1 post from May 2008

I was honored to be in the chorus of "Los Gavilanos" at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center last night.  I witnessed an amazing ensemble of talent brought together for one performance of an art form that, for all things considered, is dead here in America.  It is labeled a Zarzuela and I can only define it as a Spanish Opera. 

What I do love about it is that it is very positive.  No one ever dies, and it always has a happy ending.  While it might be trite, simple and might seem to be irrelevant, the music and lyrics are amazing.  The company brought in the two leads, Raphael and Ilyia who had voices that made me cringe with envy.  They both have traveled the world singing and have CDs and live a very good life doing what they life.

Of course there were other incredible talents as well, Noemi as the ingénue, Anna and my partner Rosemary as the sisters, Tara as the friend, Renee, Roberto, and of course the spectacular Jorge as the town leaders.  These were all extremely memorable performances.  Noemi has a voice that will move your heart in ways that could never be understood. 

The most interesting story comes from the Tenor of this story.  A contract went out a year ago for this performance to a professional out of Mexico; Leonardo.  Well, when he showed up he was a little unprepared which due to the extremely condensed rehearsal process really unnerved some of us.  Three days before the performance the producers of the show decided to replace him with a Humberto which we were hoping was going to happen because you haven't heard a tenor until you have heard Humberto sing.  He took this role he learned in three days and turned it into the most spectacular display of emotion and music of I have witnessed from back stage.  Humberto literally brought tears to my eyes during a scene when he is pleading with Noemi to elope and run away with him to escape her being sold to a loveless marriage.  It was an experience and a half for me.  I was in the chorus, a narrator and a featured dancer but still very minor, and it was totally worth it.

Prior to this performance I was honored to be a part of a cabaret at Maestro's also at TBPAC.  It was basically a fundraiser and a replacement show for Gigi which could not be done because it became too expensive for the company.  So they did an afternoon lunch for their season ticket holders.  They called it "April in Paris" and it was a set of songs with French origination.  A couple of numbers in French and Spanish but the rest were in English from Les Miz and Phantom and of course Gigi.  It was fun, but unfortunately I was the weak link in the ensemble. 

I don't know what it is.  I can jump out of a plane, be stuck in a war zone, lead a team of people through an extremely difficult project, be completely naked on stage, but for some reason I can not gain any confidence in singing solo in front of  an audience.  When I sing at home, I swear to you, it sounds good and sometimes really good.  I just have this inferiority complex about my singing and I cannot seem to get rid of it.  I know if I can just relax it would sound just as good as anyone in that ensemble, with the exception of Humberto, and well, Jill.  I am not exaggerating I swear.  I know how I gained confidence in my acting, I did a lot of it.  Unfortunately, you have to be good to be in a musical or a cabaret but to get good I have to perform more and be prepared to fail.  Who is going to hire someone that needs the experience?  And Karaoke…forget about it.  I could sing with a piano no problem, but tracks on a karaoke machine throw me.  Does anyone have any ideas?

I think that should do it for this episode.  Remember to tell your friends and love ones that you love them.  It will mean a lot to them and you, because life is short.  Don't let the obstacles of life stop you from what you want to do.

Love, Life, Happiness and Success!!

-Brad

“Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.” - Stephen Covey