self-portrait

You'd think that being a photographer, I'd have tons of photos of myself laying around. Quite the contrary -- it's rather challenging to take a good self-portrait -- but thanks to my friend Anna, I now have one more to add to my "collection" of self-portraits. Thought I'd share it.

The first rough draft (emphasis on ROUGH) has been handed in, and for the rest of the week I'll be focuses on getting ready for my recital on Saturday. Should be a good performance!

Last week was full of opera -- Wednesday evening I saw my teacher in Don Giovanni and Thursday I saw her in Peter Grimes. Both were fantastic, and I wish I could see two such excellent performances every week! Grimes has been stuck in my head all day. The Interludes are especially gorgeous!
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My iTunes: Interlude #2: Storm from Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes

meet marlene

This is my friend Marlene -- we met her when we went down to Annapolis last week. It has been a joy to get to know her better over the last few months. I'm jealous of the people who will get to spend time with her over the next few years after I move away. She is one of the sweetest, most selfless people I know. I wish I could introduce her to everyone, but this picture and short note will have to do.

I've been scatter-brained for the past few days -- to the point that I left my cell phone charger and my mac charger at my parents house when I came back home. My friend Anna is saving me and letting me borrow hers! Thanks Anna!

My voice lesson today was fantastic. Apparently my growing obsession with Mozart's Don Giovanni has helped my singing as I have practiced my favorite aria, Mi Tradi Quell'alma Ingrata, practically non-stop. To illustrate the level of my obsession: last week, I watched my DVD of the 3-hour opera 6 times, listened to the whole thing on my ipod 9 times, listened to the whole thing on my computer 3 times, and watched almost every version of that aria on YouTube. It's fantastic music, and I get to go see my teacher perform this role on Wednesday! I'm beside myself with excitement... she's going to be fabulous!
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My iTunes: Mi Tradi Quell'alma Ingrata from Mozart's Don Giovanni

annapolis: take 4

As you may have seen from other pictures, there were a lot of ducks at the inner harbor when we went down to Annapolis earlier this week. My friend Marlene quite enjoyed lecturing the ducks on proper behavior. It was pretty funny to watch, but I managed to snap pictures anyway.

9 days and counting until this paper is due.
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My iTunes: Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten

annapolis: take 3

Another shot from Annapolis.

Today I'm holing up and working on my massive paper. It must get done.
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My iTunes: My Tradi Quell'alma Ingrata sung by Solveig Kringelborn in the Metropolitan Opera performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni

annapolis: take 2

Another shot from Annapolis.  My friend Marlene might remember the ducks and the lecture she gave to them when we first arrived...

Lately, I've been having a hard time getting up when my alarm goes off.  When my alarm went off this morning, I thought that I was going to get up when I intended to for once.  The next time I looked at the clock, it was two hours later.  Good thing I'm on "break" this week.

Still managed to accomplish something today, though -- I found a fantastic evening dress for my recital in a few weeks.  And it was on clearance!

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My iTunes: Che Gelida Manina from Puccini's La Boheme

annapolis: take 1

Today I went to downtown Annapolis with a few friends, and it turned out to be a great day for taking pictures.  It was a bit overcast, so the light was nice and diffused, but eventually the clouds broke a bit to allow for some blue.  I wanted a shot down one of the brick roads, so I waited a while for a break in traffic (which was quite a feat).

This week I am on "break."  I intended to hole up and write all week, but somehow my schedule filled up.  I'll try to keep posting this week, but no promises...

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My iTunes: Venite Pur Avanti from Mozart's Don Giovanni

aviators

I know one of my friends has been waiting for me to post one of the shots I took of Anna in her aviators!  Doesn't she rock them?  Working with her felt like working with a professional model.  It was like on America's Next Top Model -- "Pose, pose, pose!  30 seconds and we're done."

caboose: take 3.

Another shot from the senior session.  I really like the cross-processing I did on this shot.  I think the style of this shoot works with the edgy editing.

And now a few shameless plugs for my current musical interests:

I just got a copy of the new CD my fabulous accompanist, Dr. Daniel Lau, just put out: Transcendent Colors.  It is his debut recording featuring some of the piano music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Enrique Granados, and Tan Dun.  Dr. Lau is an phenomenal pianist (and the best accompanist I've ever had the privilege of working with), and I am thoroughly enjoying listening to the recordings.  I highly recommend it -- check it out here.

And if you are in the Baltimore area, the Baltimore Concert Opera is putting on a production of Mozart's Don Giovanni on Wednesday, March 25.  Tickets are extremely affordable ($25/$45) and selling fast.  Last I heard there were about 50 left.  It should be a wonderful show -- the soprano singing the role of Donna Anna covered the title roll in the last opera I was in, Dr. Lau will be accompanying, and my wonderful voice teacher is singing the role of Donna Elvira.  I am counting down the days!  For more information, or to get tickets, click here.

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My iTunes: El amor e la muerte  by Daniel Lau

caboose: take 2.

More from the senior shoot.  Another of my favorites.

Had my senior preview today for the recital I will be singing.  It went very well, despite my concerns beforehand (multiple back-to-back sinus infections are not conducive to good singing).

It's so lovely and light outside, and I don't want to do work, but I should...

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My iTunes: Waldesgesprach by Schumann

caboose

This is another one of my favorites from the senior shoot I just did.  Don't these two look like natural models?  As the shoot went on and everyone relaxed into it, the pictures just got better and better.

I'm swamped with work, but am trying to be better about posting...

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My iTunes: Mi Tradi Quell'alma Ingrata from Mozart's Don Giovanni

Seniors 2009

I thought I'd take a brief break in the Yale pictures and share an image from the photoshoot I did yesterday.  These are some of my classmates and they wanted to do a photoshoot together.  Once we got to the caboose, I was snapping like crazy.  This is one of my favorite group shots.  I'm enjoying editing them, but am taking a quick break to make cupcakes for Anna's birthday!

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My iTunes: Giovinette Che Fate All'Amore from Mozart's Don Giovanni

new haven

And JC gets another point: guessed the state and the university!  I will be moving up to New Haven, Connecticut, this summer.

This is one of my favorite shots.  I love black and white, and I love the lines and textures of this one.

But for now, I have a to-do-list that's longer than my arm and to top it off, we lose an hour this weekend...

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iTunes: Je Veux Vivre by Gounod.

new england visit: take 4.

I doubt that this shot will give a hint as to where I went, but I like it anyway so it will be today's post.  Pictures of benches always make me think of my friend Anna.

Bravo to JC for guessing the state (Connecticut).  I find it rather amusing that I will be moving to a state with my initials.  Even funnier because one of my professors calls me "CT", which he believes is short for "Chord Tone."  What can I say -- my life revolves around music.

Today's hint will be how old the university is: 308 years old.  Older than this country, which is a rather odd thought.

Today was very busy.  I left for class before 9:00 and was in classes or the MIDI lab until 6:00 with no break, then worked the closing shift at work.  I wish I could reward myself with a good night's sleep, but I have to come up with a thesis between now and my meeting tomorrow.  I've already pushed my luck a bit more than I'd like...

new england visit: take 3.

Another shot from my trip to New England.  I see that my last hint didn't inspire any guesses.  This is a shot of one of the libraries at the university I was visiting.  It really looks like a cathedral on the inside.  I didn't manage to get pictures of the interior, but since I will probably be living there for the next 6 years, I should have ample opportunity for taking photographs!

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My iTunes: No Name Jive by Gene Krupa and His Orchestra

new england visit: take 2.

Well, it seems as if my failure to post regularly has certainly cut down on the number of regular blog readers I have.  (Although I know a few of you know where I was visiting last week and aren't spoiling the surprise and "guessing" where!)

But here is a second installment.  The campus was really gorgeous -- I wish I had more time to walk around and take pictures, but I was in and out of meetings and classes during my visit, plus I was fighting off a sinus infection so I wanted to stay out of the cold as much as possible.

Another hint as to where I was: the abbreviation for the state in which the graduate school is located can be found in each of the pictures I'm posting.

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My iTunes: Sepia Panorama by Duke Ellington