The Loyal treatment
I've been in Europe the last few days; an orchestral concert: preparing, rehearsing and performing.. To tell you the truth- I was quite nervously excited, having been so immersed in opera performances lately, the concept of standing on a stage as the only soloist, and showing "what you've got" in a few concentrated minutes , is something I adore, but had to shift gears for, no, change vehicles for.... especially for repertoire which I have not sung in a while.
Happy to do the concert I rejoiced that this engagement was the fruit of one conductor's loyalty.
I have to explain this, because if you are not involved in the business of performing, you probably wouldn't have an idea how loyalty is scarce here, but how so very important it is.
When you look at people in my field who have made it, you have to realize that there's somebody mighty behind them, who made sure they emerged. By one's self, achieving any kind of public career only by the sheer talent or skill or charm is super-difficult. We need a powerful and reliable "motor" behind us, who would push- start us at the beginning of our trip, and then maintain us on the track for as long as we are out there.
You see- even at this point of my career, I couldn't possibly have come to where I am, if I didn't have the support of a few special people like my beloved mentors, and some key people in my life who happened to be influential themselves.
More than anything, I am so thankful of my good connections with certain opera houses, conductors and directors who loved my work enough to invite me again.
Without those people, we singers can only hope for a career, really; If you sing once at a place , and never return, it's almost like the tree falling in the forest...as if you've never sung there at all; The public (unfortunately), has a short memory.
That's why, whenever I work with a new conductor or director that I like, I pray that they will be one of the loyal ones, who stand by their word.
When they say: "You are an amazing artist, we must work together often" I believe them. And most often they really mean what they say, but it's easy to let time slip on away, and promises fade like the very sense of security that they represent.
The concert I just sang was a little festive celebration of loyalty; The collaboration between two artists (and that's all we are, at the end), who kept the simple promise to stick together and maybe survive the fickle nature of this business through what we do best: making music, hand in hand.
Happy to do the concert I rejoiced that this engagement was the fruit of one conductor's loyalty.
I have to explain this, because if you are not involved in the business of performing, you probably wouldn't have an idea how loyalty is scarce here, but how so very important it is.
When you look at people in my field who have made it, you have to realize that there's somebody mighty behind them, who made sure they emerged. By one's self, achieving any kind of public career only by the sheer talent or skill or charm is super-difficult. We need a powerful and reliable "motor" behind us, who would push- start us at the beginning of our trip, and then maintain us on the track for as long as we are out there.
You see- even at this point of my career, I couldn't possibly have come to where I am, if I didn't have the support of a few special people like my beloved mentors, and some key people in my life who happened to be influential themselves.
More than anything, I am so thankful of my good connections with certain opera houses, conductors and directors who loved my work enough to invite me again.
Without those people, we singers can only hope for a career, really; If you sing once at a place , and never return, it's almost like the tree falling in the forest...as if you've never sung there at all; The public (unfortunately), has a short memory.
That's why, whenever I work with a new conductor or director that I like, I pray that they will be one of the loyal ones, who stand by their word.
When they say: "You are an amazing artist, we must work together often" I believe them. And most often they really mean what they say, but it's easy to let time slip on away, and promises fade like the very sense of security that they represent.
The concert I just sang was a little festive celebration of loyalty; The collaboration between two artists (and that's all we are, at the end), who kept the simple promise to stick together and maybe survive the fickle nature of this business through what we do best: making music, hand in hand.
posted by Singin'rin at 9:17 AM
3 Comments:
Congrats on the concert! I always say, "It's not who you know, but who admits to knowing you!" Glad to know your conductor stayed loyal and granted you the opportunity to make music and share your gift with others! Cya in the bighouse... :-)
Thanks Anita! :) :*
What you say is so true. Loyalty in ANY business is very scarce. It also takes some good follow up to remind the people that make promises to make sure they keep them. Talent is something that needs to be present, (but that's something you need not worry about). Keep up your hard work, perseverance is key to success in any business.
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