What a day, what a day, for an update da fe!
/As I write this in my new Auckland flat, it is raining aggressively outside and our power is doing funny things… Welcome to Auckland!
That is the biggest piece of news, but first, Tosca! This was a restaging of a production performed in the North Island a few years ago and it was fantastic to be able to perform it for Christchurch audiences. The chorus in Tosca is seldom on stage, but when we were it was fantastic music to sing and it was a joy to watch all the principles at work. Orla Boylan and Simon O’Neil were amazing to watch, and I was fortunate enough to be in a masterclass with Orla put on by the Opera Foundation. The masterclass was very brief, but the work that Orla and I did in those twenty minutes have helped me understand how my breathing and support work even better!
After Tosca, it was goodbye to the South Island and hello to my new home, Auckland! The move looked like this: Friday night, finish final show of Tosca and go home and shove whatever can fit into one suitcase and a suit bag. Saturday morning, Fly to Auckland for 10 am start for Candide Rehearsals. Saturday Afternoon, finish rehearsal and finally arrive back to the flat! My wonderful flatmates who were doing most of the flat hunting (Shout out to Anna Mahon and Angus Simmons!) have found us a wonderful place, with a massive deck and a little office space out the back of the property we have converted into a little music studio! It’s perfect! That first week in Auckland was taken up with Candide rehearsals and the three performances as part of the Auckland Arts Festival. I got to perform a couple of my dreams roles, a man dressed up suspiciously like a member of the KKK (Pointy hat and all), and be a dresser to our wonderful Cunegonde, Amelia Berry, as she sang Glitter and be Gay. It was a real shame to leave behind such a silly yet fun show, I hope I get to perform in it again in the future!
Easter Weekend held the Napier Vocal Competitions. My goal heading into the competition was to get into the aria final, and I did which was a weekend well spent for me! It was such a tough competition, every single singer was on their A Game singing like seasoned pros! After the competition, I flew down to Christchurch and drove my car back up to Auckland. It is such a beautiful drive, it should be at the top of everyone’s road trip list! The desert road in particular is such an interesting drive!
The day after I got back it was straight into the next thing, A Kiri Programme module. This time we got to work with the amazing Kathryn Harries. We spent most of the three sessions working on breathing and refining that process for me, which immediately brought more colour into my voice. Now all I have to do is keep it up! On Monday we had a media training session with New Zealand journalist extraordinaire Ian Fraser. This involved recording an interview with him and watching it back to critique it, which is an incredible bizarre but informative experience! Being a part of the programme is such a privilege and I just want to say a massive thank you to the foundation for supporting young singers like myself and giving us these phenomenal opportunities!
Well, that’s all for now folks! I have a few weeks off before we begin rehearsals for The Elixir of Love, with Aida following up close after. I’ll be sure to let you know how it all goes!
Until next time,
Harry
