I’ve had a wonderful time living and working in Zurich. Immersing myself in Swiss culture has been a bigger challenge than I would have expected, but now I gorge on cheese an chocolate with the best of them. (Actually, the easiest thing to adapt to here!) I’ve seen dozens of operas; coached arias, scenes, and productions; learned some challenging repertoire on my own both for my auditions and just plain out of interest; and my German (along with a half-dozen other languages) has improved a lot. My international and local colleagues and friends have made this stint even more worthwhile. I am, actually, quite sad to leave.

So here’s the current plan:

13 June – 20 July: Work on the musical Die Schwarzen Brüder in Walenstadt (commuting from Zurich)

21 July – 7 Aug: Visit California

8 Aug – 11 Aug: Pack up and move to Hannover.

12 Aug: Start coaching at Hannover State Opera!

Enjoying an unexpected weekend off in Bern, Basel, and Zürich! If only the weather weren’t so terrible! What happened to summer?about 24 hours ago via TweetDeck from Bern, Bern

Went for a long bike trip through the woods and around Lake Zurich.6. Juni 2010 15:57:51 MESZ via Echofon from here

Long train of horse-drawn buggies during rush hour causes epic traffic jam! http://tweetphoto.com/253767623. Juni 2010 19:07:26 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

Going to PamAnn tonight! Within the opera house complex no less!!! http://tweetphoto.com/253402283. Juni 2010 13:59:47 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

@alexchoi wait, really?30. Mai 2010 22:38:13 MESZ via Echofon from Bern, Bern in reply to alexchoi

Badminton in Bern. Bad or badass?29. Mai 2010 12:59:20 MESZ via Echofon from Bern, Bern

Carmen! http://tweetphoto.com/2436825828. Mai 2010 19:32:28 MESZ via Echofon

@infomofo Are there iPad 3G/64s in NYC in stock?27. Mai 2010 08:37:55 MESZ via web in reply to infomofo

Off to Basel to hang with Vince this evening.25. Mai 2010 15:53:22 MESZ via Echofon from here

Loving hiking and swimming in Maggia valley, Ticino!23. Mai 2010 18:11:57 MESZ via Echofon from here

@abarkett ice cream great, line not. But sometimes you get lucky!23. Mai 2010 18:08:05 MESZ via Echofon from here in reply to abarkett

Anyone used prepaid 3G in the US? Does it exist? Will it work on an unlocked Swiss iPhone?18. Mai 2010 23:29:06 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

Can’t decide: MyWi on iPhone or 3G iPad?18. Mai 2010 23:27:44 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

@infomofo “Edgar Allan Poe.” as it was, is, and shall be.18. Mai 2010 23:25:36 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich in reply to infomofo

@alyssathepissa if you want a challenge go for russian. I’ve gotten a start on it myself this year18. Mai 2010 23:22:58 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich in reply to alyssathepissa

Eugene Onegin! http://twitpic.com/1n7cx712. Mai 2010 18:57:52 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

@infomofo what’s cydia doing for you?11. Mai 2010 08:37:27 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich in reply to infomofo

Thomas Hampson Liederabend. American songs!!!10. Mai 2010 20:05:50 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

@infomofo speaking of schrecklich, do you have any idea about the 3G iPad– swapping out the microSIM? Is anyone selling them in the US?10. Mai 2010 08:59:03 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich in reply to infomofo

Watching premere of Schreker’s “Der Ferne Klang.” Lots of studio colleagues. Toi, toi, toi!!! http://twitpic.com/1mgl6u9. Mai 2010 18:47:02 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

@alyssathepissa @alexchoi I’ll be going to Vegas for the first time this summer. Let me know what’s worthwile.9. Mai 2010 18:44:48 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich in reply to alyssathepissa

@alexchoi for sure. Maybe both.9. Mai 2010 15:43:26 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich in reply to alexchoi

Alex cooked a delicious dinner of mushroom risotto, asparagus, and plum chicken. Mmm9. Mai 2010 15:41:53 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

@alexchoi heaven6. Mai 2010 08:26:13 MESZ via web in reply to alexchoi

Agnieszka sang her solo at the beginning of Act 3 truly exquisitely.5. Mai 2010 22:15:55 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

Luisa Miller is beautifully sung, but the music is usually
uninteresting unfortunately. Act 2 definitely better than Act 1.5. Mai 2010 21:16:39 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

@infomofo Wow Will! Cool!!! Where’d you move to?5. Mai 2010 19:02:50 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich in reply to infomofo

Watching Verdi’s Luisa Miller http://twitpic.com/1laqml5. Mai 2010 19:01:21 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

@infomofo it’s not yet available here. 3G/64gb probably when it is…4. Mai 2010 18:18:47 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich in reply to infomofo

Converting my sheet music to MusicReader format. Hoping the iPad version will be great. Laptop works fine on a grand piano(flat music stand)4. Mai 2010 09:29:09 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

Planning a trip to CA– July 22nd to Aug 7th2. Mai 2010 15:42:42 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

A hot spring day in Zurich, 26C/79F! Going to the lake after coachings this afternoon.29. April 2010 11:01:58 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

Starting on “Das Rheingold” as well.28. April 2010 16:45:16 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

Starting to learn Rossini’s “L’italiana in Algeri”26. April 2010 23:26:06 MESZ via Echofon from Zürich, Zürich

just finished playing a great board game, wallenstein, with timo, george, and camille25. April 2010 23:18:46 MESZ via web

Enjoying the lake at Tiefenbrunnen with opera pals.25. April 2010 18:27:46 MESZ via Echofon

Alex and I went for dinner and Jass at Rory and Ralf’s. Fun!23. April 2010 23:47:22 MESZ via Echofon

So I got a job coaching at the Hannover State Opera. Yay. I start on August. Sad goodbye to Switzerland.23. April 2010 21:38:25 MESZ via Echofon

@infomofo I never saw any ashy goodness. Either not so much in this area or so far up it’s not visible.23. April 2010 21:35:26 MESZ via Echofon in reply to infomofo

@infomofo where in Europe are you going? You’re welcome to stay with me in Switzerland!9:35 AM Apr 23rd via Echofon in reply to infomofo

One Blaubart performance down!9:33 AM Apr 23rd via Echofon

Spring… A great time to enjoy Lake Zurich!7:09 PM Apr 21st via Echofon

I gave a very solid audition in Bern. Let’s hope I get the job!3:31 PM Apr 20th via Echofon

Off to play and sing my heart out auditioning at the opera house in Bern!12:12 PM Apr 20th via Echofon

@alexchoi you alex!10:10 PM Apr 18th via web in reply to alexchoi

I have an important audition in Bern on Tuesday. My mind is
abuzz.10:07 PM Apr 18th via web

Starting to learn the exciting opening to Otello!10:57 PM Apr 16th via Echofon

Timo’s coming up from Milan tonight. Maybe we can fit a board game in if we really try.9:54 PM Apr 12th via Echofon

Falstaff, Falstaff, Falstaff, Carmen quintet, Khatchaturian. Rinse. Repeat. 8:46 AM Apr 12th via Echofon

@alyssathepissa yay you!8:45 AM Apr 12th via Echofon in reply to alyssathepissa

Finished practicing Falstaff for the evening.9:30 PM Apr 11th via Echofon

Wow, a modern staging of “The Magic Flute” that made sense for the most part. Pretty impressive!5:29 PM Apr 11th via Echofon

The whole “Magic Flute” at 2! http://twitpic.com/1eu4k01:15 PM Apr 11th via Echofon

Feiering George’s b’day at Acapulco11:19 PM Apr 10th via Echofon

Round two Meistersinger done http://twitpic.com/1emld38:26 PM Apr 10th via Echofon

Enjoying the first cherry blossoms on Lake Zurich2:59 PM Apr 10th via Echofon

Still Working on Falstaff Act 1, Scene 2. So many words to learn and spit out!10:34 PM Apr 7th via Echofon

I saw Elektra last night and went home totally confused. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoyed it. But it wasn’t because of beauty. I wasn’t bored for a minute, but musically there wasn’t anything particularly enjoyable about it. But I can’t say I disliked it either. It struck me as very much like a movie score. But because it’s an opera, it’s sung. But that didn’t add (or detract) much or anything from the piece. As I said I’m confused. Usually, when I like a piece, I can’t wait to sit down with the score or start playing the reduction at the piano. I can’t say that at all for Elektra. At this point I have no desire to ever learn it or conduct it. But I would certainly go see it again. It’s all about revenge. Dark. Murdering family members. Insanity. Death. Greek tragedy. But captivating. Confused? Confusing? Yes. But yes, I’ll go see it again.

Elektra by arutgers03

As I often say, I saw this opera for the first time tonight. Originally I had rehearsal until 9, but somehow everything got pushed early enough that I got a seat at the last moment. What a gift! It was a marvelous production of a delightful show. I can’t believe I almost missed it entirely. I’m including two clips of fun moments.

Don Pasquale by arutgers03

Don Pasquale by arutgers03

Eugene Onegin

Last night I saw Eugene Onegin for the first time. Wow. What a fantastic piece. I knew it a bit already, having coached some scenes and having listened to a recording a few times. But it is wonderful to see it performed. It is easily one of my favorite operas. I will certainly see every performance of it I can. Take a listen to the clips of opening and closing of the entire work to get a little feel for the haunting beauty of the work.

What is so satisfying about the piece is that there isn’t a weak moment. The gorgeous music powerfully drives from one emotion to the next. In this particular performance, I could nitpick about coordination problems between stage and orchestra, late entrances, and the stage hand follies, but overall it was solid and effective. Good, if not always loud singing, but again, effective singing. The dancing of black crow added to the emotional weight, calling repeatedly back to the heavy hand of fate. An awesome, totally moving and engaging opera!

Ernani, originally uploaded by arutgers03.

Tonight I saw Ernani, a Verdi opera brought back from last season five seasons ago (Thanks for the correction, Kai!) to

begin the new season at Zurich Opera. There was certainly some lovely

singing; I found Don Carlos’ aria in the Third Act especially pleasing.

However, the story is pretty boring.

It didn’t help that the acting was too wooden along with very traditional

staging/set/costumes. It was like a museum piece dusted off for show

for historical interest. Pretty uninspired.

Today I went on a fun bike ride with my buddy Cyril. We climbed
through the hills above Lake Zurich, arriving at Pfannenstiel, a
lookout where we had lunch. We continued to Rapperswil and across the
dam to the south side of the lake to Pfäffikon, where we took the
train back. All in all, 5.5 hours filled with a great variety of
scenery and difficulty. My legs are going to be so sore tomorrow!

Sächsilüüte. Read all about it. It’s a unique holiday. My sister told
me that the LA Times described it as burning a snowman. Although it
looks like that, "Dä Böögg" is more like the boogey man. It is a very
crowded event. I was glad the balcony of the opera house was open (the
people density was a little more manageable). What’s amazing is that
so many people can totally trash the streets and by the next day (or
maybe within hours) there’s barely a trace of the event. Organized.
Clean. Efficient. Zürich.