“Young soprano Elizabeth Gentner…has a supple, full-bodied voice perhaps better suited for a larger venue, but displayed a confidence and command of comedy unusual in a performer at such an early stage in her career.” ~Kathleen Whalen, Daily Republic Correspondent
Category: European Audition Tour
0 Waiting on computer repairs…
So, I have returned!
I’m currently anxiously awaiting they return of my crushed laptop and all of the notes, updates and pictures trapped inside.
When, I get it back expect numerous updates!
2 Best Cannoli Ever
I don’t have the words….. Evil, certainly. Decadent, of course. There are more but I can’t come up with one that encompasses the awesomeness of this cannoli.
0 Milan Dom
This place is impressive….
0 La Scala
After my dreamy lunch, I went back to the theater.
All the way up the stairs, there are marquee posters for operas of the past with all of the big names Caruso, Callas, Toscanini you name it! Finally I get to the theater, and what a fascinating and bizarre experience — they are striking the set from the Ring Cycle they just finished. As I walk into the theater itself, I am oddly struck by how much smaller this theater is than I expected. For a place so embedded in the history of opera, it must be on a grand scale as well, right?
While La Scala is certainly not a small theater, it wasn’t as big as I had built it up to be. The way that this theater and what it has meant to Opera has built a reputation and an impression on me that has made it larger than life!
I took the moment and sang some lines of a couple arias. So, I have sung La Scala, however unfortunately, I wasn’t on stage. 😉
0 Genova
I am swiftly falling in love with this place.
Maybe, just maybe, I like it better than Riva del Guarda because I also have internet.
Maybe it’s because I took some time on the train to remind myself of some of my rudimentary Italian. It sure makes getting around easier…
The proprietor of the lovely little hostel where I am staying has been hugely helpful. At the slightest provocation she will give you lists of “mai suggestione” for what to do, where to eat and what to see. This morning (I got to the hostel earlier than check in to drop off my luggage) she literally told me to get lost… because she thinks that’s the best way to see new things in the city, but was careful to warn me not to do the same thing at night. “Boys is stupido” I nearly lost it laughing.
So I did get lost and found again in just a few hours. I kept finding all of these beautiful contradictions in the most unexpected places. Ancient buildings surrounding industrial ports, modern shops and restaurants built into Ancient architecture… sang in a couple churches and shocked some tourists. You know, the usual.
Some of the sights included the most gorgeous elderly women I’ve ever seen…and some of the ugliest old men…lol. It’s so wonderfully Italian. I’m sure I could spend weeks uncovering hidden corners here but I’ve only got 2 and 1/2 days with a competition in there…this is one of those places I am definitely going to have to see again.
0 Attersee
0 Weyregg am Attersee
0 Checking off “Get on the Damn Plane”
I put “Get on the Damn Plane” on my to do list.
I’m sure I’ll explain about me and lists in the near future. However, lets begin with the premise that lists are an important part of the way I operate.
So every day for the last several months, I have seen this item on my electronic task list. Every day i have been anxiously anticipating getting on the damn plane an taking that next big step toward my ultimate goals.
The sense of relief and excitement coupled together is a bit overwhelming. I’ve been planing and saving and packing for the last several months. Wanting to go on this trip for years and now I am here. I am on the plane the doors are closing and I am checking this huge line Item off my list!
0 Riva del Garda
It is simply to impossible to accurately describe the beauty of this place.
0 The Road to Rival del Garda
After giving my mime skills some exercise, I got on the bus to Rival del Garda. The sun had just set and there was just enough light to see miles and miles of vineyards surrounded by mountains.
Every time we turned a corner, and by corner I mean wound around another mountain, there would be more fields of vineyards and yet another mountain. Small apartment buildings and homes were scattered on either side with tiers of vines sticking out of rock in some places and olive trees marking property lines. Absolutely stunning.
I wish I had been able to get pictures but it was just too dark, and the bus was moving too fast. So I’ll have to keep those pictures in my memory.
