Fascinating contrast ....breathers at different stages.......

Greetings ! On Easter Monday I held a breathing workshop for some gifted young singers in the Larsson/Eliasson studio in Stockholm - and what a treat that was ! All had been recommended to me as interested in finding out the advantages of having a secure breathing technique, BEFORE they embark on concentrated vocal studies. As Anna Larsson, the distinguished contralto, and her equally illustrious tenor husband, Goran Eliasson (in whose studio we were working ) both use the Simsannabim routine so brilliantly, it seemed appropriate to be there! Maybe it's the studio that has some mystic fluence over the participants, because everyone found new sensations in their phonation and produced wonderful voices - miraculous ...! Here's to the next time....congratulations all round.... Tonight I attended the final performance of the Mats Ek directed "Orphee" at Kungliga Operan, Stockholm - with the aforementioned Anna Larsson in the title role, (played as remarkably opposite to her usual glamourous roles) - a tour de force if ever there was one...Her whole portrayal of the character, coupled with that unique voice - Oh, lucky Gluck and Berlioz - there have been few singers with so perfect a voice range for this part, and I have never heard the "J'ai perdu"/"Che Faro" sung with such pathos - there couldn't have been a dry eye in the house......Annas' Euridice was the lovely Lisa Larsson - (no relation), beautiful in every way, and with a bell like quality in the voice - a perfect match. Jeanette Bjorling played the cheeky Amor as a bandage swathed cherub, Egytian mummy style - aided by some nimble dancers who transported her about the stage - very cute !! After such a stimulating experience I will sleep well tonight .....k..p b.......g ....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz