vol. 22: on the road again
It’s funny how sometimes one needs to travel to return to themselves. The mood that comes over me when I’m in a new place, soaking in new sites and experiences, brings a different colour to my inner being.
I’m currently writing from Kitchener, Ontario, where I’m spending a couple of days singing the soprano solos in James Whitbourn’s Annelies with the Grand Philharmonic Choir and some fantastic chamber soloists. They’re putting me up in the Green Gables Inn - a beautiful old guest house that resembles the famous one in PEI. Each room is named after a character in Montgomery’s famous book (I’m staying in the Gilbert room). I’ve gotten to know my lovely hosts who make me steel cut oatmeal and fruit salad for slow breakfasts.
I’ve been very lucky with my travels for singing over the years. I’ve stayed with wonderful people in home stays in France, Switzerland, Germany, Ohio, Nova Scotia, and Stratford, Ontario, among other places.
The solitary nature of a career as a singer can be wearing as time goes on. But to me, there’s nothing better than the first day or evening in a new place. I love aimlessly wandering different streets and soaking up local culture, be it in Ulm, Germany, Prangins, Switzerland or Kitchener, Ontario.
The piece we’re singing this evening isn’t light, particularly in the face of recent events. It explores the suffering of war through the ignorantly optimistic, resilient eyes of a child. I’m hoping my performance can provide audiences with a moment to collectively reflect and connect with the shared humanity and suffering of all beings. Here goes.
(A little snippet from an early read-thru of Annelies you can access by clicking the picture.)