Leap Day Update!!

It's been too long... again!

Working backwards... I was just in Sacramento Opera's final production of the season (I'm 3 for 3 productions in the company's bounce-back year!), singing Count Monterone in Verdi's RIGOLETTO. What a great cast, lead by David Small (Rigoletto), Katrina Thurman (Gilda), Scott Ramsay (the Duke), and directed by the incomparable Chuck Hudson. It's always a great thing to spend time in such close quarters with your colleagues, doing great work with great artists, telling stories, learning about each other's lives, sharing many laughs, feeling supported after getting a drink thrown on you by a random drunk guy at the hotel bar... The sad part happens when it's all over, and we go back to our respective homes, or to the next gig. This opera community is a small world, so I'm sure we'll cross paths again soon, but it's still a bit sad to part ways. Just another occupational hazard...

Here are a couple shots from the production

While in Sacramento, I was asked to give a workshop on vocal technique to the Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus. It was a thrill to impart some new insights to the group, and to get to work with them as a conductor for a while. Making music in a choral setting - with many voices blending into one mass of sound - is something I haven't been part of for a long time. I'm excited that I'll have more opportunities to work with this fine group in the future!

Before that... I had the most EPIC concert experience! CARMINA BURANA with the combined forces of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, Oakland Youth Orchestra, Oakland Symphony Chorus, and Oakland Youth Chorus. Soloists were yours truly, Carrie Hennessey (Soprano), and Brian Thorsett (Tenor). Michael Morgan, Bryan Nies, and Lynne Morrow shared the helm for this grand celebration - the merging of the two symphonies and chorus as "East Bay Performing Arts". Here's a photo, which couldn't contain everyone on stage...

And another, with Maestro Bryan Nies, and Soprano Carrie Hennessey at the reception.

On to the next!! Lots of things are in the works... and it's turning into an exciting year ahead! BIG THANKS to my wonderful team at Cadenza Artists for all the love, energy, and support they put into my career!! Stay tuned for more news...

Z

PAGLIACCI at Sacramento Opera. An Opera Company Re-born!

It's day two of being home from a glorious production of Pagliacci, announcing the revival of Sacramento Opera. Being part of such a strong cast was a real treat, but we all had the added energy and resolve of making a real impact with our work. This Pagliacci was the first staged production by this wonderful company since it had to suspend operations last year - another casualty of the depressed economy. The end result was a performance (overseen by Rod Gideons, shaped by stage director David Bartholomew and conductor Michael Morgan with the Sacramento Philharmonic) which was a truly vital, human, and engaging experience.

All this, with the curve-ball of losing our Canio (Roy Cornelius Smith, who is a consummate artist and a generous colleague) to a dream job doing the same role at Royal Danish Opera - while only a couple days into rehearsals. We wished Roy farewell, and had the good fortune of Eduardo Villa stepping in for him, and just enough time (9 days) to re-build the incredible bond that the cast had with Roy. Everyone: cast, chorus, crew, really pulled together like a tightly knit tribe. A clear indicator that our "tribe" has a deeper purpose. Seeing this happen around me, and being such an integral part of it was truly awe-inspiring. 

Among the rest of the cast was the singular Shana Blake Hill, as Nedda. It was such a joy to hear her sing, to act with her, watch her process, and to bond as cast mates and as dear friends. Side note: I have been so lucky to have such great leading lady counterparts, and have kept in touch and made true friends of all of them!    It was really comforting and invigorating to be in the company of colleagues that truly cared for their craft, and gave of themselves so completely to the work. Igor Vieira, our Tonio, was another shining example of that. His character gestures were so completely integrated (even in rehearsal!) that he would need to spend time stretching and doing physical therapy so the contortions wouldn't actually injure him. Then there was Daniel Ebbers, who was so definitive (and imparted great vocal beauty) in his Beppe that I really can't imagine anyone else doing that role. 

The audience was another triumph: people from many different ages and backgrounds, and many first time opera goers. This form of expression really does cross all boundaries, and can speak to everyone. 

So I, at once humbled and energized, now turn my thoughts to the next phase... Auditions and meetings in NYC, as part of the annual "audition season" AKA: singer's meat market... or slaughter house - depending on who you ask. Many exciting projects are in the works, which I'll let you all know about very soon!

Tre stelle: Eduardo Villa (Canio), Shana Blake Hill (Nedda), Zachary Gordin (Silvio). 

WORKING OUT! Fitness and the singer.

Thinking on the topics of physical fitness and opera singing, I find a lot of overlap between the two worlds. Singers need to have great stamina and must stay well in order to navigate the difficulties of a stage career. Mental focus is important in both athletics and singing: mentally preparing for a great workout or football game is as important as focusing before a performance or an audition. I'm finding that in order to do anything well, it takes a great deal of physical AND mental presence. 

The singers I talk to that have incorporated a serious fitness regime into their lives always remark on how it changes and focuses them. The physical changes are obvious, but it's the internal, mental shift that I'm really finding fascinating. The singers that can show up for themselves, by dedicating part of their time to their minds/bodies outside of singing, tend to have more drive, focus, and creative juice than those who don't. The mind/body connection is real, and singers are athletes at their physical and animal core. We work with our bodies to create something. That's a real incentive to keep the body healthy and happy. 

Mid-set, at Gold's Gym, Oakland, CA.

Determination, and focus are elements that drive our creative processes. These are the same elements I tap into when I'm trying to accomplish a set with the weights, or trying to find the best way to convey a phrase of Verdi. 

What are your thoughts? Who has a personal story to share? I'd love to hear it!

iCadenza Future of Music Festival, Los Angeles, August 17-20, 2011.

I'm THRILLED to be performing with such a great roster of artists, at iCadenza's Future of Music Festival. I invite all of my Los Angeles area friends to come out and support this new and exciting event!

Featured on Friday, August 19th, will be a concert with me and the wonderful mezzo-soprano Cathleen Candia, joined by pianist Armen Guzelimian. Also featured on that concert will be pianists Rufus Choi and Max Levinson. 

On Saturday, August 20, from 3-5 PM, I will be presenting a master class at the Colburn School with collaborative pianist Catherine Miller Popovic and a team of exceptionally gifted singers from all over the West Coast. In this public master class, each singer will be performing an aria, and then working on their craft in front of an audience. These master classes are always full of energy, discovery, and great artistic moments - a treat for both opera student and fan. This event is free to audience members, and open to the public! Stay tuned for more details.

Tickets to the festival concerts will go on sale August 4th. More information: http://www.icadenza.com/festival-2011/

Photos from Dido and Aeneas - West Bay Opera!

Photos by Otak Jump.
with Cathleen Candia as Dido, and Shawnette Sulker as Belinda.

I love this opera, and this role. I hope it's one I get to do often. Thanks to my outstanding colleagues at West Bay Opera for making this opera happen in such a memorable way.

Latest news, Opening Night at West Bay Opera, Taminophile interview, and more...

I have a lot of links to share with you!

Here's one that looks ahead.

Oakland East Bay Symphony 2011-2012 Season announcement in the San Jose Mercury:

http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_17984391

Opening night at West Bay Opera was a miracle. Not only did the cast, chorus, orchestra, crew, and everyone else really pull it together (this production wasn't going to happen...), we actually put on a good show, despite some coordination issues with some of the substitute players in the pit. Thrown into the mix was my physical condition. What I thought was a bad case of allergies, turned out to be a throat infection. I stayed away from my cast mates, and warned everyone what might be going on. It was just plain scary to sing a performance with basically no voice. Add to that the staging, acting, choreography, heavy monster's head on a spear, etc... and you're begging for a disaster. The disaster never came. We all got through with some kind of dignity, and my stellar technique (thank you Olivia Stapp, Carol Vaness, Sheri Greenawald, et al...) made possible a mediocre performance which could have been a hot mess. We got a couple less than kind reviews on SFCV and Opera Tattler, which have been receiving an interesting little backlash from the community. The Sunday performance was saved, courtesy Dr. Scheibel and Nurse Marbley (congrats on the graduation!!). Endless thanks! Antibiotics work wonders, and I was operating at 90% after one day of treatment. 

Here's a review: 

http://www.almanacnews.com/story.php?story_id=11193

I hope more critics come to the final weekend (this weekend - get your tickets!) and write about it. Watching Cathleen do these two roles in rapid succession is worth AT LEAST the price of the ticket. I have wonderful colleagues in this production. Very proud.

OK... More pics from this production soon!! 

Next on the agenda...

Taminophile is an online opera magazine, which approached me to do an interview. I had some great questions to answer. If you have several minutes, give it a look. Here it is: http://www.taminophile.com/2011/05/singer-profile-zachary-gordin-baritone.html

Barihunks has also sent around a couple recent postings involving me. 

One for Dido: http://barihunks.blogspot.com/2011/05/hey-dido-stop-your-damn-lamenting.html

One for the interview: http://barihunks.blogspot.com/2011/05/zachary-gordin-featured-on-taminophile.html

As always, feel free to re-post, re-blog, email to your friends, etc. Thanks!

More soon!

ZG

STREET SCENE: Kurt Weill in Concert with Oakland East Bay Symphony!

I'm going to be performing the role of Mr. Jones in this concert version of Street Scene. He doesn't say much, but I love working with my city's symphony whenever I can. Please come out to support OEBS, and look ahead to January 27, 2012, when I'll be performing with OEBS in the (seemingly endless) role of baritone soloist in Carl Orff's epic work CARMINA BURANA. More info and tickets at www.oebs.org