Wagner Immersion, Part 3
The weekend of July 27-28 was a stellar and most memorable one for many reasons. First, I was able to spend time with my dear friend and colleague Joy McIntyre, with whom I always have the most Joy-ous time discussing music, politics, travel, and life in general. Joy is a most erudite, entertaining, and brilliant…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Michael Jackson AKA Sam Meade
Our darling Sam is slightly shifting his goals in Hollywood. Here is the latest: “The dream’s alive, just shifted. Learned I don’t enjoy acting nearly as much as I enjoy singing [NOTE: this makes Janice very happy!]…so spending my time on my voice lessons…which have been really amazing, I can sing a high C comfortably [say WHAT?]. Decided to…
Read MoreBFOS – Barcelona Festival of Song – Janice’s Adventures in Spain
Before detailing my wonderful experience at the Barcelona Festival of Song (BFOS), Patricia Caicedo recently posted the full student concert from July 12, 2019. If you scroll to the 17 minute mark you will see my performance of Osvaldo Lacerda’s haunting lullaby, “O menino doente”, which I sing in Brazilian Portuguese. Many thanks to our…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Madison Finocchiaro – Les MisĂ©rables
Ovation Theatre Company opened its premiere season in splendid form with “Les MisĂ©rables School Edition” on Friday, May 24th. The all-student ensemble was perfectly cast. My student Madison Finocchiaro was suitably slovenly and greedy as the wicked Madame Thernadier. I am so proud of Madison whose vocalism and especially her acting were spot on…she never…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Max Orio – South Pacific
Timberlane Regional High School in Plaistow, NH presented this weekend Rogers & Hammerstein’s classic musical “South Pacific.” There were 2 casts, and my student, baritone Max Orio, was cast as Emile DeBeque. Max and I have worked on Emile’s gorgeous songs (“Some Enchanted Evening” and “This Nearly Was Mine”, among others) for several months and…
Read MoreCantor Shira Nafshi – From Bimah to Broadway
On Saturday evening, March 9, my student Shira Silverman Nafshi  performed a benefit concert at Temple Israel of Portsmouth (NH) with her colleague Cantor Micah Morgovsky. These two lovely and talented women presented a concert cleverly called “From Bima to Broadway”. The first half consisted of traditional pieces mostly sung in Hebrew with liturgical texts. Both cantors had…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Madison Finocchiaro – Singin’ in the Rain
Pinkerton Academy’s recent production of the musical based on this classic movie was a huge success the weekend of March 22-24. Madison appeared as Lady –in-Waiting in the ensemble. The director was Rachael Longo and Music Director was Candace Gatzoulis – my former student AND a former Miss New Hampshire. “Watch this space” for a…
Read MoreJanice’s Fantasy Trip to Bayreuth,
Which Became a Reality in the Summer of 2008
Here is a personal account of my fabulous vacation in Germany. I hope this will give you a taste of my experience. My reflections cover both the artistic (the music and singing) and the logistical (getting there/being there/returning) aspects, and as you will see, I switch gears without warning! So sit back and enjoy… About…
Read MoreStudent Spotlight – Janet Wittenberg, Nashua Choral Society
Janet Wittenberg will be a featured soloist in the “Domine Jesu Christe” movement of Mozart’s Requiem. This monumental oratorio will be presented by the Nashua Choral Society jointly with the Granite State Choral Society, conducted by Ann Watson Born. Performances are on May 5 at 3:00 PM in Nashua at Immaculate Conception Church and May 18 at 7:30…
Read MoreWagner Immersion
On March 25th and March 30th , 2019, I gorged myself on my favorite Wagner opera, Die WalkĂĽre (The Valkyrie). Some may consider this an indulgence, or an obsession. I consider it wallowing around in one of the most emotionally draining and intellectually challenging operas ever written. My dear friend and voice student Anne Orio and I spent…
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