And Another Recording
Coincidentally, the recording of Arjuna’s Dilemma by Doug Cuomo that I did back in 2005 has finally been released by Innova onto CD (and available through iTunes and eMusic). It REALLY turned out well. I urge you all to buy a copy, not because I’m on it (okay, well, partially because I’m on it), but because it’s fracking good. I’m so honored that I’ve been able to be a part of such artistry.
It’s That Time Again
If you’re in the NYC area this week, I’m encouraging you to check out two concerts in which I’m singing. The first one is today, so I’m not giving you much notice, I know, but them’s the breaks.
Beethoven, Missa solemnis, op. 123
Philadelphia Singers with the Mannes Orchestra
David Hayes, Conductor
Monday, May 1 at 8:00 p.m.
Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center (65th Street and Broadway)
For anyone who has heard Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, you know this piece is a huge sing. But it’s also really gorgeous. So come and listen to us singers huff and puff and blow the house away.
The second concert is this coming Saturday, and should be really enjoyable. I’m teaming up once again with a couple members of Anonymous 4 to perform Arjuna’s Dilemma by Doug Cuomo. Here’s the info:
Arjuna’s Dilemma
performed as a part of VOX Showcase
hosted by John Schaefer of WNYC
Saturday, May 6 at 8:00 p.m.
Skirball Center, NYU (566 LaGuardia Place & Washington Square Park South)
Arjuna’s Dilemma, a staged oratorio, includes both North Indian and Western music, and is based on a story from the Bhagavad Gita, generally considered the most important scripture for all Hindus.
Anyway, both these events are free, and free is good. I’ll be singing in the chorus for the first gig, but in the second gig I am a part of a quartet, so I’m a little more exposed, and that’s always nice. If you have nothing to do tonight or Saturday night, come on by!
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I’m pleased to report that your erstwhile heroine has spent in the last two evenings in the presence of the rich and appreciative. On Sunday, I sang at a fundraiser for the Philadelphia Singers, which, as I’m sure most of you know, cancelled half their season abruptly a month or so ago. One of the board members offered up her house (dare I say mansion?) for the event, and it was quite a swanky affair with some of the best food I have ever tasted in my life. I never thought I could have a mouthgasm from a grape stuffed with toasted coriander seeds. I’m going into fits of rapture just thinking about it.
Last night I sang at another fundraiser, this time for Music Theater Group, a wonderful little off-off-Broadway theater company in New York. I had performed in a workshop of a chamber opera called Arjuna’s Dilemma there several years ago, and have been involved in that show ever since; this summer, Doug Cuomo (the composer) asked me to sing in a recording of the piece, which was a huge honor, since I got to sing with two of the members of Anonymous 4. So when I got the last-minute call to sing a snippet of the piece at this fundraiser, I jumped at the chance. This fundraiser was in a penthouse in Manhattan with a gorgeous 360-degree view of the city by moonlight. The food was not quite as good as Chef Fritz’s creations, but I certainly wasn’t put off, by any means.
One thing that struck me about both events, though, was how incredibly appreciative all these people were of the arts. At the Philly Singers fundraiser, it was great to be able to see everyone’s faces during the performance and watch them get caught up in the music. And for the Music Theater Group fundraiser, although I couldn’t really see the audience because of all the lights, I was stopped after the performance by many people who exclaimed how haunting the music was, and how much they would love to hear more about the piece.
It just proves to me that there are still people in this world who love watching the kind of stuff I love to do. There are still those who understand how rich and meaningful music and theater can be to people’s lives, and who are willing to support it. Granted, that bunch of people may be dwindling these days, but there’s still hope. I still believe art has a place, a very important place, in society, and I am not the only one who thinks so.
I just hope more people with deep pocketbooks can continue to help us starving artists out so we can continue our craft.
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