A Feast or a Famine

Well!  After totally giving up on the nursing home where my partner had stayed, which I had contacted numerous times over six months, I heard from the recreation director.  He wanted me to sing on May 5.  I told him it was too short notice, but that I could sing on June 2 (another date he offered).  Unfortunately my regular pianist is not available, so I had to find someone else.  I found someone, but he lives in Washington Heights.  I guess a lot of musicians live there now.  I think I should be OK if I go there to rehearse during the day.  The subways are probably full of people during those hours. I have never been up there so I don't know how scary it will look to me.  My voice teacher will have to come to one of the rehearsals (he is singing with me in both recitals, if I forgot to mention) and maybe I can get him to come to both.  I would rather not be wandering around there alone since I'm not familiar with anything up there.

My other bad news is that I was really sick.  The flu?   I was coughing my head off and for two days I had a fever of 100.  I also felt very tired and had no appetite.  I just thought I had a bad cold, so although I canceled my Sunday sing (it was at 9 and I had not been able to sleep because I was coughing so much) I went to stay with my partner.  She wanted me there.  I stayed Sunday and Monday and then went home, and Tuesday morning the aide called me to say that she had called 911 because my partner was having trouble breathing.  She was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with the flu.  They gave her Tamiflu and iv fluids (they sent her home after 48 hours because by that point she no longer had a fever). I called my doctor, who said that because I had waited four days, Tamiflu would not do any good, and that whatever it was would pass out of my system. It has now been two weeks and I am able to sing and my cough has finally tapered off.  I have not tried to sing "Tanti Affettti" again.  I sang it fabulously at my lesson two weeks ago and at home the next day, and it was the following day that I got sick.  I had a lesson Tuesday and sang a few light pieces, "Had I Jubal's Lyre" (without having to take extra breaths!!) and the "Drinking Song".  My main concern is having enough stamina but the first runthrough rehearsal isn't until May 8, so I am hoping to have my strength back.  I had lost five pounds but am now eating normally, so I will probably put it back, which is OK.  I need that few extra inches around the waist to sing.  And the good news is that if I did have the flu I can't get it again (my partner and I both had gotten flu shots but apparently that hadn't helped) so I am hoping to be healthy for both recitals.

A Dream Achieved (2018)

This past Good Friday I sang a two page solo "Recordare" in the middle of the "Rex Tremendae" section of Schumann's Requiem.  It was perfect for my voice and the choir director was happy with it.  All I have ever sung on Good Friday in the past (Good Friday is the church's most high profile service, with an orchestra) is the alto line in a solo quartet.  And (totally by accident) this was the only solo of the evening.

The night before I had sung "Qui Sedes al Dexteram Patris" from Vivaldi's Gloria 588.

I got compliments on both from people who would rarely even give me the time of day before.

I need to keep up that momentum and build on that, such as it is.

Next challenge: Rossini's "Tanti Affetti".  If it is in decent shape by next week I will include it in my May recital program, otherwise not.