Decided to have breakfast in res this morning, so I only got up at nine ish. Sent some emails. Didn't feel very happy still - a point against a night's sleep making things better (I suppose I didn't sleep very well).
I then booted it to the chapel for the first lecture of the day - Schubert's songs in Biedermaier culture. Fascinating and informative. I shall look at Schubert's Lieder in an entirely different light now. The prof talked a lot about the Austrian and European politics of the time and how they influenced the split between public and private life in such a way that art and culture were seen as the ultimate reprieve (apart from death) from the deathly boring public life that people had to endure because of government censorship and repression (well-intentioned repression, perhaps, but repression nonetheless). It was a shift from Romanticism in that Romanticism sought the unattainable optimistically, believing that it could potentially be attained (contradiction, I know) in the mortal life. Biedermaier culture, thanks in large part to the repression of the state, considered it to be truly unattainable "this side the tomb".
Then we had a masterclass on a couple of Schubert pieces, where the information we just received was put into practice. Fascinating to watch in play. :)
I made a quick lunch then hurried over to the concert hall for a concert consisting mainly of Lee Hoiby's work, an American composer only recently departed with a true talent for lyricism in his works. The concert started a bit slowly, but really picked up with some playful pieces - including one about a horror film. Quite entertaining.
After the concert was coaching - I had a half an hour with a diction and opera coach on my Schubert piece (Auf dem Wasser zu singen) where we worked on dramatic enunciation and making the text really come alive. This is something that I've known I needed work on for months now, and never really knew how to go about it. Now I have a better idea!
I then worked with a professional soprano (one who was part of the noon hour's concert, actually) on one of my Brahms pieces, Die Mainacht. We focused in on a particularly troubling fourth, as well as bringing colour and character from my lower voice (I speak a lot lower and, possibly, more gently, than I am most comfortable singing) into my mid- and upper ranges. Frustrating at times, but ultimately satisfying.
I then made supper, and have spent the last hour or two talking with old friends online, as well as fangirling over the Halo 4 trailer. I am excited!
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