My sixth and seventh week in New York City

On the eve of the performance I sent out an email requesting the prayers and well-wishes of my family, friends, and supports. Thank you all for your responses. Here below is an excerpt of one such response that, for me, seems to poignantly capture the sentiments shared by all.

"Darnell,
As I am more in tune to the REASON than merely the reality, I say: RETURN THE BLESSING through your sharing in tonight's experience. Though others will undoubtedly be blessed during your renditions tonight, sing them for HIM. And see what happens through your yieldedness. Thank HIM (as I already know you do) with every ounce of vocality within your Spirit as you concentrate on your notes. LET HIM FLOW. And you will enjoy the best "offering" of Opera that you can imagine.
A PHI and Amen.
- Brother Baker"

His words were really powerful for me....and really capture the essence of my hearts desire....as I hope you are able to see more clearly as you review the contents of the update.

The Air I Breathe

Wow! What can I say? God has truly smiled on me. By now you all have probably seen the article in the New York Times. I must admit, I was nearly bowled over when Jorge (the Commendatore) showed me the Monday July 24^th paper at 2:45 pm at the Liederkranz. We were all assembling for our 3:00 pm farewell program debriefing and fellowship meal with Ms. Arroyo. Various friends and colleagues were congratulating me (on Friday’s performance or so I thought). When Jorge showed me the article I was bowled over with surprise and exhilaration. Until then I really had no idea. (I mean.. I did receive a one line email message from Senor Stefani our programs language teacher congratulating us on a great review in the NY Times but I figured it was probably just a quick sound-bite.) I wanted to just sit down and read it right there in the lobby but I was so thrilled - nearly to tears - I doubted my ability to maintain my composure. I immediately began to dig for my cell phone so that I could call my mother.

Songs My Mother Taught Me

Years ago, my mother advised me on the matter of setting and reaching goals. She said three things that stick with me to this day (1) “Always imagine the absolute worst thing that could happen and fix your mind, spirit, and emotions to be able to deal with that. If you have a really good imagination, it is not likely that things will ever get that bad. But just incase they do at least you will not be caught completely off guard. So prepare for the worst but expect the best. (2) The second pearl she shared is something of a first cousin to the former. She said “Sometimes it takes years to reach a goal. If the journey across the expanse of time is to take 5 years, be willing to give it 10 but work like you need to achieve it in 3. (3) The last things she said excerpted from the Scriptures. She said, “Acknowledge God in everything you do and He will direct your path.” And so…like a song that never stops singing in my head….I still carry these principles with me to this day….and….I always will.

Maestro Steven Crawford conducts the stizprobe.

I made sooooo many frustrating and potentially embarassing errors at this rehearsal. I just had a hugely difficult time hearing the orchestra and the pulse of the music while singing at full voice.







Alicia Hall Moran (Donna Anna) practices recitative with Luis Emilio Cabrera (Don Ottavio).











Peter Hakjoon Kim (Don Giovanni) struggles to stifle Eleni Calenos (Donna Elivira)











Jonathan Spuhler (Masetto) in very upscale peasant clothing.

















Jason McKinney (Don Giovanni) practices the art of seduction.












Samantha Jeffreys (Donna Elvira)


















Darnell with Samantha Jeffreys (Donna Elvira)












Darnell with Alia Waheed (Donna Anna)













Darnell with Tanying Dong (Zerlina)












Portrait of a Prima Donna
Alicia Hall Moran strikes a pose reminicent of the grace and glamore of the great Shirley Verrett.....(who just so happens to be her voice teacher....and longtime family friend.)















Peter Hakjoon Kim


















Good Friends, Great Memories
Darnell with Vashawn McIlwain (baritone from Washington DC). He and I did our first Cosi fan tutte together in Italy.










Three Mo Divas
Some of the dearest divas I know.












Donna Elivra's Lavishing Lament
Samatha Jeffreys sings of vengence on Don Giovannin for unrequited love and infedelity.
















Issac Grier as the stony Commendatore


















Issac Grier (Commendatore) as the valiant father of Donna Anna













Alia Waheed makes final preparations













Death Scene
Seong Young Moon (Don Ottavio) and Alia Waheed (Donna Anna) discover her father the Commendatore smiten by her midnight asailant Don Giovonni.









Mille Tre!
DeAndre Simmons (Leporello) schools Donna Elvira (Giovannis wife) on the Don's numerous feminine conquest......of which he has 1,003 in Spain alone!









Che Mascare Galanti
An Act One trio moment.













Leporello the Lovable Louse
The many faces of Leporello....(I mean...after all...it is a buffo role.....therefore.....buffoonery is absolutley legal and absolutley essential.)

“You’re Gonna Need It…”

When an older man tells a young lad “Here, take this…you’re going to need it one day”….make sure you pay close attention….take to heart what he says….and make sure you preserve the gift he gave you….whether it be a word of advice or something else more tangible…..chances are…..he’s right.

About 5 years ago Dr. Willis C. Patterson (Dean Emeritus at the University of Michigan -School of Music, mentor of nearly 20 years, and my first voice teacher) was reorganizing some items in his music library when he came across some old piano/vocal opera scores. Apparently these scores had been bequeathed to him by the estate of a very old friend. He had a score of Don Giovanni which was originally purchased back in 1941. He gave it to me and said, “Here, take this….you’re going to need it one day….You will make a fine Leporello.” Five years later, this would be the score that I use to learn the role of Leporello.

Much to My Surprise
Photo from article in the New York Times
Click here to read the article online

ARTS / MUSIC | July 24, 2006
Opera Review: Nurtured Young Performers in Mozart's Bad Boy Tale, 'Don Giovanni'
By VIVIEN SCHWEITZER
The production at El Museo del Barrio's Teatro Heckscher was the culmination of Prelude to Performance, a six-week training program for young singers.


Cast in Celuloid
The Friday cast of Don Giovanni take a moment after the show to capture a memory with our wonderful stage director Laura Alley.










Ole!
One the day of the performance Rod and I had a lite lunch at Chipotle one of my favorite spots for Southwestern food. There food is so fresh and the guacamole, chips and salsa can easily become an obsession.








The Grace Factor
I am reminded of the words of Dr. Charles H. Beady, former president of the Piney Woods School where I had the good privilege of serving as choral instructor for almost 3 years. He once told the students in morning assembly, “You must work like everything depends on you….and pray like everything depends on God.” Over the course of the program I developed a pretty solid reputation as being a hard worker. In my opinion, however, I did nothing arduous…nothing extraordinary. I only did what I felt necessary and sufficient to achieve my goal of learning and presenting the role. I only did as much as I could. There were many days when I went to bed wishing I would have done more and wondering if I could have gotten more out of the day. I worked like everything depended on me and I prayed like everything depended on God. Even while on stage! Yes…that is correct….between lines of recitative….amidst all of the onstage blocking...during each aria and every vocal line…after each stage exit and before each entrance…Darnell was out there petitioning, praising, and thanking God. And so…..the benefits of the Grace-factor are lost on me. The success is not my own. The success is His…in that…He was able to do a work in and through me. “Now unto HIM who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above what you can ask think or imagine….according to the power within us being active and available to Him.”

Russian Ravors
On the day of the show, my friend Mikal took me down to the Village for a haircut by his barber......his RUSSIAN barber. Of course this was a NEW experience.....but I must admit.....he was doing a most excellent job.....up until he lined me across the forehead and took my hairline back by nearly 2 inches!!....so then I just had him cut i












Brothermans Barber
This is Miikal getting his usual taper fade. And yeah....that's another brother getting done up by another Russian barber. Apparently, they have a very strong black clientel.











Urban Preppy or what? This was my "going to the opera look".....I am not quite sure what to call it...but thought I would try something completely different from my normal...dark conservative look....(lol.....got a whole lot of compliments too!!)....uh and yes....that is a Seersucker jacket....lol













Darnell with Andrea Arias (Zerlina)


















Darnell with Samantha Jeffreys (Donna Elvira)












Stumped and Trumped
Trump Tower - Columbus Circle near 59th Street. I am on my way to meet my sands Ron Jackson for lunch....just got off the train and must now figure out how to get to 71st and 3rd.....I ended up walking 8-10 blocks over to 3rd and then catching the bus uptown.







Taken for A Ride
59th Street.....I still find it difficult to understand why one would pay $35 to ride in an open horse-drawn carridge in a metropolitan city like this.









Street Windows
I was standing on 59th Street...skyscrappers and horses to my right...pedestrians and tourist all about....and then I looked to my left....and saw this picturesque view of an area of Central Park.

A Temporary Sidewalk Sensation Somewhere in the Village.












A Busy Intersection at Central Park and 110. If you look closely you will see 3 ladies on these moterized scooters. I see a GREAT deal of this type of thing here....from youth to snow crowned age....people of color in wheel chairs and scooters.








Life imitating art....or....art imitating life?












???????
Which way do I go? This week I will make a decision as whether to reside in Michigan and continue teaching at WCC, Madonna University, and Walled Lake Central High School (in addition to serving as music director at the Lansing Church of God in Christ) or to relocate to NYC and make a a career in performance my fulltime pursuit.

I pray the Lord will make my pathway clear.

Be well,


PS......
Dear Friends,

THIS IS MY FINAL POST....on 'life in New York Summer 06'

At this point... the focus of my blog site will make a transition.....as the subject matter will become more inclusive of other aspects of my life.

I will purge this current email distribution list and develop two seperate email distribution lists: one for "Professional" updates and one for "Life in General" updates.

So as not to bombard your mailbox with posting updates on the more frivolous and mundane minutia of my life,

In order to continue recieving an email about blog updates you will need to send me an email reply requesting to be on added to either one of the new distribution list. As a courtesy to you....I will NOT add your email to the list without your expressed consent.

Again, thank you for your time....your caring.... your support....prayers...and love.

Be well,

Darnell