HAPPY FORTH OF JULY

Dear Readers,

It has been a busy week since my last post.

Lots of things in the works, however - due to the nature of such business - better not to let the cat out of the bag too soon. Also, it is some what tantalizing to tease you readers with the promise of good news to come - KEEP READING ;-)

In the meantime, a brief recapitulation of the last week:
Life here in Pittsburgh has hit a stride, and I've founded my routine in economy and productivity. I make every attempt to advance my studies, career, my knowledge and relationships each day. I also am finding time to enjoy being alive. Please make no mistake, this is my business: my job. My job happens to be a 24/7 commitment to music that includes rehearsals, practice and study. Ok, I'll hop off my soap box, but please remember: this is no more a hobby than a surgeon operating on a patient. (I imagine that I am preaching to the choir)...

The Point (photo courtesy of Yahoo Images)

On my day off last week I spent a fantastic day with the Prevoznak family. Steve was kind enough to let me tag along to his weekly run to the strip district. He offered me a guided tour of the markets and we took a leisurely walk to the point. Being a New Yorker, the sites and smells of the markets were very familiar: italian delis, fish markets, asian markets, fresh donuts, fresh coffees. The strip is an up and coming, formerly industrial area - it has a meat packing district, Brooklyn navy yard, L.I.C. feel, but some how, a little more pedestrian and approachable. I wouldn't give up Battery Park for the point, but it comes a pretty close second for charming city waterfront strolls.

I was surprised by the lack of people out on a Saturday morning - but by noon things had really picked up. I made sure to have a doughnut from Peace Love and Little Donuts and passed by the original Primanti Bros (though I had eaten my first Primanti's pastrami sandwich last Friday in Oakland). After the strip we returned home for a barbeque with Steve's brother and niece, who were passing through on their way from Jersey to Michigan. We spent the evening eating, drinking and enjoying each other's company. It has really been a treat to be here with the Prevoznak family and their adorable dogs Marlin and Cooper.

I also have to give a shout out to Margo Van Hoy and her band Trapper's Harp. Margo invited me to a zine/cd release party for Drag Me Home. It was a cool night, I really dug the concept and several of the bands, but unfortunately I had to leave early because I was dead tired after a long day of rehearsals.

We now, here at OTP, have our full compliment of participants and singers. I've been entrusted with the responsibility of escorting Xiaozhong "Benoit" Wang, a Chinese baritone via - Belgium, to and from rehearsals. It's been a pleasure, honestly, to meet and make friends with this fine gentleman.

Monday was a fun day because we had, what was formerly known as "Death by Aria," a "Sing in." I sang Una Furtiva Lagrima and got to hear all of the other participants sing.

I was asked to sing the Duke in the Rigoletto Quartette on the tribute Mildred Miller concert. I was also asked to add myself to the Weibe Weibe Weibe dance scene in Merry Widow. My libretto for the Capitol City opera is on its way. Things are getting pretty busy - our rehearsals are going into the late evening. Tonight, for example, we sang and danced till 11.

In summary: lots of Widow all day!
We open on the 11th!

MORE SOON

Thanks for reading
Joe

EDIT: I didn't tell you about the fabulous WELCOME picnic we had here, courtesy of OTP and Johnathan Eaton.