MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Glad tidings of great joy to you!
Holiday hugs from Gayla and Aria

Living In the Moment

When you sing or act or entertain in some other way as part/all of your professional life, it's easy to think "just another gig." I've had the amazing privilege of singing from some of the major concert stages in NYC. Tomorrow will be the--I don't know, tenth maybe?--time I've sung in Carnegie Hall, and this time with fewer singers than usual.

The extra performance weight on us as individuals is exciting. The soloists, all of them, headed up by Dawn Upshaw, are each fantastic and hearing them sing and watching them act is exciting. The conductor, Robert Spano, is sooooo skilled and musical and clear, and beyond that, is kind and affirming and respectful and collegial, not just to the instrumentalists, not just to the soloists, but also to each member of the 18-voice women's choir. And that's exciting. (Click here to see the Carnegie page on the concert.)

And when the music's good--and tomorrow's music is more than that--and everything's clicking, the rehearsal periods are also times of complete and consciously shared joy. It's the reason many of us began pursuing music professionally in the first place.

But at today's dress rehearsal, I tried to take one extra step in "just another rehearsal"--I tried to breathe deeply, and look around at where I was. Yes, I've sung there before. But I never ever ever want to take for granted that I'm singing on the stage of Carnegie Hall.  I know there are extremely talented musicians across the country who smile and think of singing there as a distant dream that isn't even on the horizon of what they consider Possible Reality in their lives. And here I am, doing it. Amazing. It's beyond privileged. It's something I feel the deepest gratitude about.

For those of you who may read this and wonder how it feels to sing at Carnegie Hall...it feels incredibly special. Know that I'm trying to appreciate it for your sake as well as for mine.

And tomorrow (Sunday Dec. 7) at 2:00 (well, probably 2:05), take a deep breath and walk with me out onto that stage from wherever you're sitting. It's magical.

Happy December

Thanksgiving's come and gone (although the turkey remains...), and now we're into December. This week's my busiest of the month. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night's performance at Square One with Frank singing with me! And then this weekend at Carnegie, with Dawn Upshaw! And Robert Spano conducting! and the St. Luke's Orchestra playing!  Pretty spectacular.

Maybe some Christmas caroling with Cynthia Weinrich's group, What the Dickens!, but pickings look slim this year. And the good news in that is that I'll actually have 2 fairly free weeks to enjoy the season!!!  It's been many years since I was this uncluttered during December and, effects on my budget aside, I'm thrilled.

Have a wonderful month, whatever holiday you're celebrating.