Often Opera companies and competitions require a selection of unedited video evidence of your singing. A one-take wonder you might say!
Recording a video of this style can be quite challenging. Firstly, you need to become relaxed whilst in the presence of a camera. For example, you need to consider where to look and where your imaginary audience is. This will encourage you not to stare down the lens of the camera, as this can be off-putting to the viewer.
A performer in the recording studio needs to have a great mindset that can focus on aiming to sing with your best possible technique on that day, whilst still telling the story of the text. We are all human and mistakes will occur, therefore you have to learn to forgive yourself quickly. Concentrate on recording a full take of your aria/song. Then at the end of the recording session, you can be critical so that you choose videos that provided the best results.
However, this recording mindset is similar to a Competition mindset, where you have to try your best and not give up. If you make a mistake… you can’t just walk offstage or stop the performance and request to restart. You have to power on, and draw the audience and the panel into your performance and hope that they enjoy it.
This week I’d like to share with you a video of my interpretation of “Piangerò la sorte mia”, from Handel’s Opera “Guilio Cesare”. This video was recorded live during a competition, that I entered last year and I do hope that you enjoy it too 😊
Thank you so much for this, Charlotte. Hope all is well.
Hi John, I am glad you enjoyed the video! I loved your Supermarket Rules in your blog this week. It really had me tickled.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
Thank you. 😁
Beautiful performance Charlotte and George, I loved it! 👏👏👏
Thank you Gilly! George played so beautifully in this performance and as always supports me on and off stage.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
What a beautiful, clear, expressive voice! The video is lovely. Thank you so much, Charlotte!
Thank you for your kind and sweet words Lavinia! What process are you at with your farm at the moment? We haven’t had much snow or frost here this year. Will that affect you?
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
We are at the point now of needing to start seeds under grow lights, which for us will be peppers, tomatoes and eggplant, which need a leg up on the season. Other things I can wait and sow directly, and will be fine there. I am behind on the clean up of old garden beds, as I have had a bad respiratory infection since the end of January. It is getting better, finally, and I am feeling a bit more chipper. The neighbors have a good pile of alpaca manure and bedding I need to go over and get with the wheelbarrow.
Among other projects are finding places for some young plum tree starts I had in pots all last summer, and pruning my test block of pinot noir grapes. Rick has already finished pruning the main pinot vineyard.
If I look around at all the things needing doing, I might panic. 🙂 I take it a day at a time, and see what I can do that day that makes the most sense. Mother Nature can and sometimes does throw us a curve ball like snow in April, late frosts or hail storms. Our winter has been unusual, and that affects vines, blueberry bushes and fruit trees. If the winter is mild, trees will flower earlier than normal. That will probably happen this year if the trend continues. Unfortunately, we generally get at least one killing frost or snow after that. We are in the Cascade foothills on the Willamette Valley side at about 800 feet elevation, so our winters generally tend to be much milder, but the farm sits in a geologic bowl which tends to pond cold air. Every year is different weather-wise, and we have to roll with the punches.
Hope you’ve fully recovered Lavinia after your infection. Good luck with this years planting.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Bravo! A superb performance. “Piangerò la sorte mia” is a beautiful piece. No need to cry over that performance. You are destined for greatness. Your dress is gorgeous, you look stunning in it. The colors on stage create a very pleasing composition.
Hello Timothy, you words are so touching and I am so grateful for your support. I love this particular dress as I think the cascading print of the flowers has energy and movement. I hope to share more videos and clips with you soon.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
Enchanting with the subtle expressiveness.
Dear Tom, I am so pleased to read that you found my expression subtle. It is a goal that I work on regularly. I aim to tell the story honestly and let the audience join me.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
Bravo, superbe !Congratulations to you and George !!! Are you agree I use it to do vidéo art ? All the best for you my friends !!!
Hello Pascal, of course you can use this to inspire you to create some video art! If the audio quality is not clear enough let me know and I will try to find an alternative.
Best Wishes and Good Luck,
Charlotte
Thanks. In fact, I have try to download and I only have the vidéo, not audio. If you can sent me by “we transfer” , it’s free and very easy to use ….
I’m home tomorrow so I’ll try to organise the transfer for you. 🙋🏼♀️
Such a beautiful performance, Charlotte: a very moving interpretation. You look fabulous, too – where did you get your dress from?
Dear Liz, I am over the moon that you enjoyed my performance. The dress is from Ted baker, possibly a few seasons ago. They do exquisite bright-coloured dresses which are playful.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
It’s a beautiful dress and you look stunning, Charlotte.
A beautiful performance 🙂 Bravo.
Thank you Trent, and the little smiley face seems very apt after I have enjoyed reading your Weekly Smile Updates. Do you play your synthesizer in public or just for your own creative pleasure ?
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
Yes, “king” of the weekly smiles… For the most part I play for my own creative pleasure. On a rare occasion I do play out with others, but more often I make recordings, and better ones than you listen to today 😉 Years ago I did a lot of contemporary “classical” composition for traditional instruments, and a near term goal is re-scoring/arranging some of them for the synthesizer. If I can get some high quality recordings, I may try to push it farther than just “for my own creative pleasure”…
Go for it Trent, getting good quality recordings at reasonable cost is the trick.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Brilliant performance from you both Charlotte and George.
Love the dress too .xx
Dear Nana, thanks for your sweet comment. It is always fun performing alongside George and I am lucky to be able to share the stage with him.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
Brava, beautiful songbird!
Thank you for always inspiring kindness and Joy, Annette! I hope that you have a wonderful week! What are you grateful for this week?
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
I am grateful for writing more for my new book! I do so enjoy writing! <3
Good morning hope you will fine
Hello Amritpal, I am very well thank you. I am always happy when I blog as my friends on here are so supportive and have fascinating stories also to tell! How are you?
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
I was so rushed for time yesterday, I was unable to watch your video – my apologies.
So here I am, in awe as always after hearing you sing.. I know you will always be honing your craft, but frankly I have no idea what you could do to improve!!
Thank you for taking the time this morning to watch my video. I am so grateful! You are so generous and kind and know me very well! You remind me to know my worth and enjoy each moment singing.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
I don’t actually think I do that for you. I believe your parents instilled that part of your character. They should be highly commended for their superb parenting skills.
Beautiful, Charlotte. I’m so happy we connected. Your voice is incredible.
Thank you Jill for your lovely message 😊. John is one of my first connections on here and it was super meeting you through my friend.
Best wishes
Charlotte
John was one of my first WP connections too, Charlotte. He’s a wonderful person. 🙂
A wonderful performance! So nice to see you and George work together.
My “one-song musical,” Call of a Distant Song, will be performed here a week from Sunday. Rehearsing this week.
Good luck and toi toi toi 🍀
My best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful, and so expressive!
Thank you for watching Andrea.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I feel like I’m watching a Musical as you’ve always had ‘actress’ qualities while you sing. ..and you gel together very well with George while telling a Story. The emotion in the performance combined with the piano melody works together.
Dear Eric, thank you for your sweet compliments about my acting and our collaboration as a duo. I love to tell stories and find a great deal of musical motivation from this.
There is a fun phrase in opera: Park and Bark, which refers to a singer who sings, often beautifully, but with little emotion. I always strive to not do this. There is power in stillness but there should always be a message/emotion to give.
Best Wishes,
Charlotte
I love this!!!!!!!
Thank you Resa for your explosively happy response. You are fabulous!
Best Wishes,
Charlotte