Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Joy, continued

Today was the final dress! It’s all over but the cryin’, I suppose, which, now that I think about it, is a very strange expression… Hopefully there will be no crying due to falling off bridges or losing my place with the Maestro or stepping in donkey-doo. Only tears of joy!

(Warning: I’ve had a nap and am now a bit loopy…)

We had almost a full house for the dress today, and boy, was it great! I start the show on the bridge with my back to the audience, but out of the corner of my eye I can see the big red curtain go up (I found myself wondering today if that is electric these days, or if there is still someone in the wings pulling the ropes hand-over-hand), revealing the audience to us and the beautiful set to them. There was applause today for almost every set change of this gorgeous new production.

Little silent opening scene on the bridge, offstage singing, then the “goodbye” scene on the bridge. I wasn’t a bit nervous, didn’t feel the heights at all, stayed connected with the pit and with my YLT, got all the bits with the kissing and the coat, but! as soon as I started going down the stairs, leading me off into the Stage Right wings, my knees started to shake! I have to walk down a ladder (out of sightlines) to get all the way down to floor level, and I was very grateful for the stagehand who was there to steady me. I’m sure Friday’s shakes will be worse, but in a good way; I wonder if they’ll ever go away completely…

To get back to the Artists’ Area from Stage Right, I have to cross through a big open space upstage of the playing area. (This is one of the places the crew will stash the set from Tabarro when they switch to Angelica, and Angelica when they switch to Schicchi, so it doesn’t stay “open” for long.) All alone in my red dress, backstage in this amazing theater, after singing beautiful music with wonderful colleagues, I will confess that I did a little twirl of joy.

19 comments:

Patty said...

I have to admit my mixed reaction to all of this ... part of me is so excited for you, part of me is so envious (I'll never be a "big timer"), and part of me is just so ticked off that I can't be there to see and hear you! How I wish I lived closer, or had the finances to fly out there.

But thank you so much for sharing all of your adventure with us.

Anonymous said...

33 dead in a Virginia shooting rampage and you are busy twirling with glee because all your "hard work" has finally paid off. Not only that but writing about it.

Ah, the sheltered, self-absorbed Diva Life. How wonderful.

Please do not bother commenting/blogging about this (or the shooting). It will only set you up to be all the more phoney and dishonor the memory of those lost.

Rest in Peace my lovely and humble, gracious friend and artist Reema Samaha.

Jessica said...

I love hearing about your experiences! Great blog!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous - We are all grieved by what happened in VA, and sorry for your loss. But there is no need to take it out on ACB for living her life, or for writing about it. This is a singing blog. It may be "self-centered" (since it is about her), but that doesn't make HER "self-absorbed". The blog isn't narcissistic, so long as she writes about both the good AND the bad.

Congrats, ACB. Toi toi for the prima.

SMB said...

I disagree vehemently with you, anonymous.

The very best that any of us can do in times of crisis, of unrest, of horror, is continue with our lives, uninterrupted. Terrorists, murderers and other criminals seek to disrupt us living our joyful lives, and I can think of no better way to honor the dead than for ACB and her colleagues to valiantly continue on in rehearsal and performance of a tremendously beautiful work of operatic art.

melwadel said...

Congratulations. I'd be thrilled as well.

And Anonymous can go sod off.

Anonymous said...

There is nothing here to dishonor the memory of the murdered Virginia college students. This is her life, and writing about one's own life and taking pride in it reflects on college students not at all. Hiding behind the wall of anonymity is rather shameful, but since ACB sees fit to let you do that on her blog, it's your right. You will have to look elsewhere for diva-like behavior.

ACB said...

Hey guys - Thanks for your comments, but I want to let you know that I know who this Anonymous is (and thanks to IP tracking, I can see that he's been back to the blog five times today, obviously waiting for me to reply). He's the "friend" who has commented several times about my narcissism, and I broke things off last week.

If I had thought to check the IP address before posting his comment, I wouldn't have posted it at all. I'm not going to delete it now; it's out there. But I won't post any more comments in response to this side-topic.

Thanks for understanding, and for "going to bat" for me, as my dad said.

I wish you all joy...

Anonymous said...

I had a dream that I was in the audience for Tabarro and the staging of the lovers was totally craaaazy. You were standing onstage for the entire action and I kept thinking "Well, it's Jack O'Brien; he must know what he wants."

Obviously, I've been thinking about you!

I want to thank you sincerely, ACB, for allowing us into your very warm heart and for giving us a peek behind the scenes - NOT of the "Diva Life" but of living (and, by proxy, singing) with intention and passion.

I wish YOU joy. In my minimal experience, "big" events sometimes disappoint - even if they are our Met debuts! I have no doubt that you will continue to do well personally and professionally because you seem extraordinarily gifted at seeking out the "big" and wonderful in every single day.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry that you have this "friend" commenting on your blog so close to your debut at the Met, but I'm glad you're not letting it get to you. I'm so thrilled that you're debuting, but I'm also thrilled that the Opening Night of Il Trittico is on Friday! The reason being, I just checked the Met's website, and they're broadcasting the live premiere through their website. I had planned to go to Six Flags for UGA Night, but instead I'll be sitting at my computer with a nice bottle of wine while I listen to the opera, raising my glass to you in honor and congratulations of your accomplishments. Please let me know when to listen for you. I'm excited! Toi toi!!

Anonymous said...

I thought people might like to see La Cieca's VERY postive preview for Trittico over at parterre.com:

http://parterre.com/2007/04/great-minds.html

Anonymous said...

Knock their socks off! :)

Sarah said...

Kick ass and take names, girl. I'll be thinking of you and sending good vibes (not that you need them).

Anonymous said...

Hi ACB, I just want to wish you all the best for your debut tonight! How exciting! Enjoy every moment of your success. You deserve it!

ava said...

Anonymous, I'm so sorry you lost a friend. I've read wonderful things about Reema Samaha - including the fact that she was a dancer. What better way to honor her memory than to create more art and more joy in this world? Doing a little twirl of joy seems like a most fitting memorial for her.

ACB, toi toi toi this evening.

Anonymous said...

BRAVA!!! You were FANTASTIC!

Anonymous said...

Again, GREAT JOB!! Suor Angelica was absolutely gorgeous. I'm so proud of you! Congrats on a fabulous debut!!!!

Anonymous said...

I get to be the first one to say this: I heard your interview with Margaret Juntwait tonight! I turned up the volume halfway through, and figured it must be you the moment the subject of "websites" came up. :)

Good job!

And by the way, the Trittico is wonderful so far. Gianni Schicchi is about to start, but the Suor Angelica in particular was beautiful.

alex said...

HOORAY!

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