Gratitude - Day 71

I'm grateful for music. Again. But I REALLY needed reminding of this as I sat at the piano yesterday for countless hours, often in what felt like a daze thinking, "I don't even know where to start!" I'm drowning a bit in new music at the present moment - so many notes, so many ornaments, so many words, so little time! But the beautiful thing is that it IS music and each note is a gem, - from Handel to Vivaldi to Chausson to Bellini to Gershwin - so it's inspiring work to say the least. I just need to stop feeling overwhelmed and dive in, wasting no precious time. (And here I thought, after Ariodante it would all be downhill this season! HA!) Let the games begin!

Gratitude - Day 70

I'm grateful to have made my Lyric Opera (of Chicago) debut, and in the most adorable shoes as a bonus! These are Kenneth Cole gems, and aside from the addition of elastic straps (for this klutz-prone Rosina), 'period flowers' and a heel grip, they are the perfect addition to making a character feel fire-y and adorable, all at the same time!

Gratitude - Day 69

]

I am SO grateful that the sun came out today - here in Chicago it has been weeks of grey clouds, slushy steps, and bitter winds - and even if it was still cold today, the SUN made all the difference! Finally I can start trying to capture the infamous Chicago Architecture abundant throughout the city!

Gratitude - Day 68

I'm grateful for love ....

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Gratitude - Day 67

I'm grateful to be a part of a show that is a genuine pleasure to perform in every way ... from the fabulous cast to the gorgeous (!!!!!) costumes, to the thrill of hearing the audience genuinely LAUGH at the antics we go through. It makes coming to 'work' a pure joy!

You'd never know that there was such a handsome man underneath this makeup (although his smile does give it away a bit!), but Wayne Tigges performs Basilio, and he is such a wonderful, beautiful colleague - as is every singer in this show - perhaps more portraits will come over the course of the run!! We open on Saturday night, so I say 'let the games begin'!

Gratitude - Day 66

I'm stumped. I'm completely at a loss for good photos, because every single day here in Chicago, it is FREEZING cold, snowy, slushy and essentially unwalk-able (at least for a singer trying to stay somewhat healthy and warm-ish!) Leaving the theater tonight, it was a bit warmer and snowing in the most beautiful, soft, symphonic way - but I was too busy dodging 4-inch puddles of mush everywhere to take out my camera and capture the fogged in city. So tonight I came home a made a cup of my MOST favorite tea (not plugging here, but how GREAT is this Aveda tea?!?! ), and while the photo may seem uninspired or poorly composed, I was too eager to actually drink it, (and yes, slightly sulky that I am not getting the opportunity to take photos like I did in Barcelona!), that I snapped it, and soaked up the goodness of a hot cup of tea on a cold, blustery evening. It was perfection.

Gratitude - Day 65

I'm grateful for inspiring (or, uh, humorous and sometimes painfully true) quotes! This is posted in the Lyric Opera rehearsal department, where the staff always goes above and beyond that proverbial call of duty, making everyone who passes through the stage door feel right at home.

*I'm told this particular quote belongs to Thor Steingraber, who I had the pleasure of working with (on Mozart!) back in Santa Fe in 2000 - he came up with the best little bits for Cherubino in that particular production, so I'll cut him some slack on this particular quote! ;-)

Gratitude - Day 65

I'm grateful for teachers - which can arrive in the most unexpected moments, imparting their wisdom freely. This lovely man was shooting me during a costume fitting for an upcoming article, and naturally I couldn't resist to start talking 'lenses' with him. He generously allowed me to try out a gorgeous wide-angle lens, as well as to turn the tables on him, which was not at all part of his job contract! Thank you for sharing, Mr. Osgood, and thank you for the mini-lesson!