There's No Place Like Home!

Well, I've been home about a week and settling back into the routine of classes and adjusting to the 6-hour time difference. I will be adding additional pages about my experiences.

 

Last Night

The time has gone by quickly. Tonight is my last night in Florence and the last night singing with the St. Mark's Opera Company.  Fantastico esperienza!  Ciao Firenze.

Still Singing!

I've continued to be asked to sing during the opera performances. This recording, again from a cell phone, is from January 21:
https://youtu.be/oo1raXH2y_E

Daily Life in Florence

I am staying in student housing provided by the Florence University of the Arts (FUA). I have a 2 1/2 Italian class mid-day. I work nights with the opera company, both in preparations and clean-up afterwards and more recently, with some singing. My apartment is on the 4th floor (no elevator!) on the side of the Arno opposite the Duomo.  I share it with 5 others, but I have my own bedroom and bathroom. My Italian class is located near the FUA Student Life Office near the Santa Croce Church.  For more photos, including my apartment, see my blog page My Life in Florence.

Santa Croce

 

More Singing!

I was asked to sing again last night and will also perform tomorrow night, the 21st.
This has been a wonderful experience!

Performance Recording

The link to my performance, recorded from a cell phone, can be found at

https://youtu.be/M8-k9ruIHnU

January 16, 2016

 

I was honored to perform last night at St. Mark's English Church in the same company as these wonderful artists:

Franco Rossi (baritone);  Claudia Ciabattini (soprano); Franz Moser (piano)

Caio!

Singing tonight.  Wish me luck!

Singing in Florence!

Exciting news!!  I've been asked to sing at one of the performances at St. Mark's - this Saturday, January 16. I will be singing Stizzoso mio stizzoso, an aria from La Serva Padrona by Giovanni Pergolesi.

St. Mark's English Church

For this internship, I am working at St. Mark's English Church in Florence, Italy. At Salem College, we are required to do an internship and I'm doing mine during our Jan term - the month of January. Even though I was not required to do a internship in music, I wanted to get something in that field because music is my major. Kate, a friend of mine in the music department, had done a similar internship. She gave me the information about the organization called Performing Arts Abroad which is associated with Florence University of the Arts.  I am also taking an Italian class as part of my internship.

St. Mark's is unique and has been hosting opera in the church for 11 years. Saint Mark's is part of an old Medici Palace that was owned by Machiavelli and has been renovated in a neo-renaissance style with beautiful icons. The church is also an important venue for Firenze Lirica, a well-established Florentine society for the promotion of operatic performance and study. 

important venue for Firenze Lirica, a well-established Florentine society for the promotion of operatic performance and study. - See more at: http://stmarksitaly.com/music-arts/music-in-florence/#sthash.yl8NhZZt.dpuf

mportant venue for Firenze Lirica, a well-established Florentine society for the promotion of operatic performance and study - See more at: http://stmarksitaly.com/music-arts/music-in-florence/#sthash.yl8NhZZt.dpuf

This January, the opera program is Love Duets from famous operas.  I am assisting with preparations before the performances and hosting activities during the event.

St Mark’s Cultural Association was founded in early 2013 as a platform where music, words and art would create lasting relationships across cultures and communities in Florence and beyond. - See more at: http://stmarksitaly.com/music-arts/cultural-association/#sthash.2ZjPMAOQ.dpuf

St Mark’s Cultural Association was founded in early 2013 as a platform where music, words and art would create lasting relationships across cultures and communities in Florence and beyond. - See more at: http://stmarksitaly.com/music-arts/cultural-association/#sthash.2ZjPMAOQ.dpuf