Hi, my name is Liz and I’ve been fear free of Richard Wagner’s obsession with vocal line diminished chords for 24 hours. NOW I get the WHY we needed to learn what seemed to be random esoteric theory. It sure would have been lovely for a music theory teacher to connect the enduring understanding to our rudiments back in the day…..ya know, something like WALT, we are learning that building these varied chords and progressions are connected to the following compositions and will help you not freak out when singing future grand opera German romantic repertoire with a spear…..HOJOTOJO…. New Jersey Opera Theater LLC #walkure #brunnhilde

Thank you for sharing this powerful prose Dann Mitton. Up until my 30s, I had this base anger and sadness that came out at unexpected times. Looking back, I must have known on a subconscious level that I was an imposter participating in assumed male female rites of passage; a straight jacket so to speak. In my early 20s, I remember sadly crying at a friend’s wedding. My dad looked at me quizzically and said “weddings are supposed to be happy events”. Lol. So when I moved to Louisiana and began to gradually meet my tribe (thank you ❤️ New Orleans), I organically segued into the person I was intended to be without much thought. It just felt natural. Now in 2024 when students see same sex married parents and have no reaction, I think of how far we’ve come since my day and I’m optimistic for the future. #pride

“Songs Of The River”

Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at 7pm

Sopranos Elizabeth Honer, Genya Katherine Muzyczka and Elizabeth Perryman with pianist David Maiullo, will present their annual summer recital featuring river songs across the musical genres from folk and classical to pop and spiritual.

With their ceaseless flow, always moving forward, overcoming obstacles in their path, rivers symbolize many things in songs: calmness, serenity and peace, renewal and faith, our journey through life with its twists and turns, the final journey to the afterlife, the eternal flow of time, and even a coded message for the Underground Railroad.

The event will be held at First Congregational Church of Montclair 40 South Fullerton Ave in Montclair. The suggested recital donation is $20.00. Come enjoy beautiful river melodies, an audience singalong, and raffled prizes. A reception will follow the recital. Complimentary fans and bottled water will be provided.

Learning this opera has been like none other. Like many others who need to make a living to perform, my time is split and limited. Beginning to uncover my first Brunnhilde has required me use every musical instinct I possess and call on all of the musical training I’ve ever received. In 2 pages alone, a singer needs a command of diverse harmonically led phrases, Germanic linguistic skills within a belcanto lens, Eb4 passagio blend, access to the upper extension, chest mix, middle voice height, and descending intervallic skills…..to name a few vocal needs…..performing a few random pages of this score would be one heck of a vocal performance graduate school exit exam….

“I write music with an exclamation point! Richard Wagner

“We must learn to die, and to die in the fullest sense of the word. The fear of the end is the source of all lovelessness” Richard Wagner

“I am convinced that there are universal currents of Divine Thought vibrating the ether everywhere and that any who can feel these vibrations is inspired.” Richard Wagner

#walkure #wagner #brunnhilde #hojotoho #newjerseyoperatheater #asopranoonherhead

This week has been a rapid reminder that when Opera production mode engages, it’s a turbo speed expedition with all cylinders running full tilt. Whoa nelly. This intensity level is its own culture and something I need to mindfully quell when I segue during the year into my life as a public school elementary music teacher; easier said than done. ;-).

The first collective jump into the opera pool can be quite a jolt when moving the notes off the page with peers while playing nicely in the musical sandbox so to speak. It can feel like vocal kryptonite at first but after a few days, it does slowly become 2nd skin.

I’m very grateful for this opportunity to sing this great role and want to do artistic justice to this extraordinary piece. Before this week, I don’t think I fully grasped the emotional depth of Wagner’s musical gravitas and harmonic heroism. It’s a transcendent musical cosmos. IMHO the Siegmund/Brunnhilde and Wotan/Brunnhilde duets are sublime.

#akintsucrooner #brunnhilde

Well jeez…..my freaking Dad Chuck Schneider had to listen to Lorraine Helvick and didn’t let me save Joseph Mayon but at least I got to help the lovely damsel Elisabeth Shoup Pieper with the help of my lovely Roß (Pferd) Grane. ❤️❤️ #graneismysoulmate #walkure New Jersey Opera Theater LLC

Ultimate Netflix series of the 19th century…THE RING CYCLE……

Now I GET it. THIS is the reason why we went so long with the adage that it’s impolite COMPANY to talk about religion and politics. Social media surely has AWOKEN that sleeping bear of the last century. If I only knew back THEN when I would doze off as relatives talked about window treatments. In the meanwhile, I’m gonna take a CUE from Pa Ingalls who was NO fan of the gross politics that prevaded his 19th century. Yes, it’s the SOS in 2024; different vernacular….however when President Teddy ROOSEVELT got shot, he didn’t leave until he finished his speech 90 min later.

Theodore Roosevelt’s opening line was hardly remarkable for a presidential campaign speech: “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible.” His second line, however, was a bombshell. “I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot.” Clearly, Roosevelt had buried the lede. The horrified audience in the Milwaukee Auditorium on October 14, 1912, gasped as the former president unbuttoned his vest to reveal his bloodstained shirt. “It takes more than that to kill a bull moose,” the wounded candidate assured them. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a bullet-riddled, 50-page speech. Holding up his prepared remarks, which had two big holes blown through each page, Roosevelt continued. “Fortunately I had my manuscript, so you see I was going to make a long speech, and there is a bullet—there is where the bullet went through—and it probably saved me from it going into my heart. The bullet is in me now, so I cannot make a very long speech, but I will try my best.”

https://www.history.com/news/shot-in-the-chest-100-years-ago-teddy-roosevelt-kept-on-talking

My Gen X self grew up with an understanding that jobs which sustain you aren’t necessarily going to align with your passion. My dad found his life blend for 63 years where he was able to express his musical passion on an auxiliary level while still being able to have what he so wanted; a family and stability. At 55, I now marvel that my Dad would only live 8 years more than the age I am now. Performers, in my experience, have to carefully cobble together their artistic path. It can be a frenetic volleying and balancing act. Contending with essential irons in the fire has finally driven me to therapy lol which in all seriousness has been a blessing. Major shout out to us all. This existential life dance is freaking hard. Often we never feel good enough and are split energetically between so many different realities and demands that are unavoidable. There are so many artists of all levels and of various mediums who keep trudging and fighting the good fight without giving up. And there is such a tremendous support system to help each other keep going and growing. Sometimes it takes just one person who believes in you to keep you above water. IYKYK. ❤️🙏🏻 #angelsamongus #genx #artist

I’ve always been partial to the musical gravitas of Mozart. The music transcends the score and seems to emerge from an otherworldly source. I’m new to the Wagner scene and have begun to learn why people love this music. It seems as if RW was a human vessel to the divine when hearing Siegmund’s gut wrenching music and despairing quandary whether he will see Sieglinde in Valhalla. I’m also feeling 8 with 7 wing enneagram vibes with Brunnhilde. I’m gonna plot it out. ❤️❤️ #newjerseyoperatheater #enneagram #opera #wagner #walkure

Allergies are no joke this summer. My reactive airways are fighting the good fight. Thank goodness 🙏🏻 for no summer school teaching during the preparation of this opera so I can rest. My 3am voice this morning was a waking nightmare; grounds for an opera singer’s 72 hour hold 🤣 . Currently, allergy meds, water,
i vowel, unvoiced consonants, ng, and rest are keeping my voice working up through Bb5 but the extreme levels of dust and dander are living rent free on my upper extension 🙄. My vocal technique is very reliable. I don’t usually have to worry much during the year as a teacher and performer and can sing through allergy/asthma throat. July 10, 2024 has been a whole other level. I’m at 60-70%. My voice students know I always survey them where their voice percentage lies when we meet. Swollen cords like today were the genesis of my percentage system and how I persevere technically with an instrument we carry inside of us.

#akintsucrooner #singer #voiceteacher