Chavaleh Forgey Vocal Studio Taste the Arts 2015 Performance on YouTube

18 Singers in 18 minutes! -- a performance by some of the best in my studio during the Taste the Arts Festival in Visalia in October 2015.  Very proud of these enthusiastic and well-prepared singers!

Dancing Right Out of My Comfort Zone

I've been producing theater for more than twenty years in one capacity or another.  Lots of professional work where I did my job as music director and conductor and didn't have to worry about anything else, and lots where low-budget and scrappy community theater called on me to do everything from hair and makeup to set construction.

Nothing,  NOTHING, I tell you, prepared me for........


The pancake tutu. 

They are beautiful and obviously complicated, and one to three thousand dollars, purchased.  What???  And we need three for the Nutcracker? 

Oh no.  I can do this.  Let's go to YouTube.

Huh.  "How to make a cheap tutu stand up and look like a pancake..."  for a Halloween costume, maybe -- not for grand ballet...  Romantic tutu tutorials galore... (tutu tutorials... didn't even mean for that to be cute...)

And then I FOUND it!  "How to Make a Ballet Tutu"  with the competent looking woman seated in a studio surrounded by gorgeous pancake tutus.

"All you need to make a tutu is a little bit of knowledge..."  (She is so comforting!!! Yay!!!  She's going to impart this coveted knowledge!!!)

"...and a person, who is professionally trained in tutu making."

Wait, what?  Can I get that at Joann Fabrics?  I have somehow missed the human trafficking in tutu makers...

No exaggeration, here's the link, watch the first 20 seconds... How to Make a Ballet Tutu

The first attempt -- 20 some hours of attempt -- seemed pretty okay until I sewed the last seam and stood the layers up.  They didn't meet in the middle!  No one wants a ballerina with no tutu in the back!  But I had learned a lot.  I learned that the basque -- ha!  First I learned what a basque was! -- is supposed to cover up all the layers of stitching.  Mine didn't.  I learned that the pattern I had didn't have enough material to gather, and that I needed to at least double it.  I learned that I still would rather be a musician than a costumer...

But the second attempt -- Ahhh, the second attempt!!  Just look at it!

And it's even prettier right-side-up and on the young woman who will play the Ballerina Doll at the party!

Finished off the day by going to rehearsal to dance in the party scene.  (I'm a conductor.  And a vocal coach.)  I had the time of my life.  Never dreamed I'd be in the ballet I've drooled over since I was a small child.  Much subtle and beautiful legit dancing in this production, but the moment of "courtly" dance at the party is beautiful even with people like me doing it!  Rachel Thompson is a miracle disguised as a choreographer.

How does a vocal coach and musical theater conductor get mixed up in ballet?  Well the answer is also why I haven't written anything in the last six months or so --- but it's coming up soon! 

Get a taste here:  www.theaterartsalliance.com 

Let's get this Christmas Party Started!

A Taste of Real Life, or "I Have So Much Music to Learn!"

I confess, this post has potential to sound like a "kids today -- geroffamylawn!" missive -- 

But really it is simply a dose of reality for young (or any) people thinking that they are interested in pursuing the life of a professional musician who is a sole or equal-share breadwinner in a household.

I am leaving out people who have a "day job" or for whom music is part-time work.  I don't have experience in either area!

Instead, I am simply opening a window into the amount of music that has to be learned/practiced/memorized/taught in an average week when music is a full-time, living-wage job.

Funny thing about music -- though I do need some periods of silence to clear my head, I find that the more deeply I am into learning and practice, the more I want to listen to other artist's work.  Not just to clarify pieces I'm working on but also to hear different and fresh things that have no relation -- during the week I charted I was obsessed with the remarkable pianist Jeremy Denk, and listened to everything he has recorded, from the Bach Goldberg Variations to Legeti and Ives.  Amazing work.  I also became acquainted with "Honeymoon in Vegas," getting my all-important Jason Robert Brown fix.

This is an average week of music from Sunday morning through Saturday night.  It was not a performance week (aside from Sunday morning, which I treat with the same intensity and preparation as a performance) and I do not have the same memorization requirements as a stage performer -- but I make up for the lack of memorization by having to learn more parts!

Some pieces are repeated -- practicing and score study is a different experience than actually rehearsing, as is score study from practicing on piano, and each process takes up separate time.

SUNDAY!

(Lim needed a sub for Handbell Choir so I rehearsed once in the morning and then played twice)
Handbells:  
Revelation Song
Cornerstone

Singing on Worship Team (These are memorized, performance ready, and done for two services)
Light the Fire Again
I Need Thee Every Hour
10,000 Reasons
Let the River Flow
The Wonderful Cross
Overcome

Practiced to Conduct/Accompany Young Frankenstein (Selma Performing Arts)
Roll in the Hay
Man About Town

Vocal Coached (This means I have learned the song, accompany, and coach)
Sebben Crudele
Art Thou the Christ
Butterfly Kisses
Maybe
We're All In This Together
Happy Working Song
Reflection
I Wish I Could Go Back to College
Just Once
I Want You Back
Killing Me Softly

Piano Lessons 
Worked through 6 beginning songs from the Nikolaev Book

MONDAY!

Practiced to Conduct/Accompany Young Frankenstein
Listen to Your Heart
Surprise
Frederick's Soliloquey
Please Send Me Someone
Puttin' On The Ritz

Score Study/Rehearsal Prep to Conduct Broadway Concert (Fresno Grand Opera Chorus)
(Entire Program for run-through)
76 Trombones
Lida Rose
Sweet and Low
Till There Was You
Pick a Little
Goodnight Ladies
June is Bustin' Out All Over
This Was a Real Nice Clambake
If I Loved You
You'll Never Walk Alone
Tonight
America
Somewhere
Maria
One Hand, One Heart
At the End of the Day
I Dreamed a Dream
People's Song
On My Own
Bring Him Home
Les Mis Finale
No One Mourns the Wicked
The Wizard and I
One Short Day
For Good
Defying Gravity
Popular
The Phantom of the Opera
Angel of Music
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

Vocal Coaching
I'm Yours
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Bushel and a Peck
I Dreamed a Dream
Learn Your Lessons Well
Riptide
Little Black Rain Cloud

Piano Lessons
3 Short Nikolaev Pieces

FGO Rehearsal
Conducted run-through of above program, cleaning rehearsal in second half


TUESDAY!

Vocal Coaching
In quelle trine morbido
Je suis Titania
Je suis encor tout etourdie
Seize the Day
Poison in My Pocket
Still Hurting
Much More
Honey Bun
Goodbye Until Tomorrow
Ani hava selet
On My Own
I Have a Dream
Alma del core
Younger Than Springtime
You Have to be Carefully Taught
My Girl Back Home
Route 66
Heidenroslein
A Dreamer's Holiday

Piano Lessons
6 Short Nikolaev

Practice Young Frankenstein 
Together Again
Roll in the Hay

Conducted/Accompanied Kids' Bach Passion of St. John Rehearsal
#1 Lord, Lord
#7 Chorale

WEDNESDAY!

Vocal Coaching
 Honey Bun
Where is Love
In My Life
A Brand New You
Seize the Day
Don't Cry for Me, Argentina
Wonderful Guy
Twin Soliloquies
Another World
Part of Your World
Route 66
I Had Myself a True Love

Young Frankenstein (Conducted/Accompanied Rehearsal)
Together Again Finale
Deep Love Finale
Hang the Doctor
He's Loose Reprise
Surprise
He's Loose
Together Again
Please Don't Touch Me
The Brain
Happiest Town in Town
The Law
Roll in the Hay


THURSDAY!

Vocal Practice
St. John's Passion Contrapuntal Chorus Pieces

Vocal Coaching
I Always Knew
Another World
Watch What Happens
Circle of Life
Maybe
Once Upon a Dream
On My Own
Backson Song
Into the Woods Narrator Parts

FGO Rehearsal
Conducted run-through of above program, then heard 21 solo auditions


FRIDAY! (MY DAY OFF!)

Practiced to Conduct/Accompany Young Frankenstein
Roll in the Hay
He Was My Boyfriend
Puttin on the Ritz
Together Again
Life!


Accompanying 
Do Re Mi
Little Black Rain Cloud


SATURDAY!

Rehearsal for Bach St. John's Passion
Sang Alto of all chorus sections

Vocal Practice
Learned/Memorized "Love is War" for Sunday Service

That is...  Wait for it....
OVER 250 PIECES that I was responsible for in one week!  

To be honest, it even scares me... but you just can't think about it -- another musician friend who has an equally ridiculous schedule advises "focus fully on what you are working on at the time and be sure to schedule in down time -- and when practicing, take a break if your brain can't absorb anything else."

As they say in "Avenue Q" -- this is real life -- You're gonna love it!   

DISASTER!

So THIS happened last night at the LA Theater Center....

A friend of mine told me it was the "most fun he'd had in a theater" before we went to see it and wow, he was not exaggerating! 
I laughed until my sides hurt and that was just during the opening number.  By the end, I was doubled over and hoarse!  The seamless transition of awesome 70s hits into crazy comedy and the shameless advantage taken of "willing suspension of disbelief" was combined with some of the best comic timing I've ever seen and heard, even extending into the vocal arrangements of the songs and the band. 
Lim had the opportunity to study with Seth Rudetsky last summer (and as a side note, he recognized Lim when we ran into him on the street before the show -- that was fun...!)  and it was some remarkable audition training.  Many of the notes Lim took during that experience are staples in my studio and conducting now, and with great success!  So seeing him implement some of that stuff on stage was really fun.  The first time he broke out with "I'm looking for some hot stuff..." I probably deafened the people in front of me -- or would have, if they hadn't been cackling as loudly as I was!

There were no weak links in the cast -- my daughter Megan geeked out as soon as she saw Adam Pascal's (Rent, Chess) name in the program, and he did not disappoint at all.  It was also very fun to see Max Crumm on stage again after seeing him in NYC as Matt in The Fantasticks.  I couldn't decide if my favorite was Andrea Martin (2013 Tony for Pippin, click for acceptance speech) or Jennifer Simard (Shrek, Sister Act, Forbidden Broadway) but both of them were beyond outstanding.  A particular treat was young Baylee Littrell -- yup, son of the Backstreet Boy -- so much talent, both vocal and comic, in this kid!

Seth auctions off an opportunity to co-host "Seth Speaks" after the show

One last special shout-out to the MD, Larry Pressgrove -- ya know, 'cuz this is the most important person, right???  The music was tight and detailed.  Made me happy!

For more info, reviews, and a highlights clip, visit http://www.disastermusical.com/

Happily Ever-Aftering in Camelot!

Josh and his dressing room sign!

"Camelot" in Fresno had the best Tom of Warwick ever!

When I saw the post on Facebook announcing auditions for a local young actor for the part of young Tom of Warwick on the Camelot tour, Josh was my first thought.  

Spunky and self-possessed, with bucketfuls of theater experience (but not a lot of height!) for someone his age, and even having played Gavroche in the Saroyan Theater a year before, I thought Josh was the perfect candidate -- and when his mom sent in his audition materials, the production team agreed! 

Overnight, Josh was a local celebrity.  A car was sent to take him to a local TV news interview. (Link Click here!) 



The Visalia newspaper wrote an article and took tons of great pictures. (All images Here)
  

 The rehearsal process was short and intense -- a few short hours before the first performance!

Soon we were waiting in the spacious and beautiful Saroyan Theater...  

Having done Camelot several years before, we came with original-production expectations -- large orchestra, set changes that can be cumbersome and large chorus numbers.  How different this production was!  The orchestration was entirely re-imagined with a five player pit -- focusing heavily on percussion and early instrument sounds which created a sparse authenticity that was very exciting and interesting.  The sets centered around a large abstract sculpture that suggested a tree at one moment and a throne at another.  Projection, fog, and specialty lighting were used to create a fresh new ambiance for each scene that was not dependent upon major scene changes, though the fly used for many castle scenes was a thing of absolute beauty, creating the illusion of a multi-layered tapestry.  I especially liked the chorus work in The Joust, which was very tight and exciting.   Overall I found the production very fresh and interesting -- and Josh NAILED IT! :D

After the show, we were allowed to come backstage and see the set pieces up close.  We were especially glad to see the construction of Guinevere's bed, which was simple and looked great on stage!  

Cool fog and light effects!

The castle tapestry (and Guinevere and Arthur!) that I liked so much -- the colors changed with the mood!
I loved how all of Guinevere's dresses moved, and this is a beautiful example!

The icing on the cake of this production... was the opportunity to meet a friend-of-a-friend who was playing percussion in the pit.  Over dinner we got to hear all the fabulous details of life on tour, the amazing machinery of move-in and move-out, and the thoughts behind the re-imagined orchestration, as well as make a new friend!  The musical theater world is small and fabulous!


 

Aventura -- An Unexpected Adventure!

About a week ago my husband got an email asking if our praise band at Christ Lutheran would sing in a scene for the independent film "Aventura" -- and of course we wouldn't want to be bored... 

So this morning at about 7:30 film trucks rolled into the parking lot at Christ Lutheran and an hour later they said "we need more extras!" and text messages started flying!  By the time filming started not only was our praise band there but many of my students and their families singing in the "congregation!"

A different look to CLC!

For more info about "Aventura,"  Click here:

               About Aventura the Film

 

Additional Tosca Resources

First rehearsal with the FGO men was great!

And revealed the usefulness of a few more resources!

Act 1 Spoken Latin in Rhythm (Men)

Act 1 Spoken Latin in Rhythm (Women)

YouTube links:

End of Act 1 with Latin  (Start about 1:50)

Another Act 1 with Latin  (So I can fan girl over Bryn Terfel... again around 1:55)

Tutta qui cantoria (Act 1)

Sale Ascende (Act 2)  This recording has its strengths and *weaknesses* but it is stand-alone instead of with orchestra and Scarpia so it is considerably easier to hear the chorus part than when it is off-stage and background.  Italian diction is also native so imitate-able -- cannot say the same for tone quality and intonation... :/

Another Sale Ascende (Another stand alone... very different but interesting....)

Standard Sale in background

Tosca Chorus, First Rehearsal!!

I am very excited to begin rehearsals for the Tosca chorus at Fresno Grand Opera tonight!

Tosca is sublime, amazing, superlative... so many adjectives but others have phrased it better than I so here is a link to catch a summary...

Metropolitan Opera Tosca Synopsis

The first thing I like to rehearse in an opera chorus is diction.  Habits are formed very quickly when linked to music and because of the way our brains work it is very difficult to "fix it later."

With that in mind, I have recorded diction for the chorus parts, adults and children, downloadable on Dropbox. 

Tosca Diction Folder

As you practice, here are two things to always remember for perfect (i.e. we don't want to sound American!) Italian details! 
1) Dentalized consonants
2) No diphthongs

Not sure what those mean?  Here is a recording of explanation and samples... only about 3 minutes long, a great way to jump-start your soon-to-be amazing Italian! 

Italian Diction Jump-Start Guidelines


Also of interest...
Translation for the 1st piece:  (Burton D. Fischer)

T O S C A

Allievi

(colla massima confusioae)

Dove?

Sagrestano

In Sagrestia. (spinge alcuni chierici)

Alcuni Allievi

Ma che awenne?

Sagrestano

Nol sapete?

Bonaparte... scellerato...

Bonaparte...

Altri Allievi

Ebben? Che fu?

Sagrestano

Fu spennato, sfracellato

e piombato a Belzebu !

Allievi, Cantori, ecc.

Chi lo dice ?

fe sogno!

fe fola!

Sagrestano

fe verldica parola

or ne giunse la notizia !

E questa sera

gran fiaccolata

veglia di gala a Palazzo Farnese,

ed tm'apposita

nuova cantata

con Floria Tosca!

E nelle chiese

inni al Signore !

Presto a vestirvi,

non piu clamore!

Tntti

(ridendo e gridando gioiosamente)

Doppio soldo*., Te Deum... Gloria!

Viva il Re!.,. Si festeggi la vittoria!

- 19 -

T O S C A

All

Whither?

Sacristan

This way, good people...

(pushing them towards the Sacristy)

All

What happened?

Sacristan

Don't you know? Buonaparte...

the miscreant... Buonaparte...

All

Well, what of him?

Sacristan

Beaten, crushed, humiliated;

Satan has him on the hip!

All

Who can prove it? What silly nonsense!

Sacristan

'Tis the truth, I do assure ye !

Soon the news will be made public.

All

'Twill be hailed with loud rejoicing!

Sacristan

This very evening there will be great doings,

Gala performance and torchlight procession,

Also an apposite brand-new cantata

Sung by the Floria with appropriate expression.

You singing boys

Put on your vestments, make no more noise.

Off ! off, without delay !

All

(They burst out laughing and pay no attention to the Sacristan, who tries in vain to drive

them into the sacristy)

Double wages ! Te Deum, gloria !

Long live the King!

This very evening there will be great doings,

gala performance, torchlight procession,

a brand-new cantata sung by Tosca.

Long live the King!

Yes, this evening there will be great do ...

(enter Scarpia unexpectedly, he stands in the doorway; seeing him, all are stricken dumb

and motionless, as though spell-bound)

Translation for Act 2 Piece:  (A. Sciaronne)