Hin und her and all over the place...

(Originally posted on 11 October 2012)

09. 10. 2012

(sorry for the delay in putting this up... more pictures the next time around)

And I'm off and back to Berlin for two days... But I suppose that I should go back a few days and catch up to where I am today, eh? I had a wonderful audition for the Deutsche Oper last Thursday (Oct. 4) and couldn't be happier with the way it went! Now I just have to wait to hear more from my Agent, but I can deal with that. After the audition I had a few hours of downtime in order to get some money loaded on my cell phone (Guthaben) and then to repack to head to Vienna for the weekend. I decided to take the night train from Berlin, which was fine, but I have to say I much prefer the daytime travel of the ICE as I travel 1st Class and I think it is more comfortable. Feels like being in an office on wheels with really good coffee! And we all know I love my coffee!
So I arrived in Vienna and met my European Voice teacher for breakfast at her place to catch up and such. It was great to see her and to just sit and talk for a few hours! Then I met up with another singer friend and we just had a blast catching up too... the problem with always being out of the country (well in America... when you have an established group of friends in Vienna) is that you have a lot of catching up to do every time you come back. It's okay... as I said I like to drink coffee and enjoy just sitting a chatting for hours! Could be worse, oder?
Anyway, the point is that I came to Vienna for an audition at the Wiener Staatsoper and I was going to spend a relaxing weekend with friends and thus be all set for Monday! Well Monday was yesterday and I have to say that I really am pleased with the way things went. They seemed happy as well, which is always a good thing. Not to mention I was singing on the stage of the Staatsoper and they asked me to sing Tamino!!!!! Yup that's right, I sang Dies Bildniss on the Stage of the Wiener Staatsoper! One could say I was in a dream... I sure felt that once I got done and was waiting in the hallway.
Really, I couldn't be more pleased with the way things are going, and let me tell you that all those years of auditioning leading up to these auditions has really helped. When people tell you that hard work and perseverance pay off at some point, I now know that it is paying off for me now. What a great feeling. Let me tell you what I am currently doing to have positive energy...
I think about what I want and then I send out positive vibes into the Universe and say... aloud or in my head... that I am sending out these vibrations into the Universe and that I open to all things that might come my way. It seems to be working no matter how crazy it might sound, but heck we have to believe in something so as a singer we must believe in ourselves and our art and what we have to offer the world... if you send this into the Universe, I truly believe good things will come your way! Try it... you might like it (but realize you have to work for it too... things don't just come from doing nothing).
And so now we are back on the train to Berlin and gearing up for three more auditions this week: Komishce Oper Berlin Deutsche Staatsoper unter der Linden Theater an der WienYes that means that on Thursday I jump back on the ICE and head to Vienna again. But once I have the Theater an der Wien finished, I'm free for a bit. Then I can just relax I guess.
So... once upon a time I had started doing this audition tour by myself and it was going to be a really long journey of three months... now that I have an agent working on my side, things have changed a bit and my schedule is much lighter after this week is over. I've decided that since I have an agent and have gotten a few house auditions that I will not be singing for regional agents while I'm here anymore. I have a few international ones still set up, but this is taking so much stress off of my schedule and self that I just couldn't resist canceling them. So goes it I guess, but thought I mention that.
Well, as usual, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if I can help in your research at all! Enjoy the journey! And until next time...

11.10.2012
And I'm sitting at my desk in Berlin looking out at a lovely sky. I shouldn't be here right now... I should be on a train to Vienna... but guess what... that didn't happen yet! HAH!
I am really happy that I got to the train station on time and was all set to get on my merry way, when I look at the Track Screen and it says that the ICE 691 was going to be 25 minutes late... OOPS! Now I had to trek down to the Reisezentrum to see about the other trains I was connecting to and if I would make them or need to re-book. The lovely lady helping me was baffled because it didn't show up late on her screen. So she assured me that it was coming on time and not to worry! Phew! So back I go up to the track! (Insert one of those terrible WRONG kind of sounds here)... Now the screen said that the train was 55 minutes late and the announcement was that it was due to a mechanical security feature on the train... whatever that means! So anyway... back I go to the Reisezentrum... was actually lucky enough to get the same lady who again was baffled and then had to look in three other places on her computer to see that Yes, the train was delayed. So anyway... she helped me out with re-booking on the night train to Wien (I got a Liegewagen this time - and it was only 20 Euro, which was actually 16 Euro because she was amazing and took off the reservation cost from the ICE and credited me that... that normally doesn't happen... you loose your 4 Euros - told you she was amazing!). SO that brings me back home to catch up the blog and enjoy a coffee and my lunch which I had packed for the train! Sigh of relief and on to the relaxing!
Well, today was the Deutsche Staatsoper and it went fine. Sang behind a scrim, which is never fun because it is harder than anything to hear the piano in the pit. Oh well... they only were hearing one piece (it was lunch time and they would rather eat than hear auditions I'm sure) so anyway... that came and went. Not without the adventure of trying to find the KBB though! What a mess! Well first off... the DS is being renovated over on Unter den Linden so they are temporarily taking over the Schiller Theater and boy it is a mess over there. There are three buildings you have to deal with and there are hardly signs. You have to enter gates in the back to even find a sign for the Bühneneingang. Then you go on a goose chase to find the KBB and then to find the pianist... needless to say it was a mess. Thankfully I ran into a lovely American Soprano and we took the journey together! Needless to say... from the DS and the Train Station, I have put in my exercise for the day... oh I forgot to mention that I was lugging my two heavy travel bags to go to Vienna... so weight lifting and cardio all in one! And now I'm buff! (HAHA! right?!)
Komische Oper yesterday was fine. It rained here all day and was freezing, so I brought out the gloves! That made me feel better! The KO house is lovely! Tiny, but lovely! It was a bit of a shock to go out and see every seat and feel so enclosed... after two years at Lyric, though, I guess everything seems a bit smaller... love it for singing!
Well, there you have it! Now I am off to enjoy the rest of my lunch and then watch a movie before I hit the road again! Phew... I can almost see the end of these two weeks! I will be ready for a few drinks!
Happy Trails! Enjoy the journey, and stay connected to the universe!