FINAL BLOG EVER!!!

Despite the blood trickling down from my ears, as I listened to Sarah Brightman, I appreciated the “classical” voice being integrated into the Repo. The perennial topic of how to gain more opera lovers is always up for constant brainstorming and discussion. All I have to say is Sarah Brightman is one of those figures who has helped bridge the gap between popular and classical music whether you like it or not. As is it was said class, if it wasn’t for Brightman, Andrea Bocelli, and maybe Josh Groban, many of us wouldn’t be sitting in this class writing blogs about opera. Thanks to them, some of us were intrigued at an early age to start exploring the grand world of opera.

With that said let’s talk about Repo- the Genetic Opera. I think I could potentially be addicted to it. It wasn’t until last year that I was introduced into the world of graphic novels, The Watchman being the first one I read. Never, ever did I think I would find myself submerged into such a fantastical world of super heroes, but now I understand another reason why I’m drawn to opera. Repo was like watching a graphic novel, only it had singing! Sorry for the digression. Now, going back to the topic of Sarah Brightman. Although the clips we saw were the “dream cast” of the director, I would have casted differently. The fact that it is labeled a rock opera screams to me that it needs to have an eclectic mix of performers, which would tie the operatic and pop cultures together. First of all, I love the charged energy you get from rock music and the fueled rhythm that drives every song. Secondly, I love opera because like rock it can be so extreme and exciting. Juxtaposing the insane dynamics and resonance of opera with the driving force of a rock beat would be AMAZING! Just imagine a soprano singing a D6 executing a messa di voce over a head banging, ear shattering rock beat!!!!!! Again, sorry for the digression.

Casting… Instead of Sarah Brightman for Blind Mag, I would cast Dawn Upshaw (as a genre cross over) and for the role of Rotti Largo I would cast Anthony Hopkins because he’s just stellar as an evil creeper. For the role of Shilo Wallace I would cast either Hayley Williams from Paramore or Amy Lee from Evanescence because both have a big following in the rock genre, especially with the younger crowd. Repo Man, I’m not so sure who I would cast. As I was listening to Zydrate Anatomy I can’t help but wonder if Thomas Hampson couldn’t pull it off, with an opera chorus making George Crumb-like sounds. It would certainly be interesting or maybe I should just cast Rob Zombie?!? Last but not least, I have no clue who I would cast as Amber Sweet, but it definitely would NOT be Paris Hilton!

Food For Thought

In pervious classes we talked about the evolution of the microphone and it’s lasting effects on singing and the way people perceive natural projection. We also talked about how kids aren’t singing and using their imagination for entertainment, instead they are bombarded with entertainment. However, this has caused shows like Glee and American Idol to become popular and I think that’s because kids are starving for music and to be able to make music. Either way, modern views on singing are very different today because of the microphone. If one was to go to a rock concert then go to the opera the next night, obviously one would say the rock concert was louder, even if Deborah Viogt was the Diva of the night! Yes, the rock concert may be louder, but I don’t think average audience member takes into account the lack of amplification being used in an opera house. For instance, my boyfriend, who has never been to an opera, decided to take me to see Madame Butterfly last year. I know, so sweet of him! During intermission he made a comment about how well the microphones were camouflaged, which was when that I had to inform him that there were no microphones. I use this as an example because he is a jazz musician and he loves musical theater, so when he found that there were no microphones he developed an appreciation for the demands of operatic singing.

This leads me to another story that my teacher told me during my voice lesson a week ago. We were talking about Sarah Brightman and The Phantom of The Opera and she went on to tell me that her friend was in a production of Phantom. Keep in mind her friend is a classically trained, professional singer and she was cast in a production of Phantom as Carlotta. Carlotta’s character sings higher and louder than Christine’s role at certain points, because of this, the whole cast had to use microphones. Apparently, no one, except the Phantom, was allowed to sing louder than Christine because she was the heroine. So poor Carlotta’s high D was toned down, while Christine’s microphone was cranked up. Hmmmmmmm. Not so sure how I feel about that, but it is certainly some food for thought!

Get Out Of The Box!

I thoroughly enjoyed Kiya Heartwood’s presentation in class on Tuesday! I thought she presented a new way of looking at the operas we have been studying, especially coming from a compositional approach. She pinpointed what I haven’t been able to articulate as clearly regarding music versus culture; the idea of listening to the music for the sake of listening music as apposed to listening to music for the sake of culture. Our society tends to put a premium on aesthetics, so a rock star could very well take a country tune and make it a rock hit. Does that mean it’s still a country song? I say a good song is a good song, but our culture has a tendency to create barriers that box us into categories, which was one of her reasons for having different websites for her different works. This leads me to another topic, her versatility as a composer and writer.

I’ll be honest, writing a simple poem or story is not one of my strong points. If I ever got the gumption up to attempt at writing an opera or a musical, I don’t think I would get past the first two lines of text. The ability to write lyrics that flow with the language and then set them to music seems impossible. Although I haven’t listened to all of Lying to the Sea Gypsy, the songs I did hear seemed cleverly written both musically and lyrically, especially since they catered to younger performers and incorporated adult humor. Additionally, her music was catchy and I can definitely see younger performers having fun doing this show and learning simutaneously. I then decided to You Tube her old band, Stealin’ Horses, and listen to those lyrics and style of writing. Here is the link to her band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4zoiuZH2TI After listening to this, it’s apparent that she has a knack for writing creative lyrics that flow with the music. I can’t even begin to express how fascinated I am by this. Yes, there have been many brilliant composers in the past, but many of them had a librettist. I realize that Kiya’s style versus Mozart’s is very different, but the fact that she can write lyrics and music is very impressive, especially since she said that she has “a lot of catching up to do.” So what! I realize I’m being rather emphatic about this, but it hits home for me. My boyfriend is part of a band, which has a rather eclectic make-up of five guys. The leader of the band/lead singer/drummer, writes all of the lyrics and music for them; more importantly he doesn’t read music, and he is a self taught drummer and guitarist. Two of the other guys don’t read music, even though one understands chord progressions by ear. Finally, the bass player and my boyfriend did their undergraduate degree together in jazz and classical performance. I guess what I find most intriguing is that the drummer/lead singer, the one who is untrained, heads it all up and it’s great! I’m not just saying the band is great because my boyfriend plays piano, I’m saying they are genuinely good and very musical. The music is catchy, but inventive and the lyrics are memorable but not overly simplified. Check it out: http://vimeo.com/7868453

I guess where I’m going with this is anyone has the ability to create music. It doesn’t matter what his or her background maybe. Personally, I think it is so cool that Green Day’s songs have been turned into a rock opera. I used to obsess over Green Day when I was in high school, so I was a bit skeptical about hearing their music in a different way. However, I was pleasantly surprised, which brings me back to Kiya’s comment about music versus culture. What I’m trying to get at is the idea that there are do many styles of music out there, all of which present their own challenges. Like Aaron said today in class, if Renée Fleming had sang her jazz songs well we would have loved it, however that is not the case. It doesn’t matter what style you may choose to identify with, just as long as you do it well!

Preserving The Tradition

I have to admit, I am not one of those people who rushed into classical music with verve and excitement. Music wasn’t my declared major when I started my undergraduate degree. In fact, I had never listened to an opera nor had the desire to and I was a huge musical theater, pop music, teeny bopping eighteen year old. With that said, the idea of putting oneself into an elite classical box seems ridiculous to me and very limiting. In almost every class I’ve been in, since I started studying music, the decline of classical music audiences is a topic for conversation along with ways of trying to save it. (Please forgive if I happen to vomit, for lack of a better word, on this blog. I tend to stand on a soap-box regarding this topic.) Anyways, it got me thinking that we need to start approaching things differently. Instead of resisting contemporary music or new ways of doing things for the sake of our classical egos we need a new out look. It boils down to preserving tradition, reinventing the old and progressing with the new. Tradition keeps the past connected to the changing times and it reminds us of our origins. Without the past we wouldn’t have the future.

Often times during these discussions, people will say that marketing and catering to a younger audience is the answer, which I agree with, but no one ever defines how young. In between my undergraduate and graduate degree I took a year off and taught pre-school in a public school, additionally I had just finished my student teaching at the primary and secondary level. With that said, I can honestly say that music is severely lacking in schools and kids are more inclined to listen to their Ipods rather than sing on their own accord. The lack of singing and music in schools can be linked to a growing decline of appreciation of the fine arts. For example, because of amplification and the microphone most people can’t grasp how amazing it is to hear a classical singer fill a hall with sound without the help of amplification. Projection is a foreign idea now because of the microphone, which can be linked to supported, resonant singing. I think a major way of preserving the classical tradition; as well as enabling society to go forward musically is to give our children a decent music education. Future generations aren’t exposed to this music like the past generations and so they haven’t a clue.

However, on a positive note, there are sources out there that promote the “classical” genre, which could help classical musicians bridge the gap between the classical and pop culture, starting from an early age. When I was home on break, I was watching Wonder Pets with my segregate niece and it is surprisingly very close to that of an operetta. It’s mostly singing and has a classical sounding accompaniment but the only blaring difference is the way the singing is executed. I defiantly think it would be a great way to introduce the idea of the orchestra to primary age children. Maybe, if someone was really creative the could make it into an opera and actually incorporate some classical elements of singing so children can get used to that sound. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxlWvE2U0nw

Another element that we need to keep in mind is that society is in need of visual stimulation. Television, video games and other forms of technology provide children with visual stimulation that is vivid, animated and interesting. Although opera is a grand event, I don’t think it is as visually exciting to a child. We need to be aware of this and be able to “conform” or try to gain a child’s interest through this medium as well. The Bug Opera, by Geoffrey Hudson combines the classical music element with the need for an aesthetically pleasing visual for younger audiences in a live performance, here is a link: http://www.hybridvigormusic.org/TheBugOpera.html

Basically, what it boils down to is finding creative ways to keep an old art form alive as well as move forward keeping the integrity of music and promoting it as a fine art. I guess what I’m getting at, in a long-winded, round about way, is that art is art. We talked about preserving opera and classical singing, but as artists we need to embrace different forms of art and realize that different genres of music present their own challenges. It’s through composers like Kiya Heartwood and G.Hudson who branch out and use an amalgamation of styles that could pique a child’s interest into learning to love the classical style.