FL AL IL - not just L in common

Okay, let me go ahead and begin by stating that this is not the type of show I would normally attend during past Savannah VOICE Festivals.
My little bit of money goes toward those events that I highly prize... and recitals by student artists are simply not in my pocketbook.
Bear in mind, these are not the same type of shows as the "Master In Voice", in which Sherrill Milnes and Maria Zouves would be there to provide tips not only to those singing on the stage, but also to the singers in the sudience.
I very much enjoyed those, and they were always free to all who cared to come.
However, this year is different in quite a few ways.
First, and perhaps most importantly, all eleven of the events in the Stay-At-Home Season VIII are free, gratis, costing bupkis.
As a retiree, that puts the shows right at my fingertips!
Second, all eleven of the 'episodes' of this festival are available online on websites that are free to use.
Again, as someone on a definite budget, that's an ideal situation.
Plus, there are no parking hassles, as there are at downtown locales.
Third, all eleven of these events may be viewed twice, once at the scheduled 7 PM time, then again the next day at 11 AM, as a matinee.
Trust me, I have been at both screenings for every show thus far.
This has been a bit of heaven on Earth for me!
I've shared the events, too, via emails, on facebook, even here on my blog.
My Aunt Linda (Tallahassee, FL) and my British friend Andrew and his wife (Richmond, VA) eagerly anticipated this festival alongside me, so to speak, and have enjoyed the diversity of the music and episodes.
How good to know I'm not alone here at these shows, even in my empty home.
i thank You, God.

So... on with "Shooting Stars", introducing us to three rising talents!
(Get the little joke? Opera is definitely not dry and boring!)

Jean Carlos Rodriguez sang a trio of tunes about "Amor" at a friend's home in Florida.
The young baritone's program consisted of Torroba's "¡Ay mi morena, morena clara!", Tosti's "Non t'amo più", and Wagner's "O du, mein holder Abendstern".
How ambitious - and rightly so!
Those allowed him to showcase his skill with Spanish, Italian, and German pieces, proving he could switch languages with ease.

"Wanderlust" was the unifying theme in Kathleen Buccleugh's recital, set at a church in Alabama.
(She has also appeared in two episodes of svf-8, #FairyTales Tonight! and Death, By Aria.)
Her languages of choice were French, German, and Italian.
My favorite was her performance of "O mio babbino caro", from the one comedic Puccini I've seen - twice!
Such good memories of that farce and my days of volunteering at my beloved Lucas Theatre!

Tiana Sorenson titled her numbers as "The unRecital" - perhaps because it was at a friend's house in Illinois and not a concert venue?
What a sweet sense of humor!
She performed her trio in birdsong ("Le Rossignol et la Rose"), in Italian ("Perduta ho la pace"), and in German ("Erlkönig").
About that time, I realized the artists must have been tasked with having songs in different languages.
I guess I missed that in the intro!

So, this was an evening of diversity in opera, not only of the songs presented, but also in the ethnicity of the singers themselves!
Then, at the end, there was Maria Zouves, thanking the sponsors for funding the shows and artists, thanking us for inviting the singers into our homes and listening -
she even raised a toast to us!
Aw, shucks...
it was truly my pleasure to be here.



Thank YOU for continuing to offer this music of the world to the people in this seaport...
and to people all over the world, through the magic of the internet.
See you on Tuesday for episode 8 of svf-8!
(smile!)