Ellen Moeller, Mezzo-Soprano

Opera Rehearsals have begun!

2012-02-22T15:56:00.000-08:00

Monday night was my first rehearsal with the Colorado Opera Chorus. We received our official backstage passes, which is how we'll get into the opera house for rehearsals. I managed to lock my keys in the car, so that was intelligent of me. Everyone was quite nice and another mezzo also lives in Boulder so we are going to car-pool! Hooray for that. Parking is expensive. I'm starting to think I actually won't make any money at all, once gas and parking is factored in! Oh well. It's all about the experience right now, isn't it?

The rehearsal went well and we got out a half hour early. We went through the Spanish with the Spanish diction coach, who is also the accompanist. The choral director is sick - they had just finished Figaro so everyone was tired and flushed with success. Florencia is a very cool opera. It follows the life of a Brazilian opera singer who returns to her hometown in search of an old boyfriend. (It's not in Portuguese because the composer is Mexican, not Brazilian). The music is reminiscent of Puccini but also lush like a movie score. It's really pretty.

The chorus is only in the first act, so that should hopefully make rehearsals a little less long once we get onto the stage for runs. We are supposed to have the first of three scenes learned tonight. That will take me about half an hour, though I think the men will need to woodshed a bit longer. There seems to be lots of vocal talent, but perhaps not the musicianship I'm used to. There are two section leaders in each section. All in all, it was a fun night. I'm looking forward to getting through the music rehearsals and onto the stage.

I'm getting fitted on Thursday morning. The costumes are going to be 1950's style. I'll snap pics when I can!

When it rains it pours...

2012-02-12T16:08:00.000-08:00

Both scores came in the mail Saturday, or should I say, all four scores arrived. The package from Opera Colorado included contracts (exciting!) and both had nice letters explaining what part to sing where, etc. I'll be singing Alto 2 on most songs with the summer choralfest. Thanks. :-)

My piano needs some attention. There are officially more music scores on the piano than there is room. Perhaps I can find a basket somewhere to store it all.

This week I have some subbing gigs, but essentially it's my last week of free evenings. I'll try to make the most of them!

Another fun video - I can't resist.

I got the gig!

2012-02-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

Auditions are such a funny business. If you're not careful, an audition that does not land the gig can set you back emotionally for months. Luckily for me, my NY "no-contracts-scored" audition just made me sad, not destroyed. My audition Saturday wasn't stellar though I sang my solos well. I am thrilled to have made it into the group which is pretty prestigious. And the pay isn't bad either! Hooray!

The group is Dr. Skinner's Professional Summerfest Chorale and all rehearsals and performances take place in late June. Hooray again!

Another Audition - Another Opportunity!

2012-02-04T12:06:00.000-08:00

The day I found out the Chicago Classical Singer Convention was cancelled, I also received an invitation to audition for Dr. Skinner. The Summerfest Professional Choir is a well-paid, week-long endeavor with a respected and much-loved, close-to-retirement, conductor. Of course I jumped at the chance.

Today was my audition, and similar to my audition for Venus and Adonis with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra, I was reminded of why I prefer opera auditions. Sightreading under pressure is just not my strong suit. I sang well though, so we shall see. I sang "Oh Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion" from Messiah (which was requested) and then a botched-words version of "Voi che sapete." Note to self: always review the arias, just in case. I sightread the Bach chorale easily but the Rossini was more complicated with the runs. Wish I had a chance to try it again. I'll know Wednesday. And even if I don't get the gig, it was a good experience and a very nice realization that I am in the singers' loop here in the Boulder/Denver area. And that is a good thing!

Tonight is Temple Sinai's big music department fundraiser and it's going to be so much fun. We are doing a bunch of show tunes. What a blast! I'll spend the night at Dawn's and then we have Holy Ghost tomorrow morning. Whew!

I think I have two more weeks of mellowness before Opera Colorado starts up every night. That will be interesting!

Here is today's video. SO TRUE!!! And hysterical. Enjoy.

Wrap Up of NY Trip

2011-12-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

Wow - a week has flown by! I thought I'd give a quick wrap up of the NY trip (oh, so much fun!) before launching into a crazy 2+ months of opera chorus rehearsals!

So, after a delicious Korean dinner and amazing dessert from Nussbaum & Woo (love the name!), I went to bed Tuesday night disappointed but eager for Wednesday, a museum day!

I headed to the Jewish Museum on Wednesday morning but found it closed. I shopped at the gift shop and went to the Tenement Museum instead and did two different tours and had a great time! Nancy and I had a heavenly Ethiopian dinner and more desserts (this time from a little shop close to dinner). A delicious evening!

Thursday morning, after walking with Nancy along Riverside Park to 72nd, I stopped in at Zabars to purchase the requisite black & white cookies, chocolate babka, and rugula, among other goodies. I stopped at home to unload and headed back to the Jewish Museum. It was a beautiful museum and I enjoyed all the parallels, encouraging us to relate our experience as Jews to other people in the world today. I had a phenomenal bagel at their lunch shop and headed to the Holocaust Museum at Battery Park. Now, this museum was outstanding. I could have easily spent 2-3 days there. It was incredible. I will certainly go back, and devote at least an entire day, next visit. I met Nancy at Lincoln Center, had noodles at Ollie's (hee!) and after a stop at a chocolate shop, we headed back to Lincoln Center for a Messiah performance. In the spirit of Christmas, and because we didn't love the soloists, we left at Intermission, which, strictly speaking, was the end of the Christmas section anyway!

On Friday I joined Nancy again on her walk and then headed to the airport via subway, Metra and shuttle train. Phew! I had a nice easy flight and got back to Boulder in time to see Ted and Mae test at TKD. All in all, a wonderful trip! I can't wait for next year!

Oh, and no worries - I have a wonderful video today! Flicka's farewell at Houston Grand Opera (Feb. 6, 2011). Enjoy!

Tuesday: Audition Day

2011-12-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

What a day! I slept in and had my carrot-apple-ginger juice before heading back to the studio for an hour of practice. Then I came home and readied myself in all my awesome Chinese jacket finery. I took a car to the audition and a taxi home, mostly due to the across town location of the theatre, and the intense headache I was battling. (It was clearly due to nerves, since it magically disappeared about an hour after the audition!)

I sang well. "Voi, che sapete" was good and nuanced and felt great. They asked for "Furibondo" next (hooray! a second chance!) and we did the A section with the ornamentation. This didn't feel as good. I felt like I was pushing, which I didn't feel at all in the Mozart. I wasn't very pleased with it at all. But I was thrilled that I was asked for a second aria!

The result? I did not get into the 2nd round. I am sad. I am disappointed. But I'm also very glad I tried. I will receive feedback from the panel, so that will be informative and helpful for the next audition!

Here is today's video: the lovely Joyce DiDonato on her most recent CD.

Monday in NY

2011-12-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd give a quick update before heading out to meet Nancy for sushi and the Met's production of "La Fille du Regiment!"

After getting in around 2am, I woke to say goodbye to Nancy and then tried to catch a few more zzz's. Around 9 I finally got up and planned my day! My first stop was the juice store Nancy recommended. I had a carrot-apple-ginger juice and it was delicious! I took the 1 line to Lincoln Center and bought Family Circle standing room tickets for us for tonight. I discovered there are backstage tours daily at 3pm, so I'll have to take one of those this week. I perused the gift shop and purchased the DVD "The Audition" and the current Opera News magazine (with Joyce on the front! Cool.)

Then I walked a very long way to Broadway/29th to Simple Studios. A genius of an idea, this large building houses practice rooms. I rented a room with a piano for an hour and sang through all my arias, working through some issues that seem to have appeared - the buzz in my right ear might indeed be the beginning of an infection of some sort - not normal. Happily, there is more O2 here and I can sing my Furibondo passages without needing to sneak any extra breaths!

Then I found a quick bite to eat and headed back to the apartment. I considered taking the backstage tour today but I was fading fast and thought I'd better take a quick nap before tonight's performance. So I did.

Minnie and Maxine, while wary of me, are being quick talkative and curious. I'm sure Fuffles will have lots of new smells to sniff when I return.

Today's video is Susan Graham's Cherubino:

Score!

2011-12-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

Well, that went well! This afternoon I sang for Opera Colorado. I gave them my fancy folder and sang "Voi, che sapete." Not long after I started singing, they started whispering to each other. I thought they were bored but rallied and kept on, reminding myself that this was a practice audition! I nuanced my pianissimos and had a great time. Before the pianist had even finished playing, they started talking. They offered me the position and shuffled me into another room where they took my picture (with a cellphone!) and gave me the (extensive!) rehearsal schedule. This was completely unlike my experience 3 years ago. Then again, I wasn't singing as well then either.It was a lovely boost of confidence and I'm still smiling and probably will for a while! I arrived at the airport nice and early, changed into comfortable clothes, and found a port to plug into. All I need is a Starbucks and I'll be set! Next stop, Newark!

Packed and ready

2011-12-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

mostly ... having a tough time fitting everything in. Usually I don't travel with so many clothes. I'll manage somehow.

Looking forward to (hopefully) scoring tickets for Regiment on Monday night. Kiri Te Kanawa will be singing the role of the Duchess, which she did last year. There is no video, but she still sounds lovely! I can't wait! In this version, she sings a Ginastera song at 4:03.

Advice from Joyce

2011-12-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

As Tuesday draws near, some beautiful advice from America's sweetest mezzo (after Flicka, of course!):

That such a famous singer is so very REAL and sweet is so refreshing. I hope I can see her live sometime! I don't love her timbre, but I respect her work. She is so smart and exact in what she does. She once sang Rosina in a wheel chair because she had a cast on one leg! Love it!

pianist - check!

2011-12-08T20:35:00.001-08:00

I have an accompanist for my audition! Whew. I called the three my colleague suggested and her #1 choice called me back! I can rest easy, knowing I have someone she absolutely loved working with - hooray!

I posted this on Facebook but it's so funny that I wanted to put it here, so I can always find it. Ah, Mozart. You are a genius - and so is the Nederlands Dans Theater!

Furibondo

2011-12-07T09:31:00.001-08:00

While looking at the rep these theatres are doing, it became clear that I had to do "Furibondo," which I love. The aria is a sort of mad scene for Arsace, who has just been put in a tough situation by the woman he left at the altar. I love this aria. Here is an absolutely stunning rendition, sung by a countertenor.

My cold is not getting worse, so I am encouraged that I will be just fine next week. It is a balmy day here in Boulder (40 degrees!) which certainly helps my mood. I'm now in the process of stocking the pantry and freezer for Paul and the kiddos. Stay warm, everyone!

2:45

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

My audition is scheduled! 2:45 on Tuesday, December 13. I am starting with Voi che sapete. Here is my inspiration!

Hopefully they will ask me for a second aria too!

lots of Rossini!

2011-12-05T19:09:00.001-08:00

NYIOP put the final lists of companies that are coming as well as which roles they are casting. Lots of Rossini! Wish I had this ready. Next year!

I spent much of today readying my resume and bio and assembling my portfolio. It's very fancy and I'm super excited. Things have changed since I was last in the biz, and it's exciting.

Oh, and sweet Paul added some audio to ellenmoeller.com, so check it out and let me know what you think! I plan to sing Furibondo for them, since they are clearly looking for some coloratura.

I hired a car (hee!), called a pianist (haven't heard back from him yet), checked out the Family Circle Met tickets for La Fille de Régiment (Kiri Te Kanawa! Laurence Brownlee! Ann Murray!) and reserved my spot at the airport car park. I'm almost ready!

Here are the companies coming:

ABAO Bilbao - Jon Paul Laka
De Nederlandse Opera Amsterdam - Hein Mulders
Staatstheater Essen (Aalto Theater) - Hein Mulders
Festival Martina Franca, Italy - Matteo Pais
Teatro Lirico di Cagliari - Matteo Pais
Teatro Petruzzelli di Bari - Giandomenico Vaccari
Oper der Stadt Köln - Martina Franck
Opera de Nice – Philippe Auguin

Here are the operas they are looking to cast:

Rossini:
ALL ROLES IN:
La cambiale di matrimonio
L’equivoco stravagante
L’inganno felice
Ciro in Babilonia, ossia La caduta di Baldassare
La scala di seta
Demetrio e Polibio
La pietra del paragone
L’occasione fa il ladro, ossia Il cambio della valigia
Il signor Bruschino,
Tancredi
L’italiana in AlgeriVerdi:
ALL ROLES IN:
Nabucco
Rigoletto
Il Trovatore
La Traviata
Aida
Otello
Falstaff
Don Carlos

NABUCCO
Abigaille

All Second CastLA TRAVIATA
Violeta
Alfredo Germont
Flora
LA BOHÈME
Mimì
Rodolfo
LA FORZA DEL DESTINO
Preziosilla

LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST

All Male Roles

Massenet, Don Quichotte – all roles

Stravinsky/Puccini, Rossignol/Schicchi – all roles

Mozart, Nozze di Figaro – all roles

Verdi, Nabucco – all roles

Strauss, Salome – all roles

Bellini or Mercadante: Zaira – all roles

Hasse: Artaserse – all roles

Il Tabarro:
LuigiDie Meistersinger von Nürnberg:
Hans Sachs
Evchen
Otello:
ALL ROLES
Lohengrin:
Telramund
La Forza del Destino:
Leonora
Anna Bolena:
Lord Riccardo Percy
Cosi fan tutte:
Fiordiligi
Le Nozze di Firgaro:
Countess
Don Giovanni:
Elvira

One week!

2011-12-04T19:17:00.001-08:00

A week from tonight I will be in the air. I'll get into Newark at midnight, then take a car to Nancy's. Monday will be masterclasses, rehearsal with the pianist, and hopefully lunch with JF! Tuesday is the BIG DAY. Wednesday and Thursday I'll do some touristy things before the Finals, unless I am in them, which I doubt. Then I'll fly home on Friday, in time for a Saturday rehearsal in Denver.

I had a voice lesson with Julie last week. Besides the joy of working with her again, it was interesting to hear her suggestions for repertoire. By the Classical Singer Convention in Chicago in May, I should have Octavian and Composer added to my list. Here is the Composer's aria. I learned it and found it pretty good - there aren't too many horns in the orchestra under him. Should be fun!

Getting better...

2011-12-01T18:46:00.001-08:00

This has been a long week! Wednesday night I sang, lightly, at rehearsal and felt it this morning. But after a quiet day, I'm looking forward to my lesson tomorrow! That's right! I have a lesson with Julie Simson, my former teacher at CU, tomorrow.

Here is my favorite scene from Monteverdi's Ulisse, this version sung by Benjamin Luxon and Janet Baker. Ahhh....

Flights booked!

2011-11-29T09:24:00.001-08:00

It is official now.

Upcoming Trip: 12/11/11 - New York Audition trip

EarlyBird Check-In™

Confirmation Number: I2J7P6

Passenger	Departure/Arrival	Flight	Date
Ellen Moeller	Depart Denver, CO (DEN) on Southwest Airlines at 6:10 PM Arrive inNewark, NJ (EWR) at11:55 PM	#319	Sun Dec 11 Travel Time 3 h 45 m
Ellen Moeller	Depart Newark, NJ (EWR) on Southwest Airlines at 12:20 PM Arrive inDenver, CO (DEN) at2:45 PM	#1919	Fri Dec 16 Travel Time 4 h 25 m

Very exciting. I have to leave so late on Sunday because I'm auditioning for the Colorado Opera Chorus at 1:30. Wouldn't it be awesome to have to decline the chorister position because I'll be singing in Europe? Hee. We shall see.

ah ... I remember ...

2011-11-28T19:02:00.001-08:00

I woke up this morning with a killer sore throat, body aches and headache. Usually, unless I was subbing, being sick was annoying but not much more than that. I had forgotten how panicked a singer gets when the throat is involved. Luckily, I haven't been sick much at all this season and am confident that I can beat this in a few days. Still, it's frustrating. I have a lot of practicing to do in the next 2 weeks!

Here are the arias I am preparing for my auditions:

Voi che sapete (Nozze)
Il padre adorado (Idomeneo)
Faites-lui mes aveux (Faust)
Must the winter come so soon (Vanessa)
Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein (Fledermaus)

I would rather have Octavian and Cenerentola in the mix, but those aren't as solid. We'll save those for Chicago!

I've slurped a total of 3 bowls of miso soup, an entire clove of roasted garlic, 1 ginger-apple juice, 4 glasses of EmergenC, 6 cups of lemon-echinacea tea, and countless hits of homemade tinctures. All that plus naps should kick this cold out of my system quickly!

Finally, my newest favorite mezzo. Flicka remains my all time favorite, of course, but others have come and gone. Elina Garanca is lovely. And seems to be a nice person too! All the better. Enjoy!

Wherein I change direction entirely...

2011-11-25T20:08:00.001-08:00

It didn't seem proper, on the blog I had worked so hard to create, to suddenly launch into another project. Perhaps one day I will merge the two. Until then, The Daily Grind stands, rather ignored at the moment, as the blog of our family. And this one will help me stay in touch with those who are interested in this next phase of life.

For, you see, I have reached that time in every mother's life when she stops and realizes ... with surprise, relief and quite a bit of sadness, that she is no longer needed 24/7 anymore. My youngest is in first grade. All three of them are out of the house from 8am til 4pm. After school activities take us til almost 7, at which point they are fed, read to (of course!), and put to bed. There is less opportunity for Mama time, though it is precious and necessary when it is needed (last week when Ted had an as-yet-undiagnosed concussion + flu, for example).

I have subbed in the childrens' school, which I enjoy, but don't love. I have made soap. I have cooked from scratch. I have still not cleaned my house very well. I'm not sure exactly when the other shoe dropped, but suddenly I was singing more. Rehearsals were back to back and I was needing to practice new music. And I loved it. Like a breath of fresh air, it was so refreshing to be back doing what I loved.

So, with the support of my family, I am going to see what happens at this juncture. I have auditions lined up that may or may not lead to an opera career, but at least it's a start. I am coaching again. I am taking lessons again. I am staying up WAY too late watching YouTube opera videos. I am re-connecting with my successful singer friends and trying to learn how to sneak back into the field I left almost 10 years ago.

Will I be successful? I don't know. What is success anyway? I think it's more in the journey. The practice, the feedback, the experience ... those are what will measure success for me at this point in my life.

I can't guarantee that I will keep this blog going consistently, but it's a place to record events as they happen, gradually, and hopefully, taking shape into the next phase of my life.

Toi, toi!