Don Giovanni is well underway and I have covered six shows already but to my delight I was asked to sing at the Sitzprobe last Thursday for the second cast. A sitzprobe is a rehearsal with the orchestra that gives the singers and conductor a chance to perfect the music. I got to sing alongside Erwin Schrott, who is famous for his interpretation of Don Giovanni. This cast is very different to the first and brings a different angle to this production. It opens on the 16th of February so if you are interested come along. I will be covering all six shows again so watch this space.
You would think Don Giovanni would be enough for one month but I am also extrememly busy with a new production of Rusalka, playing a Wood Nymph. This production was originally done in Salzburg in 2008 but is new to the ROH. It is directed by Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito who have come to help with the revival this week, to polish it up and add the finishing touches. It is being conducted by a fantastic young conductor with a big reputation, Yannick Nézet-Séguin. His approach is very fresh and accurate with a wonderful warm musical passion. So the task of this production is being able to sing beautifully and move/dance like an animal at the same time. It is pushing my stamina and has required a lot of stretching and afterhours work at the gym to inhabit the role. I am really enjoying challenging myself in this new way and hope you will all enjoy the modern take on an old fairy tale. The ticket are selling fast so if you want to get your hands on some go to: http://www.roh.org.uk/whatson/production.aspx?pid=17617
So with all this going on I have had little time for anything else but as per usual I am still working hard on learning the role of Marie in La Fille du Régiment which is on at the ROH in April. It is a wonderful role and I am delighted I am able to cover it. It will force me to perfect my French both singing and with the reems of dialogue I have to learn. I will write more about this soon, for now back to stretching.
