Sitzing Around

Opera: Simon Boccanegra

Theater: Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires

Director: Jose Maria Condemi

Conductor: Stefano Ranzani

My view: Teatro Colón

Been in Buenos Aires for a couple weeks now, and let me tell you, the air ain't so beautiful. Major smog in this city, and even stronger fumes onstage.* And it wasn't me!

I believe I have actually lost weight eating steak every night. It is truly a meat lover's paradiso. Reminds me of growing up on the farm, when my Dad used to make goat jerky in the Arizona sun. The grilling restaurants line the streets, and one looks better than the next. But after two weeks being here, i think I'm ready for a salad.

Sang in the theater today for the first time. Colón is said to be one of the 5 best acoustics in the world. It seats nearly 3 thousand, much larger than European standards, but easier to sing in by far. Very singer friendly from the stage, though we were forced to stand on the lip of the stage with the fire curtain close behind us. Never a comfy feeling for me who's always afraid of falling in the pit.

Maestro Ranzani

Maestro Ranzani is a miracle to make music with. I had done a Butterfly with him in Berlin a couple years ago and I like him then. I like him even more now. We just have fun making music together. He's the non-pedantic sort. Italian. All about the language and phrasing the music. Heaven help the singer who doesn't bring musicianship to rehearsal cuz he just sorta rolls his eyes, and demands you make music. He's the sort that likes to play and work hard at the same time. One instrumentalist made the mistake of cracking up a bit too much and poof, the rehearsal was over. Note to self: sitzprobe's not the place to mess about.

Next Up…The Players

Angela Marambio in the Sitzprobe

*During today's sitzprobe the stage hands decided it was a good day to glue the set together. The singers nearly had to be carried from the building.