Opening night,a smile to remember

Every time we say goodbye

The last day of the show was a bitter, dark day for me. Not a usual last performance day, I felt the heaviness of my heart, having to depart from some people who have become probably as close to my soul as I could ever wish for.
I was about to part from the world's best opera house, the world's best production and a group of people I can call best friends.
It was all ending, and I couldn't bear it.
I actually wasn't even sure if I could make it, sing it. too many tears threatened to drown my numb voice.
But at the end like the good trooper I am, I finished the show, I went to the dinner afterwards, but I had to leave before everybody else. no goodbyes. So all of a sudden I am back home, where I left two and a half months ago, after only a week in our new place.
Getting back home,entering our new apartment, which I don't even know yet,Peter was not in yet, but he made the place to be a real home! Photo frames on the shelves, little things all arranged and done in such a welcoming embrace.
I opened the door and burst into tears once more. I am so much better tody; I am HOME, he is home,a whole month to breathe. brethe again.

Full moon

Last night was a disaster. It might have been the full moon; that's what everybody suspected, but from the start, things just weren't right. It was first draft out of two of our (very important) broadcast TV/DVD shoot.
Our Susanna was complaining of a light sickness, but she seemed fine at first, until her second scene, when Figaro enters with the chorus. At that point, she was wondering on and off stage trying to vomit, and coming back again sweating, trying to sing her lines. Our Figaro was whispering to the count " She is really sick" and everybody on stage couldn't hide our extremely worried faces.
She carried on but left stage for anything she wasn't singing in (like Figaro's aria, where she is usually on stage with us). Bless his heart, our superb Figaro got mixed up with his lines in his famous aria, the entire staging was changed, then as the next set is wheeled on, it suddenly broke making a big noisy crush.
For my next entrance, I completely forgot some of my blocking and I could hardly sing well.
The whole thing was just AWFUL!
Eventually we made it; The Susanna finished the show successfully, but I really never had anything as such...

Ready, Gooooooo!

Lucky thing I like roller coasters. If I didn't I probably wouldn't be able to maintain this life style for more than a week.
Opening night was like the main event in the Olympics. I really did my best to score 10 out of ten but I think I missed my chance by a few points, purely by being so nervous and so overwhelmed by the whole thing. (they reduce your points if you are sharp on one note, or if you take one breath where Bartoli usually doesn't)
But I acted well , and I sang the best I could possibly deliver and I think I can summarize my score with a 7.5 or even 8.5 , judging by the press and the public and the big sharks.
I might have been able to get a better place if the cast was a usual one, but this time the level was so high that you really are put where you belong by the size of your role, basically.
Hell, deep inside I was a nervous wreck, even though I don't think anybody really noticed. I love being on stage. I get very happy the closer I get to it, I feel fantastic while I am on it, and I become hyper right afterwards.
I lost something like 10 or 12 pounds (like I promised; Can't be a chubby cherub!) and for the fancy party afterwards I surprised in a little black number making an extra special feminine entrance.
I love opening nights and parties and all that. Lots of singers can't stand the whole thing, but I personally just enjoy the whole frosting on the cake...
Now comes the more difficult part: maintain the level for the rest of the run. Because with such a super international exposure , one needs to never,ever, EVER disappoint.
So it is 5:13 PM and the show start at seven, and I am starting to get ready for yet another ride.