The Stark Voice

Dayton - Day 13

2012-02-18T18:44:00.002-05:00

We're one week away from opening night of Romeo et Juliette at Dayton Opera.

I'm happy with this production and I'm looking forward to seeing how it is received in Dayton. I'm confident the community will enjoy it. The cast has been a real pleasure to work with - all of them bring so much talent to the table and, aside from having beautiful voices, are fine actors as well. I've also really enjoyed working with this conductor and stage manager... so the overall experience has been very pleasant here.

Yesterday we had a company day and I drove two hours to Indianapolis to audition for the opera company there. The audition went really well, the folks there seemed very friendly and I was in good voice. In this day and age, at least in the United States, work is so hard to find for so many people...especially opera singers... so one must take advantage of any and every opportunity to audition for respectable companies. I'm planning an audition tour this year... possibly working my way West to sing for as many people who are willing to give me 10 minutes of their time to hear me. I suppose that's what I'm going to have to do as a young bass who completing for roles against men old enough to be his father, with 20 + years more experience under their belts than I do.

~N8

Dayton - Day 6

2012-02-11T13:31:00.002-05:00

My first week in Dayton has been smooth and easy going. I'm really happy working with the folks at Dayton Opera and the entire cast & crew seem down to Earth, friendly and personable... which always makes for a positive experience. I'm excited to see how the show comes to "life" this week as we start putting all the scenes together and running it.

I went to Cincinnati on my day off yesterday to visit my best friend, Brandi... who happens to also be in this production in Dayton with me. We try not to have TOO much fun at our rehearsals... but she makes me laugh like no other... and this opera is serious! LOL. We had a great time visiting and went to the movies to see The Woman in Black - which was okay, but kinda stupid. It made me jump a few times... but I couldn't get over the fact that the dude who played Harry Potter was playing a different character other than the boy wizard that the world has come to know him as.

It's cold in Dayton... and I'm already missing that warm 78 degree weather I experience in Arizona. It snowed yesterday and now the blistering wind has set in today... making it feel even colder than it already is. Brrrrr!!!

I've no internet at the homestay I'm at in Dayton... so I'm relying on the Starbucks down the street to stay in tough with the rest of the world. I can't remember how I survived without internet, WIFI and iphones before they came out. How sad.

~N8

Arrival in Dayton

2012-02-06T20:35:00.003-05:00

I have arrived in Dayton, Ohio to begin work on work on a production of Romeo et Juliette. I'm excited about being here and working with Dayton Opera... a company I have heard good things about.

Yesterday I finished up Madame Butterfly in Tucson, Arizona... then drove two hours to the Phoenix Airport to catch a midnight flight to Dayton... with a connection in Charleston, NC. My internal "clock" was so off. I was picked up at the airport by a kind opera board member and taken to Herz rental car to pick up the vehicle I'll be driving the next 3 week. Fortunately, it's a big car - until the little go-cart I was driving in Phoenix.

One thing about Ohio... and the Midwest in general... if you've lived there before, it always has this way of welcoming you back.

~N8

Washington Allows Same-Sex Marriage

2012-02-02T23:22:00.003-05:00

The Washington State senate passed a bill on Wednesday allowing same-sex couples to marry. This is wonderful news, not just for the LGBT community, but the entire country. It shows how far we've come as a country in recognizing how discriminating and unconstitutional it is to tell a minority group that they can not marry the person they love because of their sexual orientation.

Of course, there will be those who will fight this tooth & nail and pour millions and millions of dollars into campaigns to see to it that same-sex couples can't married. Why do they do is? They claim they're protecting "traditional marriage." I argue that they should mind their own business and worry about their own marriages. If you don't like gay marriage, then don't marry a gay person... plain and simple... and instead of pouring millions of dollars into campaigning for something that only serves to discriminate and hurt people, why don't they put that money into something worth while - like our educational system, a cancer center, or heck... how about the arts!

When it comes right down to it people should worry about themselves...especially when it comes to relationships. If two grown adults want to marry, let them... it's none of your business. You want your marriage centered around your religion? Great! Do it... but realize that not every marriage based on religion. Some people can just hitched by going down to the local court house and having a judge marry them... some couples can even go to Las Vegas and have "Elvis" marry them too... so... don't judge.

Well done, Washington!!! I've always loved the Emerald State!

~N8

Phoenix - Day 22

2012-01-30T20:25:00.004-05:00

Opening weekend of Madame Butterfly went well. From what I could hear... while listening from my dressing room... the audience thoroughly enjoyed the performances. The leads are all gifted artists and it's been a pleasure watching my colleagues work and make this opera come to life. Naturally, I wish my role was a little bigger so I can join in the "fun" a bit more... but singing small roles has done well for me the last few years and kept me feed. My experience in Phoenix and working with Arizona Opera has certainly been a positive one... not to mention the weather is AWESOME!!! It'll be like pulling teeth to leave this wonderful warmth next Sunday for cold, frigid Dayton, Ohio - where I'm excited to begin working on a production of Romeo et Juliette.

I've also landed 3 Don Giovanni's for next season, singing the role of il Commendatore - a role I've done a few times already. It's another small role, but it packs a punch and makes a mark. I enjoy singing it. I'm unable to say at this time for which companies they'll be at, but I'll make an announcement once contracts have been officially sealed.

~N8

Who needs hair anyway... right?!

2012-01-25T19:30:00.000-05:00

1-800-flowers.com Scam!

2012-01-24T18:24:00.003-05:00

I'm sure you've all ordered flowers online at some point. Here's a scam I've recently experience myself and I hope I can save you from this scam. Are you familiar with 1-800-flowers.com?? If you are, I would STRONGLY suggest NOT doing business with them. Here's the reason why -

When you place an online order at 1-800-flowers.com they automatically (and secretly) sign you up for a membership with a club called Live Well that will automatically charge your credit card (or whatever card you used to place the order for your flowers) $38.99 a month. If you're lucky enough to catch this deduction from your checking account or credit card and call Live Well (800-793-2318), they'll tell you that you signed up for their membership through 1-800-Flowers.com and make it sound as though you were an idiot for not catching the membership application. The thing is - they're very sneaky about this. They have it rigged so you so don't notice them signing you up for this ridiculous club membership and then, one day, you check your account and see these deductions for a club you know absolutely nothing about. It's a huge scam!

So... again... friends and readers... be warned and take your business elsewhere and avoid placing any orders through 1-800-flowers.com.

Don't just take my word for it... you can look online and see this an issue with thousands of costumers.

Thanks,
N8

Phoenix - Day 12

2012-01-20T17:19:00.002-05:00

The last few days in Phoenix have been relatively uneventful. Quite honestly, there's little to do in this city... not unless, of course, you're the outdoorsy type who loves hiking and rock climbing ... which I tried my first week here, only to discover it's really not my thing. The furnished apartments we're staying at are okay. Inside, they have a nice kitchen area... but hardly any pots or pans to cook with and the chef knifes are about as sharp as the spoons... so my love for cooking is at a handicap.

Madama Butterfly is going well from what I can see. As I've mentioned before, my role is so small that I'm rarely called to most rehearsals... but it seems to be coming together quite well. The principles are sounding absolutely wonderful and the chorus are a fun group of people to work with. The audiences should be pleased with this production - which opens next week!

In other news - has anybody been watching the GOP primary debates? Even though I'm not a Republican, I still like to know the opinions on the "other side." What a messy group of candidates to choose from. The only one that seems to have a solid understanding on how government works is Congressman Ron Paul - and were I voting in this primary, I'd probably vote for him. All I know is, once a GOP candidate has been nominated, it's going to be an ugly fight for the White House leading into the November Presidential election

~N8

3 Year Anniversary

2012-01-15T12:44:00.003-05:00

Montgomery and I celebrate three years together today!

In those three years, we have never spent an anniversary together. Work has always kept me away. The first year I was in Virginia, the second year I was in Houston, and the third I was in Arizona. He is, however, currently enjoying the beauty that is Southern California - and since I left a bit of my soul there when I moved five years ago, there's a part of me that's with him on our special day.

He continues to make me happy and I love him more than he'll ever know.

~N8

Camelback Mountain

2012-01-12T20:39:00.005-05:00

So, I attempted to rock climb the other day. There's a beautiful recreational mountain near where I'm staying in Phoenix called Camelback Mountain - a hot spot for those who love to hike and rock climb. I don't know what possessed me yesterday morning, but I woke up wanting to do something I've never done before - rock climb! So, I set out on my mission, drove only 5 miles to the base of this huge mountain, and began my adventure... determined to make it to the tip top of the mountain and snap a few photos of the view and post them on Facebook.

Well, I didn't make it all the way to the top - in fact, I'm not sure I made it even half way. Ya know, you have to be in pretty good, physical shape to rock climb and you need to have decent endurance too. It was soooo much harder than I thought it would be and I have a new found respect for those who climb mountains and rock climb. I quickly ran out of steam and realized that I probably wasn't prepared to embark on a hiking adventure of this caliber - especially having no water and no one else to accompany me (what if I fell or passed out along the way? Who would save me?) I did, however, manage to take a few shots of my Camelback excursion before I surrendered to the mountain.

N8

Phoenix - Day 1

2012-01-09T19:02:00.003-05:00

I arrived in Phoenix, Arizona yesterday to begin work on a production of Madama Butterfly with Arizona Opera. I'll be here for a few weeks before heading to Tuscon to finish the last few performances at the end of January.

I've never been to Phoenix. I've had connecting flights at the airport here... but that doesn't really count. The weather is lovely, though dry - which is to be expected since this is a desert after all. The folks here seem to be good drivers and abide the speed limits - which is completely the opposite experience I've had driving in Philadelphia. Their way of thinking in Philly is, "Speed limit? What's that?" I'm excited to explore more of the city and experience some authentic Mexican food while I'm here. The rental car I got from Herz is kinda comical - it's about the size of a Smart Car... and for those of you who've seen me you know why this is funny.

Had our first rehearsal for Butterfly today. Everybody sounds wonderful. A really great cast of singers. Singing the role of the Bonze is always less than flattering. It's about 5 or 6 lines of "screaming" in less than 2 minutes of stage time. It's by far the smallest role I have in my entire repertoire - but a role that all basses need to know how to sing. You have to sound like a angry canon without blowing your sphincter out and hurting yourself. I've heard so many basses unable to sing this very small, but vital, role and I'm hopeful I can do well for Arizona Opera in my company debut with them.

~N8

2 Years Blogging & Into 2012

2012-01-03T16:33:00.005-05:00

I just realized I marked a 2 year anniversary of blogging this last Sunday! Go me! I know some people have been blogging for years... like my partner, Montgomery... but this is quite an accomplishment for someone like me. I used to think you had to write every day if you had an online blog... so I attempt to do that back in the earlier part of 2010. I quickly realized that there are some days... some weeks... maybe even months... where you just don't have much to say or write about. It's also silly to assume readers are THAT interested in your daily life activities...unless, of course, you have stalkers... which I don't think I have and if I do, please GO AWAY!

New Years 2012 came and went. I stayed home and watched the ball drop on TV, heard a not-so-stellar rendition of "Let it Be" by Justin Bieber, poured myself a glass of wine and sealed the start of the new year with a kiss.

I leave for Phoenix, Arizona to start work on a production of Madam Butterfly on Sunday. I hear the temperature lows are 60 degrees. I'm down with that! :-)

~N8

Happy New Year - 2012

2011-12-31T13:08:00.003-05:00

We say goodbye to 2011 tonight. Happy New Years!!

Looking back on this year I can honestly say that I'm proud of the progress I've made career-wise. With the exception of only a few months out of the year, I stayed consistently busy and debuted with new companies and performed new operatic & concert roles. I threw myself to the wind, doing more auditions than I've ever done in one year - most of which went really well... (there were 2 auditions that completely sucked and I'm pretending that they didn't happen.) The biggest accomplishment I achieved in 2011 was signing with the MET in New York City. Though I'm only working as an understudy this season, I'm still incredibly excited and honored to have this opportunity. I finally accomplished my goal of working with the most prominent opera company in the United States.

I don't have much to say about living in Philadelphia this last year. I wish I did. It's just not the city I was hoping it would be. I don't hate it... but I don't necessarily like it either. It's a ridiculously violent place and has some of the worst drivers I've even seen. However, there are some good points too - it's cheaper than living in NYC, it has fantastic restaurants, the city in general supports the arts, and it has some beautiful parks. I'm convinced at this point that I'll only feel "at home" when I'm somewhere on the West Coast. In the meantime, until my career allows me to live where I'd like, I'll maintain my residence in the East.

Montgomery and I also continue to do well... celebrating 3 years together next month. He's stayed busy between his writing and photography and received a nice promotion with his job in Center City Philadelphia that may allow us some financial relief this next year (I'm hoping)... and even a possible relocation. More on that as the year unfolds.

I lost three friends this year. May they rest in eternal peace -
Pete Glen - childhood neighbor & father of one of my oldest, dearest friends - Alana.
Charline Freedman - my first college drama/acting professor.
Aunt Tadsie - my wonderful opera patron & friend. She was 100 years old.

2012 is still fuzzy as to where my life & career are headed, but one thing is for certain - I enter it feeling very fortunate in having the love and support of my family & friends. Without that, I'm not sure where I'd be.

May you all have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012!!

~N8

Christmas, 2011

2011-12-25T21:43:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas, Everybody!!

I spent the entire day with family - the morning with my fathers side, then the afternoon with my mothers. It was great to see everyone... that was my biggest gift for the holidays - to see my family. I ate WAAAAAY too much!!! But isn't that what you're suppose to do during Christmas? Eat? Anyway, I'll spend the next few days visiting with friends in town and enjoying a little peace and quiet with my folks.

Let's make the last week of 2011 count!! Here we come 2012!

~N8

First Day of Winter 2011

2011-12-21T23:40:00.002-05:00

Today is officially the first day of Winter. It's a quarter til midnight here in Philly and it's 61 degrees... which seems rather odd, considering it was FREEZING this time last year. Trust me, I'm not complaining and if Jack Frost wants to take a holiday this year and hand us a mild Winter, I'm totally down for that.

Tomorrow I head back to California - this time it's back home to Hughson to see my family for Christmas. I'll be there for about a week and looking forward to seeing my all relatives... many of whom I only see during this time of year. Should be nice. My only regret is that Montgomery won't be joining me. Another Christmas apart... but that's alright.. we celebrated evening with presents and food and I'll be back just in time to bring in the new year with him.

Okay... totally changing the subject... have you seen the trailer for The Hobbit movie due out next December!? OMG!!! Peter Jackson, you're awesome!!!! I was a HUGE fan of The Lord of the Ring movies that came out almost ten years ago... (sheesh! I can't believe it's been that long!)... so when I saw this trailer I nearly fell out of my seat with excitement! You better believe I'll be eagerly waiting this entire year for December 14th, 2012 to see it. I know, I know... I'm a total nerd... and proud of it!

Hope y'all enjoy your Christmas... or Hanukkah... or Quanza... or whatever you celebrate in the month of December. Remember to be grateful for the important things you have in life... and I'm not talking about materialistic things... I talking about health, family, friends, and love. Without those things, life would have little worth.

Happy Holidays!

~N8

Audition Season 2011

2011-12-17T11:49:00.004-05:00

The audition season is over for 2011.

I think this year went much, much better than last year. Last year was crazy - 12 auditions with major companies while fighting through sickness, exhaustion, harsh travel and dreadfully cold weather in New York City. You try sounding your best while dealing with all that!? It's not easy. This year was different. The opera Gods were on my side and allowed for good health, decent weather and easy travel. As a result, I felt I sang better this year. I had auditions with Virginia, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Opera North, New Orleans, Chautauqua, and Washington National Opera this December... and I think they went pretty well... but you never know how it'll turn out. They could say they "like you" at the audition... but that doesn't guarantee they're going to hire you. I learned quickly to NEVER get your hopes up after an audition... even if the audition went well and you sang your best. After you've auditioned, it's totally out of your hands... throw it away and don't look back. If something comes out of the audition then that's fantastic... but if not, you can't dwell on it. Move on.

Now it's on to Christmas! I've got most of my shopping finished - Thank you, Amazon.com!

~N8

Messiah

2011-12-12T00:31:00.001-05:00

Making my debut with the Pacific Symphony & Chorale with a performance of Handel's Messiah on December 11, 2011.

Return to Orange County

2011-12-09T11:55:00.001-05:00

I flew into Southern California last night for a Messiah concert this Sunday with the Pacific Symphony. I'm thrilled to be debuting with them and looking forward to bringing in the "holiday spirit" with this favorite oratorio. The theater we're performing in is stunning!

It's nice to be back in familiar territory. West Coast is the best coast, in my opinion. I'm excited that some of my old college friends will be able to attend the concert this weekend...some of which are in the chorus singing. My folks and grandmother with also be driving from Northern California to see the show...which is awesome. I'm hoping to escape to Long Beach and/or Seal Beach during my limited time off here. Those two beach cities hold many fond memories for me... especially Seal Beach, which I would often use as a quiet place of meditation and piece of mind during stressful times in my life. Don't we all wish we had a place like that to run off to when life starts working your last nerve. Sometimes, when I'm forced to think of a happy place to relax myself, that's the place that comes to mind.

It's sure nice to be back! Hallelujah!!! (pun extended)

~ N8

Happy Birthday, Mama!

2011-12-01T12:08:00.003-05:00

Today is my beautiful mama's birthday!

We all have those special people in our life that we wouldn't know what to do without. My mama is one of those people for me. She has been my rock, my protector, my common sense, my caregiver, my conscience and my friend all my life. Despite all her personal battles, she never stopped being my mother... never stopped loving me, never stopped supporting me, never stopped putting me first in her life. When it comes to my career... whether I'm singing at the MET or flipping burgers at McDonalds... there is no bigger fan. Nobody is more proud of even my smallest accomplishments. She has taught me love and dedication, right from wrong, and accepted and loved me for the man I have come to be. She is a fighter, strong, stubborn to the core at times, and Hell hath no fury should anybody dare wrong or hurt her only child (it's scary!) She always writes in cards about how proud she is of me... but, it is I who am so proud of her. She's my guardian angel on Earth and continues to be a light, a blessing, in my life. I'm truly fortunate and couldn't ask for a better mother.

Love you, Mama... Happy Birthday!

~N8

Return to Philly

2011-11-26T22:12:00.003-05:00

Montgomery and I arrived safely home to Philadelphia after 3 days in Cincinnati. We rented a car and drove the distance...which was long, but uneventful... for which I'm grateful for. Thanksgiving went well and it was nice to see some familiar, friendly faces. When we arrived home and checked our mail I opened my first rejection letter of the opera audition season... which will go a large pile of other rejection letters that I'm keeping so I can wallpaper the inside of my mansion someday.

~N8

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-22T20:08:00.003-05:00

Montgomery and I are off to Cincinnati to spend Thanksgiving with his family.

Here's wishing you all a very happy turkey day!!

~N8

Auditions Begin

2011-11-20T11:30:00.002-05:00

I went to New York City three times this week for opera auditions. Fortunately, the weather wasn't awful and my auditions went well. There's nothing worse than traveling to the "big city" when it's as cold as the arctic, or snowing or raining, fighting the millions of holiday shoppers in the streets in order to get your next audition, then sounding perfect the moment you arrive to the audition. As always, I ran into several of my opera singer colleagues and friends... all scrambling to their next audition... all of them in hope of landing contracts. Each night I came back to Philly, I would crash and burn. It's amazing how much the Big Apple can exhaust me after only a few hours.

In the Belly of the Stark: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon Bits

2011-11-13T16:31:00.000-05:00

In the Belly of the Stark: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon Bits: Macaroni & Cheese is good... but BAKED macaroni & cheese is better! For some reason I thought making baked macaroni & cheese was much harde...

Sunday Musing

2011-11-13T15:30:00.003-05:00

The last few days since my birthday have been low key and uneventful. I've been steadily working on the score to Romeo et Juliette (an engagement I have coming up in February) and adding new recipes to my food blog, In the Belly of the Stark. Audition season has begun...with 4 auditions this week in NYC - 2 on Tuesday, 1 on Friday, and 1 on Saturday. I'm hopeful my audition season will be better than it was last year. I was unaccustomed to having that many auditions at one time, the weather was terrible each time I traveled to Manhattan, and I struggled to stay physically well the entire Winter. In preparation for "Hell Month" - aka - December, I've started drinking tons of water daily and loading up on my multivitamins.

Monty and I are heading to Ohio for Thanksgiving to spend the holiday with his family. It's usually my favorite holiday of the year... and not just because it gives a person a reason to eat, but because it's like the calm before the storm (the storm being Christmas).

~N8

34

2011-11-09T10:06:00.005-05:00

I'm so thankful to be around for another birthday! Every year, every day, is a blessing.

I've now entered that strange, vagueness of my "thirty-somethings." This is usually the age that most people forget the exact number and sum it up by saying, "Oh... he's in his thirty-somethings."Despite the slow receding hair line inching back ever further, the gray hair developing just above the ears, the 15 "extra" pounds that seems impossible to shed, and the little aches and pains I feel in my back every morning as I crawl out of bed - I'm happy. Of course, I would love to be more successful in my career and have work lined up 3 years in advance... but I've learned to be happy and thankful for the things you have in this moment in time. You can rave about having a new car or house or boat, but the most important thing we must remember is to be grateful for is our life and for those people in our life that make it worth living.

So... that being said... I'm going to celebrate another year and dive into that zone of "thirty-something" with pride.

~N8

Tony Bennett - Live in Philly

2011-11-05T00:01:00.002-04:00

Montgomery and I saw a living legend in the music industry this evening in concert - Mr. Tony Bennett.

So... let me be honest... though I have always respected Bennett as an artist, I can't say that I've always been a fan of his music. I suppose it's a generation thing. He was somebody my grandparents grew up listening to... not me. It wasn't until recently I started realizing how incredible he is as a performer and what a huge supporter he is of the arts. His newest duets CD crosses over generations and music genres... I mean, he duets with Andrea Bocelli and Lady Gaga! How cool is that!?

What's more, is his age! At 85, this seasoned veteran crooner still has it! Watching him walk out onstage this evening I had to constantly remind myself that he's only 15 years from being a centurion! He moved and sang with all the ease and finesse of a man 40 years younger. He was able to engage his audience with a charisma and charm that you don't see very often. It was classic. He knows how to deliver a song... how to tell a story... how to capture the entire rooms attention and deliver all the goods with confidence. Despite singing in a different genre, I was very inspired watching him.

So... BRAVO, Tony!! Thanks for a great concert!!!

~N8

Happy Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T11:17:00.004-04:00

To be honest, I never really understood Halloween or why we celebrate it. Why do we dress up as witches, vampires and an assortment of other personalities one night of the year and send our children off in the neighborhood to ask for candy from total strangers!? Sounds crazy, doesn't it?! We raise kids to "Don't talk to strangers!"... then, we break our rule and say, "Go knock on that persons door and ask for candy!" Huh??

Ya know what I think would be funny... when a child comes to your front door, screams "TRICK or TREAT!!!," holds out a sack of candy and you say, straight faced, "trick" and then you proceed to hop on one foot, singing the "Chili's Baby-Back Ribs" song.

But seriously, most of us have all participated in this annual celebration... whether we understand it or not. As a child, I looked forward to dressing up as something unusual. I should have known then that I was destined for a career in the performing arts. Here's a list of my Halloween costumes (at least the ones I can recall.)

A Cowboy
A Spider
A Pumpkin
Boss Hog - from Dukes of Hazzard
A Wizard - 20 + years before the whole Harry Potter craze when wizards weren't as cool to be.
A Cook - I think I called it a "Baker" and wore an apron with a chefs hat.
A Ghost
A bright orange shirt that read, "This IS my costume."
Elvis Presley
Dracula
A Naval Officer
Ken - Barbie's Boyfriend
Hugh Hefner
Tim Gunn

This year, I'm going as an opera singer on vacation. ;-)

Happy Halloween, Folks!!... and be safe tonight!

~N8

Snow? IN OCTOBER!?

2011-10-29T22:31:00.002-04:00

Montgomery and I woke up this October morning to... SNOW!! Yep. That's right.

Now, anybody who know me KNOWS how I much I HATE, how much I DESPISE snow. No, seriously. When that white stuff starts falling from the sky my soul dies just a little bit. Since I left my beloved California a few years ago and experience my first blizzard in Cincinnati, Ohio I have cursed Winter weather every year since.

Ok... so I'm being a little melodramatic. The snow this morning and afternoon in Philadelphia wasn't that bad. It made the roads slushy, it was mixed with freezing rain and it was (obviously) very cold. The thing that got me was - IT'S STILL OCTOBER!!!! Let's enjoy Fall for a while longer before we bundle up for Winter.

Fall... come back. Don't tease me!

~N8

Mama

2011-10-26T22:35:00.002-04:00

Keeping my mama in my thoughts and prayers as she goes through a liver biopsy tomorrow morning. Praying it's not the worse case scenario.

~N8

Aida Finishes

2011-10-24T00:14:00.004-04:00

I head back to Philadelphia this morning after 2 months of working on Aida at Virginia Opera. The experience has been great and I'm happy to walk away from the production having debuted my first Aida, made several new friends, and fulfilled my obligations to an opera company that has been vital to my career as a singer.

This weekends shows went well. I found that the Richmond audiences were far more enthusiastic about the production than our audiences in Fairfax. Montgomery came into town via Amtrak on Thursday and was able to see the show on Friday night.

Goodbye, Virginia! Thanks for another fantastic Fall!

~N8

Return to Richmond

2011-10-18T23:13:00.002-04:00

I have arrived in Richmond, Virginia to finish the run of Aida this coming Friday and Sunday at the Carpenter Theater downtown. Our run in Fairfax, VA went well... even despite some of the surprisingly uneducated, confused, and ridiculous reviews we received. The worst critics are the ones that flat-out insult an artist in a newspaper review. Fortunately, I was spared any critics harsh pen... one of the benefits of being a supporting role... but several of my colleagues received some "below-the-belt" punches from critics in Washington D.C.

It's hard to believe that two months ago we started this project... and I as I come to this realization, it's dawned on me - "where the heck did September go?" Hallow is next week? Really? Already?

I went into New York City after our final show in Fairfax last Sunday to audition for Opera Theater Saint Louis. The audition went well... for the most part. I was tired... both physically and vocally from the shows and from the traveling... but I don't think I embarrassed myself. The folks hearing the audition were very nice and attentive (which is always nice considering you don't always get such luxuries.) As a singer, you wish that people auditioning you can hear you at your best, while you're healthy and full of energy... but, alas, that's all wishful thinking. One of the many challenges a performing artist faces is fighting through fatigue, illness, emotional issues, stress, and travel... and then, convincingly, give an audition that seems void of all those things.

I had a really nice dinner with my cast this evening in Richmond at an Italian restaurant called "La Grotta" (The Cave). It was fantastic... great food, great drinks, great service, great company. All of these things combined made for an evening that was...well... great!

~N8

Aida #5

2011-10-14T17:39:00.002-04:00

Another opening... another show!!

Aida opens tonight at the George Mason University Theater this evening in the Fairfx/Washington D.C. area.

~N8

Bad Scale

2011-10-13T21:55:00.003-04:00

Never step on scale after you've been on opera tour for over a month.

... the results are not flattering.

Crap.

~ N8

2011 National Coming Out Day

2011-10-11T15:00:00.003-04:00

I made it home to Philadelphia on Sunday around midnight. As much as Norfolk, Virginia has it's charms.... I was ready to leave after living there for 40 days. The city and people are kind and wonderful... but it lacks a feeling of "home" for me. Philadelphia lacks that feeling too... but, in my own apartment, with Montgomery, my kitchen , my own bed it's the closest feeling I have to being home.

Today is National Coming Out day. I officially did in January 2007. It was incredibly tough. I can not describe the amount of shame I carried with me throughout my teenage years and most of my twenties knowing that I was "different" and that I carried this "burden" within. I waited for something to change inside me. It never did. I begged God every night to make me straight. He never did. I dated women anyway. That was a disaster. I was a constant actor... even after I left the stage the curtain went down. I settled on loneliness as my only option for the rest of my life... because being gay was "dirty" was "sinful" was "wrong." I eventually learned that the worst "wrong" you can do in your lifetime is to completely deny yourself of who you are. Fortunately, because of good friends standing by me during my process of accepting myself for what I was, I was able look myself in the mirror and be proud of who was staring back at me.

For me, National Coming Out Day is a day of reflection and appreciation for those friends and family who supported me during my realization and acceptance of who I am. I couldn't be the person I am today without their love... and, in return, I honor them... always.

~N8

Finishing up in Norfolk

2011-10-08T21:12:00.003-04:00

Can I just tell you how frustrating it is to reconfigure your laptop after it crashes and has a new hard drive installed. Documents are saved. Good. Photos are saved. Good. Music on itunes... lost. Bad. :-(

I think I'll just have to buckle down and get a new laptop in the next few months. According to the Apple Store guy, my computer is "old." It's 5 year old. That's old!? REALLY!? What the heck!

Our performances of Aida went wonderfully on Wednesday and Friday of this week. This has been a really nice cast work with...and not just the cast, but also the folks behind the scenes. We have a matinee tomorrow (I really hate those afternoon shows) and then I'm off to Philadelphia for a few days to be home in my own apartment, in my own kitchen, in my own bed... and, of course, to see Montgomery... who just finished writing his novel, that he's pounding away at for a year or two, today. Don't ask me what it's about... he never lets me a read any of his work while it's in the processing stage. I relate this to cooking - while I'm in the kitchen making a dish, I would prefer to do it in private and no one in standing in around in my way.. No tasting anything until I've finished making it. In other words, I think I understand.

I'll be in Fairfax, Virginia next Thursday for our two performances of Aida there. I'm hoping we get a review in the paper... as we didn't get one in Norfolk... and it's a show worthy of a review, in my opinion.

Oh, and I'm LOVING this Fall weather that's finally set in. Time to break out the long-sleeve shirts and scarves.

~N8

Aida Opens!

2011-10-02T22:56:00.002-04:00

Opening night of Aida was absolutely wonderful! Everybody... and I mean, everybody... was in tip top condition. Yes, yes... I know I always brag about how good my cast is in almost every show I'm in... but these colleagues of mine are ALL quite exceptional. I would go as far as saying that I've never been in a show that has this many great singers in the same cast. It's really quite exciting!

The opera house was almost entirely sold out for the evening... with only a few seats free in the "nose-bleeder" seats. People where excited in the audience. I know it's odd to mention... but, as a performing artist who does live shows, you can "feel" the energy an audience gives off. You know if they like you... or if they don't... even before your stage bow at the end of the performance. Most stage performers work off the "energy" an audience is giving off. It's sometimes tough... an opera matinee audience, usually, gives off a MUCH different vibe than an opening night audience. An artist can never expect exactly how an audience will react... it's quite possible it will be different every night. But, our opening night audience was fantastic and embraced our cast & crew with incredible energy throughout the show and a thunderous applause at the end.

Our next show is Wednesday. I've a few days off to study my Romeo et Juilette score and reconfigure my laptop... which crashed this weekend. $300.00 in repair. Not good.

Oh... and... HELLO, October! We meet again!

~N8

Move over, King Tut!

2011-09-28T19:10:00.001-04:00

Here's a first peek at what I look as the King of Egypt in Aida.

~ N8

Happy Birthday, Grandma Joyce!

2011-09-27T10:28:00.002-04:00

She's 73 years old today and still looks as beautiful as ever! Love you, Grandma!

~N8

Homophobia

2011-09-26T15:54:00.002-04:00

~ N8

Tech Week Begins

2011-09-24T15:49:00.002-04:00

We have entered the final week of rehearsals for Aida. It opens a week from today and with much anticipation and excitement from the cast, crew and local audiences. The tech rehearsals have been challenging and have kept our excellent stage crew busy and focused with all the moving scenery. All looks good so far and I'm excited to hear the Virginia Symphony in the pit playing this incredible music this next week during the dress rehearsals.

The weather in Norfolk has been less exciting. Very rainy, sometimes humid, and overcast. With only one car to share among the principle cast, it has made getting around difficult.

I'm finding it hard to believe that we're approaching the end of 2011, with October just around the corner. Audition "Hell" season is right around the corner and I'm already mentally preparing myself for the December NYC audition scene - hordes of holiday shoppers, getting lost, illnesses, and spending tons of money on travel, food and accompanist fees. Ah, the opera singers life.

~N8

Rest in Peace, Charline Freedman.

2011-09-19T22:56:00.004-04:00

Today was a quiet day in Norfolk. In the afternoon I received sad news that a former college professor of mine passed away. This really broke my heart, leaving a helpless, empty void... because she was more than a former instructor of mine, she was also my friend.

Charline Freedman was my drama teacher at Modesto Junior College. I enrolled in her beginning, intermediate and advanced acting classes. She opened my mind and my heart to the world of live theater and taught me how appreciate and respect the art form that it is. There was no "playing around" in her classroom... you were there to work, to learn, to expand your talents and take risks onstage. Students who thought they could just enroll in an "easy-A-drama-class" found out quickly that was not the case with Charline. Though she only about 4'11... she was full of energy, life and you could physically see the passion of the stage through the energy she exuded. She was a gem.

Much of what I learned from Charline about acting I use today in my work in opera. I'm so glad we were able to reconnect through Facebook a few years ago. I always enjoyed reading her comments... which were usually sweet compliments about me or her agreeing with my views and dislike of many GOP policies and proposals. But what I'm tremendously grateful for, is having had the opportunity to tell her how much she helped create the artist I am today.

She was retiring the year I graduated my junior college... and I can only guess that she was, at least, in her 80's. Through my limited sources, I gather she was ill when she pasted away.

Rest in sweet peace, dearest Charline. Thank you for your love, your encouragement, and your faith in me and the many students you inspired in your lifetime.

~N8

Oh, Bananas!

2011-09-19T00:20:00.000-04:00

... this had me laughing for days.

~N8

The Aida Cast Takes on Fried Chicken

2011-09-16T23:49:00.011-04:00

On Thursday, I spent most of the afternoon preparing for a huge, homemade feast for some of my colleagues in the cast of Aida. The theme was "Southern Cuisine", with the main course being Fried Chicken (what else?). I learned how to make these beautiful, battered, fried, bird parts from watching my Grandma Letha. As a kid, I remember watching her take her time preparing each and every piece of chicken, battering it, then frying it to a golden brown. Over the years, I've added my own twist to her fried chicken recipe. I think my cooking is in a state of constant evolution.

Here's what was on the menu:

* Fried Chicken - wings, legs, thighs, and boneless chicken.* Bacon-filled Hoecakes - fried cornbread patties, with bacon bits inside & sugar.* Garlic Mashed Potatoes - with sour cream.

* Coleslaw
* Hoppin John - blackeyed peas, rice, onion and green bell pepper.
* Corn on the Cob - with butter & parsley
* Peach Cobbler - made with fresh peaches and vanilla ice cream.

It was good food and great company!! Thanks, y'all!!!

~N8

My Letter to Rep. Kern

2011-09-14T22:57:00.003-04:00

I'm gonna stray off the subject of opera or music in this blog entry and, instead, discuss a public political figure who's out of place, out of sync, out of touch with this country. Oklahoma State legislator, Rep. Sally Kern, has openly stated that she feels the biggest threat to the United States in not terrorism, but homosexuality. I know! She's crazy! She has also made comments that she feels the blame for HIV/AIDS belongs to the homosexual community. Ugh...

In 2008 she stated:

"Studies show that no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than, you know, a few decades. So it's the death knell of this country. I honestly think it's the biggest threat our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam — which I think is a big threat, okay? Cause what's happening now is they are going after, in schools, two-year olds...And this stuff is deadly, and it's spreading, and it will destroy our young people, it will destroy this nation."

Last week in an interview she stated:

"You know if you just look at it in practical terms, which has destroyed and ended the life of more people? Terrorism attack here in America or HIV/AIDS? In the last twenty years, fifteen to twenty years, we’ve had maybe three terrorist attacks on our soil with a little over 5,000 people regrettably losing their lives. In the same time frame, there have been hundreds of thousands who have died because of having AIDS. So which one’s the biggest threat? And you know, every day our young people, adults too, but especially our young people, are bombarded at school, in movies, in music, on TV, in the mall, in magazines, they’re bombarded with ‘homosexuality is normal and natural.’ It’s something they have to deal with every day. Fortunately we don’t have to deal with a terrorist attack every day, and that’s what I mean."

I'm seriously blown away by this woman. I mean, if one is looking for a face who represents homophobia, hate, ignorance, and bigotry look no further than Sally Kern.

Since I'll probably never have an opportunity to meet her and tell her how much of an idiot she is, I'll just post this little pretend letter to her on my blog:

Dear Rep. Sally Kern,

Your views on homosexuals are very clear to the American people. You hate them. You openly target them as "daily threats" and "worse than terrorism." I'm so confused by these statements, Mrs. Kern... because these words you're using are incredibly insulting, insensitive and completely ignorant. AIDS is not a "gay disease"... it's a human disease and millions of people, gay and straight, have died worldwide because of it. Gay people did not come together one day and invent a disease just for ourselves.

As for your infamous comments about homosexuality being a bigger threat to United States than terrorism... you are just. plain. stupid. Bottom line.

The biggest threat in this country are ignorant people. YOU, Mrs. Kern, are a threat to this country through the poison in your words that leak through the ears of the youth forced to listen to the garbage, the uneducated crap you spill in interviews to the public. I wonder if you even know what you're saying? I wonder if you've ever considered the fact that there are young gay people in your State and around the country that feel lesser of a person because of the tactless way you compared what they are by nature to such horrific actions such as terrorism. I don't have words to even describe how disgusting a statement that is. It's beyond mean or vile... it's just pure evil to say that. Shame on you!

Sally Kern, you're a disgrace to the office you hold. It's sicking to think that you have been elected to your position by those who are just as blind and ignorant as yourself. I can only hope that there are fewer individuals like you in the world... otherwise, we'd all be lost.

Sincerely,
~N8

Norfolk, Week 2 - Complete

2011-09-10T23:25:00.002-04:00

Rehearsals have been long this week. I'm pretty sure everything has been blocked and staged by this point... but when you're trying to work in a large chorus of Egyptians into the whole mix, it can be tough. Everybody remains positive and excited about this production and I'm happy with the progress we've made the last two weeks of rehearsal.

Today we had a big, outdoor, public concert in downtown Norfolk to promote the opera season at Virginia. We performed a little bit of everything... including opera, musical theater and spirituals. I was asked to sing the ballad "If Ever I would Leave you" from the musical, Camelot. It's one of those pieces I recently added to my repertoire... and whether you croon it or singing it full out, it's always an audience favorite. I also sang (no surprise) "Ol Man River"... aka - the bass musical theater national anthem.

I really like Virginia Beach. I'm hoping to take Montgomery there at some point. Restaurants, shopping, hotels and a beach... perfect! There's this huge statue of the Greek God of the Sea, Poseidon, being lead by a giant sea turtle. It was cool.

~N8

So far So Good!

2011-09-06T23:44:00.003-04:00

We are a week into rehearsals for Aida and moral is high among the cast & crew. There's something very reassuring about working with a cast who have done these roles before... not only done them, but have done them well! Across the board, everybody involved - the principles, the chorus, the conductor, stage director, crew, ect. - are enthusiastic about this production. I even went into the wig & costume department at the opera house this afternoon to try on the wig I'll be wearing for the show (it's a long, dark wig with braids!) and they were on top of everything... hustling around making the wigs that will help transform 40 some-odd American singers into Egyptians. It's hard work!

I have met some truly wonderful souls in this cast... people I connected with almost instantaneously. It's always a blessing when you run into colleagues in this wacky career who are not only incredible artists onstage, but genuinely down-to-Earth, wonderful people offstage. Of course, if you love to good food, good music, and a good laugh then I'm not hard to be friends with! I've often told folks the way to my heart is through food, music, and laughter. I went and saw the movie The Help with my new friends from the cast this evening. I thought it was a beautiful, emotionally moving film. If you get a chance, go see it! I'll be reeeeeally surprise if it doesn't win an Oscar.

Week 2... here we go!

~N8

Ready, Set, Aida...

2011-09-02T01:34:00.005-04:00

I made it to Norfolk, Virginia on Tuesday afternoon. Despite the hurricane, Norfolk was able to come out of it almost unscathed. It's been nice seeing some of the familiar faces at the opera company this week. Once again, Virginia Opera has offered me a warm welcome back to Norfolk!

We had our musical run-through of Aida yesterday and I'm delighted to report that all the voices in this production are outstanding... and BIG! Perfect for a Verdi opera! Everybody seems excited about this production and ready to make it a wonderful experience to share with the audiences of the Virginia.

This will be a busy weekend of rehearsals and we hit the ground running!

~N8

Norfolk-Bound

2011-08-29T21:57:00.003-04:00

Well, I survived Hurricane Irene this weekend. I actually slept through it. Saturday night I stayed up late, concerned about the strength of this force of nature... but, I fell asleep by 3:00am and wasn't bothered by the craziness outside. Our windows held up, there was no power outages, and there was minimal damage done in our neighborhood... unfortunately, others in the City of Brotherly Love weren't so lucky. :-(

And so now I'm off to Virginia for 2 months to work on Aida with Virginia Opera. I'm thrilled to be returning to the company and working with Lillian Groag, our stage director, again. She such an inspirational director to work with when we did a fantastic production of Don Giovanni last year. She's a performers director... something I wish we had more of.

See ya later, Philly! See you in Fall!

~N8

Poor Bob

2011-08-27T12:12:00.003-04:00

I read this on Facebook this morning and thought it was funny...

"Please Pray for Bob. Bob forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was mad. She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE ! "The next morning when his wife woke up, she looked out the window to find a box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway.She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale. Bob has been missing since Friday..."

~N8

Waiting for Irene

2011-08-26T16:52:00.003-04:00

Wow... the weather is becoming so violent of late. An Earthquake earlier this week and NOW a huge hurricane this weekend! What the heck is going on!?

Hurricane Irene (I wonder how hurricanes get their name?) has the entire city of Philadelphia on edge as it's due to pass through New Jersey and Pennsylvania tomorrow and Sunday. Both state governors have declared a state of emergency in order as we await the arrival of the category 2 hurricane. Even the President of the United States has told us to be careful and to avoid staying in areas that could flood or otherwise be dangerous.

Montgomery and I have plenty of food and water... but we're both concerned about the windows in our apartment. We live on the 8th floor of a tall complex and we're both crossing our fingers that the windows can hold out. The other concern is the predicted power outages... which wouldn't be very fun, but we're ready to survive a few days without power... if need be.

My plans to fly into Norfolk, Virginia on Sunday have obviously been canceled and re-booked for Tuesday. Hopefully both Norfolk & Philadelphia will be recovered by then and we can begin our rehearsals for Aida.

It's a waiting game now as we prepare for Irene. Wish us luck!

~N8

Earthquake in Philly

2011-08-23T18:16:00.002-04:00

There was an earthquake in Virginia this afternoon that was felt as far up the East Coast as New England. People in Philadelphia are going CRAZY... like, seriously... that's ALL they're talking about on the evening news. I'm trying to empathetic to the wonder, the awe, the excitement, the fear of experiencing the Earth shake under your feet... but, it's not working. It's one thing if there's an Earthquake and buildings or bridges are damaged and fall to the ground... it's another if it was just a little "shimmy." So... RELAX, Philly!! The Mayor has announced there was no major damage to the city or it's buildings... so all is well and good. Go about you business. There's nothing to see here.

What we should be a bit concerned about is the approaching Hurricane Irene... predicted to arrive on the coast of Pennsylvania on Sunday... the day I'm suppose to fly out to Norfolk, Virginia. Hopefully, Irene will decide to take a different direction and travel out to sea. ;-)

~N8

Home on a Saturday

2011-08-20T14:33:00.002-04:00

I arrived back in Philadelphia yesterday... after performing for a birthday recital for a major donor of Cincinnati Opera. She turned 100 years old. Wow. This was the third trip back to Cincinnati this Summer, but this time I stayed at a nice hotel downtown. The room I had was nice with a jacuzzi in the bedroom... I took advantage of this rare luxury during those two nights.

Now I have a week off and then I head to Virginia Opera to begin rehearsals for Aida. Virginia Opera has been an one of the major companies that has been imperative in my development as an artist. I'm happy to be returning to them for my 4th production and look forward to seeing familiar faces, both on and off the stage.

Looking forward to Fall... always my favorite time of year.

~N8

Remembering Tadsie

2011-08-15T02:37:00.005-04:00

A very young Aunt Tadsie sometime in the late 1920's or early 1930

Yesterday I joined in celebrating the amazing life of my dear "Aunt" Tadsie at a special memorial service held Emerald Heights in Redmond, Washington, a retirement home where she lived. Tadsie was my friend and opera sponsor. She lived a life that was rich, 100 years on Earth, full of amazing adventures and joys.

The service was very nice. Tadsie had written down exactly what she wanted at her funeral. I sang the Malotte arrangement of The Lords Prayer and Ol Man River, one of her favorite songs. I even got up spoke about my special relationship with her. I admit, I'm a MUCH better singer than I am a public speaker. There was an open mic for friends and family to come up onstage and say a few words about Tadsie... and I was surprise to see that NO ONE, aside from her wonderful daughter Charlotte, jumped up to say anything. I got a little choked up while speaking... again, I'm a better singer than a speaker... but managed to finish my last sentence without falling apart emotionally. Sorry, I'm an artist and we wear our emotions on our sleeves. After I spoke, I was happy to see a few more people get up and say a few things. Sometimes you have to be the one to "break the ice."

I saw many of my friends at the retirement home... many of the old folks who have been so supportive and wonderful to me over the last decade. It's always so bittersweet to see all of their smiling faces. All of them have incredible stories to share, so much live experience. Their bodies are slow, some are feeble, some are sick... but there's a light in their faces that shines when I come up and give them a big hug. Age hasn't dimmed their spirits and they face the frustration of Father Time with such grace. That's so gratifying to me. They're beautiful souls.

This weekend trip to Seattle has been short and sweet... but this city, this area, the people, the culture feels like home every time I come back and it always a breath of fresh air.

... back to Philly for less than 24 hours tomorrow. Just enough time to do a little laundry and get back on another plane to Cincinnati... the city that keeps pulling me back in like a Black Hole.

~N8

I look forward....

2011-08-11T22:25:00.002-04:00

... to one day watching the Evening News and hearing that all is well in the world.

... but I suppose that's just wishful thinking, huh? :-/

~N8

In Preparation

2011-08-09T10:55:00.003-04:00

The last few days have been low-key and uneventful. I find myself being a homebody during my downtime between engagements... that's probably because I'm hardly ever home and want to enjoy being in my own apartment for as long as I can. I'm preparing to head to Seattle, WA this coming weekend to attend the memorial service for my Aunt Tadsie, who passed away a month and a half ago at the age of 100. I'm singing The Lord's Prayer and Ol Man River (one of her favorites). After I'm finished in Seattle I return to Philly (for less than 24 hours) and then hop on a plane back to Cincinnati to perform a recital for the 100th birthday of a huge donor to opera company there, as well as other arts throughout the city. I then enjoy a week back home in Philly, before returning to Virginia Opera at the end of the month to begin work on Aida. I'm hopeful it will be a pleasant experience.

~N8

Atlantic City Day Trip

2011-08-05T23:12:00.004-04:00

Montgomery and I spent the day in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He's been wanting to see the beach and walk along the boardwalk for a long time, so he took the day off from work and we drove down to visit the city for the first time. It was really nice!! I was very impressed with how clean the beach and nearby areas were. There was plenty of tourists, places to eat, shop, gamble and, if you're in the mood for riding rides, there's an entire boardwalk area just for that... including helicopter rides for $50.00 per person. We kept our feet on the ground. The weather was perfect. We sat on the beach, played in the ocean (briefly) and we enjoyed a nice lunch on the boardwalk, watching the "interesting" people that the area provides.

We saw a rather heavy-set woman riding a motorized ice cooler. I know I'm mean for laughing at this... but, come on, it DOES look like an ice chest!!! :-/

It was a nice day... and both Monty and I look forward to visiting Atlantic City again in the near future!

~N8

1 year in Philly

2011-08-02T23:25:00.003-04:00

I'm back in the City of Brotherly Love. Arrived into Philly on Monday morning and so happy to be back in my own apartment, cooking in my own kitchen, and under my own air conditioner.

Montgomery and I celebrate our first year in Philadelphia today. After 12 months we're both convinced that this isn't the city we'll ever call "home." There are some really great and historical places here, some fantastic restaurants, and some beautiful parks... but it's the outrageous violence in the city that has us pondering where our next move might be (most likely, to the West). Yes, I know that every big city has fair share of crime... but Philadelphia is ridiculous and its, by far, the most violent city I've ever lived in. We'll be here for another year, and many things could happen between now and then, but I would love to move to a city I feel safe in... like Seattle, WA... but, we'll see.

In other news, I can't believe it's August. I mean...really? Already? August!?... *sigh*

~N8

Flute Review

2011-07-28T17:15:00.002-04:00

Cincinnati Inquirer review of opening night of Magic Flute last night. Bravo to everybody involved!!

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110728/ENT03/107290317/Cincinnati-Opera-s-Magic-Flute-plays-sweetly?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

~N8

Eve of Magic (Flute)

2011-07-26T18:26:00.003-04:00

We open Magic Flute tomorrow at Cincinnati Opera. It's bound to be a crowd pleaser. The sets, costumes, puppets, lighting and sound will entertain all those who will attended the shows... not to mention the great singing too!

I'm mentally ready to get on with another project... of course, after I take a few days off to detox from this show. I really wish I could say I enjoyed the whole rehearsal process and being apart of helping put this production together... but, unfortunately, I just can't. There's no way I can compare the wonderful experience I had working on Rigoletto last month to this show now. It's been tough, tedious process. That being said, Magic Flute will definitely be a great show for the Cincinnati public and I'm excited to hear the laughter and excitement from the audience. Kudos to the wonderful the wonderful stage crew at Cincinnati Opera. They're amazing backstage.

~ N8

Yay, Sunday!

2011-07-24T14:39:00.002-04:00

It's a company day off today! The weather is warm, but bearable... unlike that last few days in Cincinnati. Tomorrow we have our final dress rehearsal of Magic Flute and I'm praying everything runs smoothly. The production is really something... but there are so many little pieces that keep the stage crew busy backstage, like scene shifts, moving walls, smoke, lighting cues, and sound cues. It's quit an experience watching all these professional stage technicians working their tails off in order to keep this show moving. They're a talented bunch!

I added a new character photo to the right of my blog. I think I look like a character from Star Trek or something... but it's cool. At least they didn't give me facial hair. I HATE having facial hair glued to my face for a show. Nothing like trying to sing while having, what feels like, a tarantula glued to your face.

Anyway... enjoy your Sunday, everybody!

~N8

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2011-07-23T14:28:00.003-04:00

My wonderful father turns 54 years old today.

Dad continues to be such a rock of support in my life. I could not be doing what I'm doing today without his love and support. Always a man of strength, both physically and personally, he taught me the importance of persistence, hard work and respect.

Happy Birthday, Dad! You are loved very much.

~N8

Hot in Cincinnati

2011-07-21T11:32:00.003-04:00

A heatwave has hit Cincinnati this week. Today is suppose to feel like 110 degrees, according to the local news, with 70% humidity. It's suppose to be one of the hottest days on record. Grrrrrreat... *sigh*...

As always, I bring the worst weather with me to every city I visit. Looks as though I'll be staying indoors most of the day, under the AC, until rehearsal starts this evening.

Magic Flute is looking good. We had a sitzprobe (orchestra rehearsal with the singers) last night and they sound fantastic in the pit. I'm looking forward to seeing how this entire production comes together, especially when the lighting and costumes are added.

~N8

Sunday, Midnight in Paris

2011-07-17T19:03:00.006-04:00

We had a day off from the opera today... and a much needed one too. The Magic Flute is going well... it's just been a very intense process in rehearsals. I've never been so flooded with as many musical notes as I have been with this particular production... and, while I highly respect the conductors desire for perfection and excellence, I can't help but feel completely overwhelmed trying to incorporate every minute detail that he wishes. The real challenge is trying to do all that while still concentrating and focusing in on characterization and my blocking at the same time. It's been tough and I'm trying to find comfort in knowing that all I can do is do my best, to remember and retain as many details as possible, and to try to learn as much as I can in the process. Sometimes that works... sometimes it doesn't.

I went and saw Midnight in Paris this afternoon. It was surprisingly good! I really enjoyed the movie and felt that Woody Allen did an exceptional job with the writing and directing. I totally didn't expect the movie to be about what it was... and it exceeded my expectations. Owen Wilson isn't my favorite actor, but I have to give it to him in this movie. I highly recommend it to everybody to go see. Worth your penny!

Tomorrow is my second weigh in day for Weight Watchers. I had a cheat day yesterday. I spent some "extra" points on Chinese food and an ice cream cone. Amazing how much better certain foods taste when you don't have them on a regular basis.

Enjoy your Sunday, Web World!

~N8

Bigot

2011-07-16T12:23:00.006-04:00

Gay.

The End.

~ N8

The Magic Mute

2011-07-13T21:29:00.003-04:00

My spoken lines in Magic Flute were given to somebody else today. No one even bothered to tell me... until the person who was given my lines informed me before rehearsal today. I only had 3 lines... and two were given away... leaving me with the one liner, "No. He is not worthy of you!"

I'm not angry or hurt by this... if anything, I think it's rather funny. I'm performing the role of "the Speaker"and yet, I remain silent for most of the opera. Oh well.

~N8

You know what I don't enjoy?

2011-07-11T17:36:00.002-04:00

... the humidity in Cincinnati, Ohio!!! 95 degrees and 65% humidity. One word for ya - UGH!!!!!!!

Took a shower this morning and, while in the shower, I was sweating like I had just run a marathon!!! Sounds impossible, right? It's true.

I started working on Aida on Sunday... and I've fallen in love with Verdi's music again. Mozart is wonderful, don't get me wrong... but Verdi has that incredible combination of passion, power and beautiful in his music that's hard to find anywhere else. I think... if I could only sing one type of composers music... it would certainly be his!

In other news:

I lost 3 pounds on Weight Watchers. Monday is my weigh in day.

~N8

Watcher of the Weight

2011-07-09T18:36:00.003-04:00

I joined Weight Watchers yesterday morning.

After many failed attempts in following my own, made-up diet plan, I finally gave in and joined the famous, point counting plan. My goal is 20 pounds. I'm hoping that, through this plan, I'll pick up a few tips on eating better. My love for food is catching up to me in my mid 30's and my metabolism is changing, so I need to make a few adjustments.

The first week of rehearsals for Magic Flute are over. The conductor is extremely precise and has given all of us tons of notes in regards to musical phrasing and diction. My mind is swimming around trying to retain exactly want he wants and make the adjustments needed for perfection.

~N8

Cincinnati - Round #2

2011-07-06T13:51:00.003-04:00

I arrived back into Cincinnati yesterday and started rehearsals for Magic Flute that evening. Though my role is small, it's nice to come to Mozart after doing some of the heavier Verdian roles I'm been doing lately. I think far too often musicians underestimate Mozart's music and fail to seen the challenges it takes to effectively execute it successfully. This isn't to say I know all the answers to how this is done exactly, but I have a strong feeling the conductor for this performance of Magic Flute does... and I plan on learning as much as I can from him in the next few weeks in rehearsals, if I can.

~N8

Fourth of July, 2011

2011-07-04T23:22:00.002-04:00

Happy 4th of July, my fellow Americans!!!!

~N8

Hello, July!

2011-07-01T22:20:00.003-04:00

I find it hard to believe that 2011 is half way over!! Wow.

I remember being a teenager in high school and thinking that the years would drag on forever. There was so much I was yearning to do and experience in life. It seemed like everything was in slow motion... so repetitive and elementary. I recall my Grandma Joyce telling me once that the older a person becomes the faster time goes by. Boy, was grandma right about that.

July takes me back to Cincinnati Opera for another round of rehearsals and another great production... this one being The Magic Flute! I leave next Tuesday. It's been great to have these two weeks off at home to mentally regroup, detox and learn more music. I'm hopeful July will be a great month and welcome it anxiously!

~N8

Happy Birthday, Montgomery!

2011-06-29T22:30:00.003-04:00

Today my other half celebrates his 31st Birthday. We went to the Philadelphia Art Museum and had dinner at wonderful Italian restaurant in downtown called Bellini Grill... I highly recommend it if you're ever in the City of Brotherly Love.

Happy Birthday, MM.

-N8

New York State Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage

2011-06-25T13:34:00.006-04:00

We are one step closer to allowing every American citizen equal and deserved civil rights.

Late Friday night, as I was talking on the phone with a friend from Long Beach, California, it was announced on television (CNN - with Anderson Cooper) that the Republican-led Senate voted to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of New York.

At this time 39 states have laws that define marriage as between a man and a woman, but it is in the opinion of the blogger/opera singer/American that marriage should be a union between two people who mutually love each other... regardless of the color of their skin, religious beliefs, ethnic background or sexual orientation.

My hope is that, after last nights important vote, people around the United States will start realizing that by not allowing a minority group who pay their taxes, work hard for a living, and are in healthy, strong relationships with individuals of the same gender that their vote against that minority is one of discrimination and prejudice. Yes, I understand and fully respect if your religious beliefs go against two men or women tying the knot... but it's also important to understand that not every marriage is based on religion. I encourage my Bible thumping friends, who I love with all my heart, to take a moment to stop preaching, put the "Good Book" down for a second, and realize that your faith, your marriage, your life will not be at jeopardized by allowing two consenting adults to be happy and wed. If you don't like gay marriage... then I suggest you don't marry a gay person.

Lastly, I pray that one day... perhaps when I'm an old man sitting in my rocking chair looking at photographs of my days as an opera singer on stages far and wide... that all this controversy about same-sex marriage will be a thing of the past, that the next generation will be reading about this moment in history books and thinking to themselves, "Why was it such a big deal to allow two gay people the chance to marry?? What the HECK were people thinking back then?"

~N8

Rest in Peace, Aunt Tadsie

2011-06-23T23:41:00.009-04:00

Today my dear Aunt Tadsie passed away at the age of 100 years old.

Tadsie came into my life 10 years ago... introducing herself to me at an after-party for a recital I was giving in Everett, Washington. Her love for classical music, especially symphonic and opera, combined with her sense of class, sharp wit, and kind nature she quickly became one of my favorite people to see every time I came into Washington. Because of our shared love for music, she sponsored several vocal recitals for me over the years... allowing me to exercise and perform new material in front of a live audience. She would ALWAYS have a front row seat at these recitals... and I will always remember how she would smile through her tears of joy at the end of each of those recitals. My singing moved her... and her grace moved me.

She wasn't my real Aunt. We shared no blood bond... but she insisted I call her "AUNT" Tadsie.... and she would brag to her friends that her "nephew" was a professional opera singer. I wasn't going to argue with her... so, from then on out I referred to her as my "Aunt" Tadsie.

When she heard I had never seen Europe, she donated money for me to travel to England, Germany, Austria and Italy. When I was broke and unable to pay for my last year in my undergrad program in college, Tadsie came to the rescue and paid for the entire academic year for me. At 96 years old, she jumped on a plane and flew down to Santa Barbara, California to watch me perform in my first opera at the Music Academy of the West. She always demanded more than one encore at the end of a recital.

I saw Tadsie last month. Age had caught up to her and, for the first time, I saw a woman who was tired, feeble and had a hard time remembering simple things. At times she would know who I was and then, suddenly, she couldn't... but, she could tell me all about the "opera singer she sponsored" and how much she loved his singing. I listened to her tell stories of her wedding day back in 1923, how the world was different then, and how things had changed now. As I got up to leave she said, "What is today?" I said, "It's Friday, Aunt Tadsie." She then smiled and laid back in her bed, "Well, this has been a wonderful day." Choking back tears and knowing this was probably the last time I'd see her again I managed to blurt "I love you, Aunt Tadsie." She closed her eyes, still smiling, and said, "And I love you too!"

Thank You, Aunt Tadsie... for all you did for me. You remain in my heart and mind until we meet again.

~N8

Philly for Two

2011-06-21T17:22:00.004-04:00

I'm back in Philadelphia for two weeks before returning to the Queen City (Cincinnati) to being work on Magic Flute with the Cincinnati Opera. The last four weeks have been really fun with performing Rigoletto, seeing old friends, and eating at some of my favorite places in town. However, it's nice to be back in my own apartment...even if it is for a short time.

Round two in Cincinnati will be interesting because my role in Magic Flute is even smaller than that of Monterone in Rigoletto (I'm not complaining, it's a great role). With what extra time I have I will be preparing for the King of Egypt in Aida with Virginia Opera this Fall... something I'm excited and eager about.

Now off to finish my laundry!

~N8

Opening Night of Rigoletto

2011-06-16T02:25:00.002-04:00

Today is opening night of Rigoletto! Looking forward to hearing our amazing cast bring the house down at Music Hall in Cincinnati.

Montgomery comes into town this afternoon... after a month and a half, I'm eager to see him. The worst part about this career is being away from those you love. Bottom line.

Brandi and I spent all day yesterday shopping and eating... well, actually, SHE did the shopping... I did the eating. :-/ It's been a real treat living with her the last two weeks. We've been best friends for many years... our humor is still the same as it was when we were teenagers. If you've ever had a friend you can bring out the inner child in you, Brandi is that type of friend to me.

I'm wanting to get back to my apartment in Philly next week and stop living out of a suitcase...at least for a few weeks before coming back to Cincinnati... this time living by myself because Brandi will be gone to Washington State to make her Seattle Opera debut. Looks like it'll just be me and Graeters Ice Cream keeping me company in the Queen City.

~N8

Stage Blood

2011-06-12T23:29:00.002-04:00

... a bad day at the office.

I think this is the first production I've ever been in where I had to be bloodied. The stage blood has the texture of syrup... much like pancake syrup... and no, I haven't tasted it... yet.

~N8

Rigoletto - Production Week

2011-06-12T00:52:00.002-04:00

And so we enter production week for Rigoletto at Cincinnati Opera. What an exciting group of people I've had the pleasure to share the stage with for this production. In terms of the overall singing in this show, it just doesn't get much better this... and when you're apart of the process of putting together an opera of this magnitude it can be extremely gratifying. Cincinnati Opera has, once again, given me a wonderful platform to debut a new role and sing with some outstanding artists. To say the folks at this company have treated me well would be an understatement and I'm proud to be working with them again this Summer.

Tonight was the first run-through with costumes and makeup... which can always be tricky in trying to get used to... but I'm very confident it's going to be an outstanding show.

~N8

Summer Loving

2011-06-08T17:25:00.003-04:00

It was recently my cousin Summer's 2nd birthday... and my mother was able to capture some cute photos of her celebrating at her birthday party. This particular photo made my entire day.

... I wish we could all be as excited she is about our birthdays when we get older.

Happy Birthday, dear Summer!!

~N8

Blessed

2011-06-06T22:26:00.002-04:00

I'm so thankful to be in a relationship that is built on trust, loyalty, and love.

Today I was reminded of how lucky I am... despite the challenges, I consider myself so blessed to wake up every morning and feel his love, even from afar.

~N8

It's Good to be King

2011-06-03T18:45:00.001-04:00

Filippo II in Don Carlo - 2011

~N8

Kathy or Kashi?

2011-06-03T16:44:00.005-04:00

I woke up this morning and took a 3 mile power walk. I've been trying to do this every day while I'm here in Cincinnati... and especially since my part is small in the opera and I have alot of free time. Yes, I should be delving into my Magic Flute and Aida scores... but this week I was wanting to detox a bit from learning anything new. Monday morning I'll be cracking those scores open and begin work on them.

I went to my favorite Chinese restaurant in Cincinnati for lunch this afternoon. I always thought that the little Chinese lady who's waited on me for last 4 years name was Kathy... she answered to that name and never corrected me. Today I found out that her name is actually Kashi... like the cereal, as Montgomery pointed out to me after I told him. So, for 4 years I called her the wrong name. Oops!

My BFF Brandi comes into town this evening. We'll be roommates for the next two weeks... and she'll finally get to meet Montgomery when he arrives on the 16th.

The weather is beautiful today. That's Cincy for ya... when the weather's nice, it's gorgeous... when it's bad, it's awful.

~N8

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-31T00:26:00.002-04:00

I've been very fortunate this week to still have many friends who live in Cincinnati. The rehearsal process for Rigoletto has been slow... for me, anyway. That's the joy and curse of having a secondary role that is only onstage for just a few minutes, then gone the rest the time. With a role like that you aren't called to most of the rehearsals in the early process of things. Last week I only sang on Monday during the run-through... the rest of the week I was trying to fill with things to do... and, luckily, my Cincinnati friends came have to the rescue.

This memorial day, I was invited to a potluck at my friends Davia and Noel's home. It was a small group of people... all of which I knew... and we enjoyed tons of food (I made a beef casserole and my famous potato salad) then vegged out in their entertainment room to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 in anticipation for the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 next month.

I really miss my love back in Philly. I stare a photo of us every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to bed. It is, bar none, the hardest thing about be gone... and though some couples say they get used to it, I'm not. But it's the sacrifice we BOTH make in order for me to embark on this crazy profession I've dedicated my life to.

Happy Memorial Day, Folks... remember the fallen.

~N8

Rest in Peace, Mr. Glen.

2011-05-29T14:54:00.003-04:00

My dearest and oldest friend, Alana, whom I grew up with as a child in Hughson...who I consider to be, not just my friend, but my family... lost her father to cancer today. Mr. Glen, as I called him as a kid (before he finally asked me to call him Pete when i got older) was a good man... a proud Scot, who raised a wonderful family. I can recall the lake trips Mr. Glen would take us kids on while growing up... or how he was always so intrigued by my profession in classical music and opera. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.

My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the Glen family during this challenging time. I mourn his lose, but rejoice that he is no longer suffering from the cancer that ended his life much too soon. May he rest in peace... and may his family find comfort in knowing that.

~N8

Rehearsal/Performance Pics - May 19th & 20, 2011

2011-05-27T16:22:00.003-04:00

End of the World

2011-05-26T00:57:00.003-04:00

I find it kinda funny I didn't know anything about all this talk the "Rapture" and "The end of the world on May 21st" until days after the predicted doomed day... when the Earth was still spinning and everything was just fine.

"If God's gonna end the world, he sure in heck isn't gonna announce it in the newspaper!" - my Grandma Letha, a devoted Christian woman of 76 years.

... good point, Grandma!

-N8

Rigoletto Rehearsals Start in Cincinnati

2011-05-24T22:35:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we had our first music run through of Rigoletto at Cincinnati Opera... and it already looks like it's going to be a great show. I'm excited to be doing my first Count Monterone in this production. I usually sing Sparafucile, but the Count has a great scene at the beginning of the opera.

It was also great to see several good friends and my Cincinnati Opera family.

There's a part of me that has missed Cincinnati... particularly Graeters Ice Cream and Indian Food... but I've certainly NOT missed the crappy weather and humidity. That being said, I am happy to be back this Summer.

~N8

Elijah

2011-05-22T21:57:00.004-04:00

Wow... what a week!

My performance of Elijah with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra this weekend went over well. Having grown up listening to this symphony and now having the opportunity to perform with them live, onstage, was extremely gratifying to me. The chorus sounded wonderful and filled the entire theater with an energy and sound that can not be described. My solo colleagues where equally as wonderful and I was extremely honored to perform this huge work with them.

Having performed Elijah twice in the last two months, I think I can safely say (though I'm very happy I performed both concerts) that it's not a good fit for me vocally. Yes, I can sing it... but there is so much more a "meaty" baritone can do with the Elijah that I, as a bass, am not able to do... or, at least, not do as well. There are just so many other great works that are much more comfortable to sing and ones that I know I could do more justice with.

I was overwhelmed by the huge amount of love and support shown by my friends and family during and after the concert. My entire family (on both sides), close friends I grew up with in Hughson, old voice teachers, former elementary school teachers, my high school math teacher, and former college professors all came out to support me in my debut the symphony. I was so moved by this outpouring of love. What an incredible "homecoming" experience!

This is my "harem" of girlfriends from high school... many of whom drove out of state to make this concert.

~N8

Palm Springs Recital

2011-05-17T18:46:00.007-04:00

This last Sunday I donated my voice to a worthy cause by performing for a fundraising event in Palm Springs, California... sponsored by two great organizations, The Well in the Desert and The Golden Rainbow Center. The goal was to raise money, and morale, to aid needy and hungry families throughout the area. My friend, Arlene, who headed this event, had asked if I would be interested and, of course, I jumped onboard to help. By volunteering to do this, I was able to see some familiar faces, meet some new ones, perform some pieces I don't normally get a chance to sing and enjoy a little bit of Palm Springs. I've performed there a number of times and I am always treated so wonderfully by the folks there.

The recital went well... I started off with two early Italian art songs, followed by three popular arias, respectably by four major Italian composers (Verdi, Puccini & Rossini) and ended the program with three musical theatre numbers; If Ever I Would Leave You from Camelot, Ol Man River from Showboat, and Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific. The audience was great and it seemed everybody had a very nice afternoon of food, company and music.

~N8

The Singers Brain

2011-05-13T18:20:00.003-04:00

This was too funny not to share.

If you're a singer...and/or know opera singers, this makes complete and utter sense to you.

~N8

The Rainforest

2011-05-10T02:00:00.007-04:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit one the last remaining rainforests in the world - Olympic National Park in Washington State.

It was truly a magical place, untouched by man-kinds lust to tear down everything and build supermarkets, shopping centers and Starbucks. This is a nationally protected area which houses the most magnificent trees I've ever seen... some older that 2000 years old...before Christianity and before Bob Dole was born. What I instantly noticed was how clean the air was while I was walking around the park area... and how WET! They don't call it a rainforest for nothing. As you walk around through the mossy trees and mist, you can't help but notice how quiet it is... you have to drive miles and miles into the park, away from all civilization. If your favorite color is green, this would be a perfect haven for you too... everything was bright shades of green, alive and vibrant. Because it was late, and raining hard, Oma and I found a lodge nestled in the rainforest called Lake Quinault Lodge, which was an absolutely beautiful resort next to a crystal clear lake. We took shelter there that Saturday night before heading back to the "real world." It was quite an experience.

~N8

My Golden Girls

2011-05-09T00:48:00.005-04:00

On Friday, I went to Emerald Heights in Redmond, Washington to visit with some special friends of mine. This is a retirement center and these friends are old enough to be my grandparents... even my great-grandparents... but their minds are still sassy and full of life.

I first visited my "Aunt" Tadsie in her room. She's been bedridden since last Fall... and she's 100 years old. I met Tadsie 6 years ago while doing a recital in Seattle and couldn't believe she was 94 years old then. She was funny, had a sharp wit, and knew the meaning of the word classy. She carried herself with an erect, dignified, proper manner like women of her generation, wealth and class. She loves music and opera... and she loves me. Because we shared this same love for the arts, she sponsored me in my travels to Europe, school, and several recitals. As I sat by her bed she held my hand and told me a story about how her late husband bought her a car on their wedding day in 1930... she can't remember what she had for breakfast that morning, but she can remember everything about a car she had 81 years ago. Isn't that crazy? I brought her some yellow Spring flowers... and it brought tears of joy to her eyes. She said, "You just made this day so wonderful!"... but, the thing is...she actually made my day wonderful.

After visiting with Tadsie, I went on to meet with my friend Judy downstairs. Judy is the sassiest 90 year old woman I know. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday a few days prior and seemed proud to have made it this ripe old age. Judy had planned a big luncheon in the dining hall of the retirement center for me. She had invited several people who had supported me over the years who also lived at the retirement home... all of them old in body, but young in mind and spirit. Judy has been one of my biggest sponsors and has been an absolute blessing in my life. She, like Tadsie, loves the arts... especially opera! She herself was a singer at one time... and still can carry sing pretty well... and she knows it! :-)

And then there is Oma... who has been, and continues to be, a source of support, strength and encouragement. Oma is the one who introduced me to Tadsie and Judy, took me to Europe for the first time, and sends me a boxes of homemade cookies and cheese every month. Her name is Helmi, but I call her "oma"... the German word for grandmother... which is so fitting for her. She's who I stay with when I'm visiting Seattle. She's wonderful, and my life and career would have never been the same with her huge involvement. Love her!

~N8

Happy Mothers Day, Mama!

2011-05-08T13:41:00.000-04:00

LOVE YOU, MAMA!!!

~N8

Audition Day - Seattle

2011-05-05T20:50:00.002-04:00

I had my audition with Seattle Opera this afternoon. It went really well. It was nice to be able to audition for Speight Jenkins... whom I've wanted to sing for the last few years... and it was also great to, briefly, see my friend David, who accompanied me on the piano. The entire audition experience was positive and everyone there was very down to Earth and friendly - a perfect audition situation. I'm excited to see their production of Magic Flute next week... I've seen two prior productions there, Italian Girl and The Valkyrie... both were exceptional performances.

The rest of my stay in Washington is just R&R and visiting friends before the crazy performance season starts. I only wish Montgomery was here with me. That would make this entire trip perfect... especially because we both love Seattle, enjoy cooler weather, and he's addicted to Starbucks. This city is certainly in concentration for places to move to in 2012... that is, of course, if the world doesn't come to an end... as it's predicted in Mayan calendar... but who really believes in that, right!?

Went to the dentist yesterday... NO CAVITIES!! 34 years of being cavity free!! Brush your teeth twice a day, kiddos!

~N8

Made it Seattle... Finally.

2011-05-05T00:54:00.002-04:00

The last 48 hours have been a bit of a blur for me.

I had awful flight experience getting to Seattle (actually, Everett), Washington. I boarded the plane at the Philadelphia Airport at 4:30pn on Tuesday and was forced to wait in a grounded plane for 2 hours because of backups and traffic on the tarmac. If I weren't connecting to another flight in Salt Lake City then this wouldn't have been a problem... but, it was. After sitting there, for what seemed to be an eternity, forced to listen to screaming toddlers on the plane around me, we finally took off... and for another 4 hours I continued to hear the cries and screams of this little shits...excuse me, toddlers.

When we finally arrived in Salt Lake City, I had already missed my connecting flight to Seattle. I checked to see if they could find me the next available flight out... tomorrow morning at 8:30am. Ugh!! Damn, and unexpected night in Utah. What made me upset was that Delta Airlines didn't comp it's passengers who missed their connecting flights a hotel stay. That didn't seem right to me... but I was too cranky to care and forked up the $55.00 for a Comfort Inn... and I was use the word "comfort" loosely.

This morning, I arrived in Seattle around 9:30am. Tired, exhausted and wearing the same close I slept in the night before I was so thankful to be at my final destination.

Tomorrow is my audition with Seattle Opera. Hope it goes well!

~N8

Good Bye, Osama... Hello, Seattle.

2011-05-02T21:03:00.003-04:00

So, by now the news is out and about that Osama bin Laden has been killed by the United States. If you're just now finding this out then you probably live under a rock or something. Bin Laden was responsible for countless innocent deaths and the orchestrator of the the September 11th, 2001 attack on the United States... which was the biggest attack on American soil in the history of the country.

Like millions of viewers, I watched last night as President Obama delivered a powerful speech to the nation explaining the news of Bin Ladens death. Though millions of people celebrated, what I felt was bittersweet. Yes, Bin Laden was an evil man... but I don't see the necessity of openly celebrating in the streets like it's the Fourth of July. Instead of yelling, screaming and throwing parties, I think we should quietly acknowledge that fact that a horrible person has left this world and be extremely thankful for our brave Armed Forces and our wonderful President for getting this "situation" taken care of. Furthermore, let us not forget how many lives were lost in the attempt to take just one life.

... but I know I'm in the minority on this.

We can be thankful that he was killed... but to celebrate it seems a bit barbaric to me. It reminds me of the stories of how people would flock into town to see somebody being burned at the stake or beheaded. Aren't we supposed to be civilized nation? I openly admit... maybe I don't understand it all.

IN OTHER NEWS:

It's off to Seattle tomorrow morning. I'll be there for a week seeing some old friends... including Oma, Judy (who turns 90 years young tomorrow) and dear Aunt Tadsie (who is 100 years old)... and auditioning for Seattle Opera. After Seattle, it's off to my homeland of California. More on that as the days unfold.

The mystery of the Mona Lisa....

2011-05-01T21:55:00.001-04:00

~N8

Philly in Spring

2011-05-01T21:50:00.003-04:00

~N8

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T18:45:00.003-04:00

Over 2 billion people around the world tuned in today to watch the highly anticipated royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine, the future King and Queen or England. I felt an obligation to witness a piece of history, so I rolled out of early this morning to watch the union of the two royal lovebirds. I think most people who saw the ceremony would agree that it was a beautiful wedding.

After watching a few hours of the wedding, I went back to bed to catch up on my beauty sleep. :-)

~N8

Happy Easter, 2011!!

2011-04-24T17:13:00.003-04:00

There were no Easter baskets or colored eggs or bunnies this Sunday morning... but that was fine with me. Montgomery and I took advantage of the gorgeous weather in Philadelphia today and made a trip to the park. The trees are blooming, the tulips are popping up everywhere, and people are shedding off Winter clothes in place of spandex. Spring has sprung!

Hope the Easter Bunny was good to you this year!!

~N8

Taminophile: Singer Profile: Nathan Stark, Bass

2011-04-21T13:35:00.000-04:00

Taminophile: Singer Profile: Nathan Stark, Bass: "I don't recall how I first became aware of bass Nathan Stark. It might have been Facebook. When I heard his YouTube clips and saw his hand..."