Academy of Vocal Arts is putting on a Bel Canto Competition.

SO, What is "Bel Canto"?

Soprano Renee Fleming To Give Her First NYC Master Class on Tuesday, October 20 at Juilliard

From Julliard press release--
Soprano Renée Fleming returns to her alma mater to give her first master class in NYC on Tuesday, October 20 from 6 - 7:30 PM at Juilliard. Ms. Fleming rarely gives master classes and this special event is a benefit for Juilliard. The master class features performances by students from Juilliard's Vocal Arts Department and also marks the dedication of the School's Peter Jay Sharp Theater (155 West 65^th Street). Renovations to the theater have now been completed, and this will be the first opportunity to dedicate the space and thank The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation for their generous support.

Benefit tickets are available at $500 (priority seating and a post-event reception with Ms. Fleming) and $125 (priority seating). For information on benefit tickets, please call (212) 799-5000, ext. 329. A very limited number of popularly-priced tickets will be available beginning October 6 at the Janet and Leonard Kramer Box Office at Juilliard (155 West 65^th Street). For further information, go to www.juilliard.edu.

Renowned soprano and Juilliard alumna Renée Fleming charms audiences throughout the world with her vocal intelligence, musical grace, and liquid voice. Her superb artistry has garnered praise and worldwide respect for her operatic and recital performances, and her best-selling recordings. Ms. Fleming performs on opening night of the New York Philharmonic with conductor Alan Gilbert (also a Juilliard alumnus) on September 16, 2009. She returns to the Met Opera in October 2009 in Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier and again in January 2010 in the same work. In April and May 2010, she appears in Rossini's Armida at the Met (a Met premiere). In the past few seasons, Ms. Fleming has begun hosting broadcasts, including the Met's HD series for movie theaters as well as television, and Live From Lincoln Center on PBS. A two-time Grammy winner, Ms. Fleming's most recent CD, Strauss: Four Last Songs, conducted by Christian Thieleman, was released in fall 2008. She received an honorary doctor of music degree from Juilliard in 2003 and was commencement speaker at that ceremony.

Juilliard's Vocal Arts Department has a busy 2009-2010 season. Juilliard Opera presents Handel's Ariodante on November 11, 13, and 15; a concert version of Copland's The Tender Land on January 30; Conrad Susa's Transformations on February 15, 17, and 19; and Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites on April 21, 23, and 25. On Thursday, November 19, soprano Susanna Phillips makes her Alice Tully debut as recipient of Juilliard's annual Alice Tully Vocal Arts Debut Recital. Juilliard and the New York Festival of Song, with artistic director and Juilliard faculty member, Steven Blier, co-present Killer B's: A History of American Song from Amy Beach to the Beach Boys on Wednesday, January 13. Juilliard's annual Vocal Arts Honors Recital takes place on Thursday, March 18. In addition, Juilliard's Liederabend and Songbook series, which showcase singers from the Department in performances of song literature, take place throughout the year. For further information on these events, please call (212) 769-7406 or visit www.juilliard.edu.

About Juilliard Vocal Arts

One of America's most prestigious programs for educating singers, Juilliard's Department of Vocal Arts offers young artists programs tailored to their talents and needs. From bachelor and master of music degrees to advanced artist diploma programs in voice and opera studies, Juilliard provides frequent performance opportunities, featuring singers in its own recital halls, on Lincoln Center's stages, and around New York City. Juilliard's opera department has presented numerous premieres of new operas, as well as works from the standard repertoire.

Juilliard graduates may be heard in opera houses and concert halls throughout the world; diverse alumni artists include well-known performers, such as John Aler, Faith Esham, Simon Estes, Renée Fleming, Anthony Dean Griffey, Barbara Hendricks, Hei-Kyung Hong, Audra McDonald, Leontyne Price, Florence Quivar, Neil Rosenshein, Rose Stevens, Tatiana Troyanos, Shirley Verrett, and Robert White, among many others.

In 2010-2011, Juilliard begins its new collaborative education program with the Metropolitan Opera to identify and train the finest young opera singers and accompanists, preparing them for careers in the world's great opera houses. Met Music Director, James Levine, will serve as the program's Artistic Director, and Brian Zeger, Artistic Director of Juilliard Vocal Arts, will serve as Executive Director.

The importance of bad art

Image from http://parterre.com/2009/09/27/the-importance-of-bad-art/#more-5583

To cut to the chase: the creation of art is a risky business. There are few guarantees of quality, of...By La Cieca

Academy Of Vocal Arts New Student Recital

Well, this is not exactly the right image, but you got the idea. The new student recital on September 22,09 marks the beginning of the 2009-10 season of Academy Of Vocal Arts. The recital gave the patrons both a close look of the rising stars they are supporting as well as a exciting night before the Bel Canto Competition.

AVA 2009-10 Season Program

Giargiari Bel Canto Competition Oct 6, 2009	VERDI Falstaff Nov. 13, 17, 19, 21 and 23, 2009	An Evening of Russian Romances Dec. 15 and 17, 2009	Operatic Masterpieces Jan. 29, 30, and Feb 2, 2010
R. STRAUSS Capriccio Feb. 20, 23, 25, 27 and Mar. 2, 2010	Jubilate! Concert Mar. 7, 13 and 14, 2010	BrAVA! Philadelphia 75th Anniversary Concert Mar. 31, 2010	PUCCINI La bohème May 1, 4, 6, 8, 11, 13 and 15, 2010

*http://www.avaopera.org/season/
All rights reserved by Academy Of Vocal Arts

Thank god she has the voice...!

A taste of the new "Tosca" 09.23.09

What a scene without Franco Zeffirelli!

Expected article from an unexpected source...
"If the Metropolitan Opera wanted to replace Franco Zeffirelli's iconic..."by Heidi Waleson WSJ

Here's another article on the new "Tosca" from <>

'Tosca' as torture

TOSCA Met Opera Opening Season Debut

"Still, the booing, if a little unfair, was understandable...."<N.ew York Times>
An artical on New York Times reveals the audience's fresh reaction to the Met's 2009-10 opening season debut. The director of Tosca, Luc Bondy, received both steady cheers and boos from the audience. Despite the delightful dress rehearsal, with Karita Mattila 's passionate performance and magnificent voice, there might be something else that your everyday Tosca fans just couldn't digest. What is it? We shall find out about that next week :)

unnatural acts of opera

I don't usually listen to pod casts, but this is given an exceptional grand. I love the voice, it reminds me something from "The Incredibles", your guess is as good as mine! (:D

Semiramide (Rossini) Act 2 (most recent pod cast, click to listen)

Joan Sutherland (Semiramide); Giulietta Simionato (Arsace); Wladimiro Ganzarolli (Assur); Gianni Raimondi (Idreno); Ferruccio Mazzoli (Oroe); Giuseppe Bertinazzo (Mitrane); Manuela Bianchi Porro (Azema); Antonio Zerbini (L’ombra di Nino). Orchestra e coro del Teatro alla Scala; Gabriele Santini. Milano, Teatro alla Scala, 17 December 1962.
*http://www.parterre.com

TOSCA

Dressed rehearsal of "Tosca" at the Met

Once again, ladies & gentlemen, Katherine Jenkins...!

I've read many articles about Katherine Jenkins since she became one of the massively hit targets on Youtube. Most people hold critically negative opinion about Jenkins's vocal skill, while the rest think she is fortunate to processed such talent(and being so hot). Watch the clip and you'll be the judge of it.

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*Recital event update (November,2009):
Emily P. Bissell Hospital
Manor Care Health Service
Thank you for booking with Echo's volunteer recital program!

BrAVA

I guess this means I'm spending my next birthday in Philadelphia..? ;)

"FAMILY GUY"!

Ok...This is really funny! I think "Family Guy" is hilarious, well, most of the time. (Sometimes they are just flat out inappropriate.) Let's hope Meg is NOT talking out a tape on "Echo's recital";p

Diana Damarau performing "Glitter and be gay". I love her stage presence! So cheerful and so confident!

Jonas Kaufmann web site

Another point of view

Another point of view

"Katie and Pitark", leaving so soon...!

Quinn Composition 2009 production "Katie and Pitark" is going to put on the last show next week at the Rotunda. Kate (the real Kate) is preparing her next full length opera for the 2010 Fringe Festival. Meanwhile, wanna take a guess at what her opera is going to be about? Science Fiction! :)

Tonight's recital

My recital went awesomely today :) The residents enjoyed the songs and were all so encouraging! Thanks to my lovely assistant, couldn't have done it without you! Although I was nervous at first, it took just a few minutes to find the support I needed.

Few things I have learned from the recital:
1. Always check your sheet music book in case there is a missing page.
2. Remember to press the "record" button if you brought your recorder.
3. A good pianist is vital.
4. Take some time and put yourself in the role before starting each aria.

My second recital is coming up soon, I will try to remember to record the singing next time :p

Cecelia Bartoli & Renee Fleming - Le Nozze di Figaro - Sull'aria

Just sublime!



Talking about support! I know it is sometime hard to watch Bartoli performing, because she's made so much use of her facial muscles. I am always told NOT to do the something. I think whatever works for an artist is whatever she/he outta do :) Like what Larry David says "whatever works!"

Così fan tutte on water??

Delaware Valley Company!

I'm auditioning for Delaware Valley Company!

Definitively keep this date in mind.

Dear friend of mine, kate and John will be performing "Katie and Pitark" next week, be there to support the local artists! The ticket proceeds will be donated to Fox Chase Cancer Research Center.