indescribable, achingly human in its entirety. I think part of the equation involves simply getting out of our own way, and letting that perfect balance of complexity and simplicity work it's magic. But that's a tall order, because it takes a mountain of technical mastery to even make it through the phrases: too much emoting, and it somehow becomes self-indulgent; not enough purity of line from both the voice and the orchestra, and we become too aware of the difficulty at hand.

Ah. It's a marvel.

(Hamming it up with the incomparable Mariusz Kwiecien, who is sheer perfection as the Count, and is a divine colleague in every way.)

For example, each time I start "Voi che sapete", I'm achingly aware of how Mozart somehow could write such a simple, almost "bad" song and make it transcend (on a good night, that is!) so completely. He somehow becomes a 14-year old adolescent boy with a gangly body and a true poet's heart, and turns a very elementary vocal "study" with simple chord progressions and the most rudimentary accompaniment into a true miracle of vulnerability, wonder, discovery, sincerity and love, penetrating so completely the heart. I love envisioning Cherubino writing his song. It was by candlelight, obviously, and I imagine him painstakingly searching for the words, the melody, sweating and getting worked up as he tried to find the perfect words to describe his emotions. Surely he went through at least 10 different versions before settling on this one. And yet for Mozart? Maybe an hour in total? And yet he captures the soul of this boy (and us?) so perfectly. It dumbfounds me - this simplicity and yet this divinity all rolled into one. And this is only 3 minutes out of the nearly 4-hour opera. Truly, there is not a single wasted note.

The other thing I've discovered this time around lies in the terrifying first aria. Come on mezzos - you know what I'm talking about! You arrive on the stage, nervous and excited and the adrenalin is pumping crazy through your body, and you do this nervous, fast recitative and before you have a chance to think to breathe, you're half-way through this first aria, "Non so piu", and you realize the high G's are coming!! AAAACK!! I have to consciously remind myself to relax during that first recit so that I can ATTEMPT to start the aria calmly and on the breath. But that's all technical jargon. What blossomed for me this time around was the POETRY of the text. I used to approach it as only an angst ridden, hormonal adolescent who attempts to sort through his unrelenting urges. Instead, this time I find myself enjoying the poetic side more - the presence of nature and the winds and the flowers and how he begs them to carry his feelings with them. How beautiful is that? Again, it's sublime and shows why the Countess might actually see something profound in him. It can't be ALL hormones - there is most definitely a true poet's heart that lies within Cherubino. In fact, it reminds me quite a lot of Mozart himself. I dare say that when I sing Cherubino I truly feel as if Mozart himself is speaking through the music and the words - truly a little Mozart-Cherub hanging around the opera house, making sure that a playfulness remains in his masterpiece - that we can still laugh at ourselves and at humanity in general.

Oh, how I will miss this piece!!!!!

Wait, let me clarify. Is this my last ever Cherubino? Who knows - one never, ever knows what life has in store. For the record, I don't have any more in my schedule for the moment, and when I have a choice of choosing repertoire, there are now different roles that I want to revisit and to tackle for the first time, but if the right project were to come along, how could I say no? (Up to a certain age, however - let's be realistic, Joyce!) So it could very well be my last night to wear his boots, to seduce all those girls, to jump out the window, to flop in the chair - and oh, (sigh), to sing that perfect, sublime, astonishing, final chorus. Si, "corriam tutti"!

Here's the great serendipity of this however. Well, first let me say that, as I've said before, I find the theater to be an unbelievable teacher. I've often said that the only way you can successfully function on the stage is to be IN THE MOMENT: not ahead of yourself, not reflecting on what you've just sung - concretely, unquestionably in the moment. It's the only possible recipe for success, because it's only there that you can be 100% present, and therefore give, relentlessly, everything you have. This is also supremely true of life - or at least how I strive to live. So yes, I'm sad that this may be my last time, but in the moment, I will be alive and reveling in every word, phrase and emotion. But it's also a handing over of a baton, in a way. My husband has stepped in for some of the performances here in Chicago, and they have been his first conducting "Nozze". My last - his first. I find that incredibly beautiful. So while Nozze may be ending for me, it is only beginning for him, and that makes me a very happy wife.


It's been a sheer blast watching him discover this piece from the INSIDE, not as an observer, and the passion for this that has ignited in him has been beautiful to watch. He had to step in and do his first performance here without any rehearsal with the orchestra at all - talk about walking into the fire! The first time they saw him was his downbeat on the overture! It was such a privilege to share that night with him, as it will be tonight, and I wish him MANY more chances to live deeply inside this music.

So, that's about it. I think the emotion will be running in full force this evening, which means I have to get my head about me: warm up carefully, think only about the task at hand, be sure to follow that handsome conductor, and simply let it be what it will be. Afterwards, I'll probably dissolve completely, but that's all part of the glorious ride, isn't it?

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Dear Joyce, I am glad you are having such a good time, especially with this most charming conductor...

Speaking about emotions: a friend has travelled all across the ocean to see you perform today - that's what I call passion! I hope you both have a great evening tonight.

Best wishes for the grande finale !!

Katy Marriott said...

Another glorious and thought-provoking post. Thank you! The picture with your husband is sooo sweet :-) Enjoy your hormonal adolescent! And if you are ever in SW Germany, I would love to stand you a beer or two!

Yuen K said...

Hi Joyce, what a lovely post you wrote. Thank you for conveying Mozart's genius to us in such eloquence and clarity!

Taminophile said...

What a beautiful, thoughtful post! What a privilege to sing such amazing words and music, regardless of the professional level--but to sing it with the company you keep! Heaven!

I've always adored Nozze (OK, I'd adore it even more if there were a role for a Tamino-like tenor), and reading reflections like yours deepens my understanding and affection for the piece.

Alixkovich said...

Hey!

I also have a friend who traveled the Atlantic to come and see you! (Marion)
If this is your very last performance of Cherubino, then let it be the best one ever! If everyone in the audience knew that tonight may be your last Cherubino they would give you a hour-long standing ovation :P (they will certainly do it for your last Rosina ^^)

Bye!

P.S. Speaking of Rosina....I'm going to start searching for the one on wheels! :-D

Suzanne Torrey said...

What a terrific post! Thanks for sharing your feelings about "Figaro" in general, and the adorable Cherubino in particular! Have fun tonight-you continue to be an inspiration to young singers(and their older moms!) and we love you!

Diana said...

How lovely that your hubby has been able to share this Nozze with you!

I'm not a musician, just a music-lover, but what you said about the combination of complexity and simplicity in Mozart captures it so nicely. His music reminds me (a former actor) of Shakespeare in that, and also in the approach the artist needs to take

Diana said...

Premature publication, sorry! (Is there a pill for that?)

What I meant to say is that singing Mozart and playing Shakespeare seem similar in the need to "get out of one's way" with the music/poetry while maintaining the discipline and technical mastery required to sing/act it adequately, let alone well.

It must be hard to say adieu to Cherubino. Perhaps you'll visit his cousin Octavian sometime soon?

Mei said...

I was missing your posts...

I always see Cherubino as naif boy that knows little about life... on the contrary the Count is so twisted... I think that is what the Countess finds appealing...

Looking forward to your next rossinian challenge... ;-)

Klassikfan said...

Hi Joyce, sorry for mixing up Nozze with Il Barbiere di Siviglia in this post, but I have just got the new DVD of this unforgettable production at Covent Garden in July 2009... Sorry also for reminding you of this very special "Rosina on wheels" (which must have been quite painful for you), but to see now again and again what I saw LIVE in London last year is just pure joy. Thank you so much! Regards, Herbert

Unknown said...

I'm so happy that you played Cherubino!
I wish I could have come to see it!
There will be pictures?



Mozart is boss.

Si, "corriam tutti"

Sibyl said...

Thank you so much (and yay for the hard-drive recovery: you have been missed). What a privilege it is to get such a clear glimpse into what is, to me, a mysterious process. How sublime it must have been to have your husband conduct you!! You gave me shivers and usually only the music can do that.

Unknown said...

Please don't retire Cherubino before i've witnessed your performance! von Stade was still singing it at around 46 or 47 - and Troyanos sang Sesto until 53! Chronologically ONLY you're nowhere near there yet

chris said...

Rather than choose one opera as the best ever, I would prefer at least two choices: a sunny one and a dark one. For the sunny I would opt for The Magic Flute, Mozart's greatest. And for the dark one, Wagner's Tristan, an opera that revolutionized western music.

marcillac said...

Don't have the time just at the moment to read the post and absorb it as carefully as I would like to but will absolutely bookmark for careful perusal shortly.

We planned this trip to Chicago (my girlfriend's is from there) around this Figaro especially because of your Cherubino. It would have been worthwhile even if you had half a dozen more runs planned and is all the more so this having been your last page.

As it was the work gods (assisted by some particularly kind Mozartian angel) had me in Munich the last couple of week for a superb Figaro at the BSO. I'll withhold the invidious comparisons, however, and say only that your Cherubino was everything we could have expected. It was not only a great privilege but great great fun. Very sorry to see him go but, if I may piggy back and amplify on Squillo's comment above, I wish you many happy Octavians and myself many opportunities to see him.

marcillac said...

Second Charlotte above (though its probably futile) but with all do apologies to Chris (and this is obviously intensely subjective) there are many operas that are profound, moving and fun but there is only one Figaro.

Irishrover said...

It was a truly great night! Everybody loved it, as far as I can tell, and we did have reason to do so. The cast was great, the staging awesome, and the music... well, Mozart. You know you're really good at being a boy? Your Cherubino was just the sweetest thing on earth this night! And having been able to talk to you after the show made me smile like crazy on my way back home :)

Meanwhile, enjoy your week off, rest, laugh, smile and all that jazz ;)

Sarah said...

Oh I am so sorry I missed it! And I'm in the States. Just not a good spring in terms of $$. But I know what made those who came from the other side of the Atlantic do what they did, and I'm always happy to learn that there are people as crazy as I am. I saw Mr. Kwiecien in San Francisco as the Don, and on HD as Lucia's brother (I get the men's names mixed up) so I'm sure it was great to work with him. I love all of the "inside scoop" you give us (all positive!).