General Election 2010. Yes - Let's breathe ...phew...! Now for a change...

Greetings from a strangely calm England...with the 'hung Parliament' status outcome of the long awaited General Election, the nation is in a state of 'holding its breath' - waiting for positive results which may, hopefully, release us from the 'doldrums' which have had us in their grip over the past few years, mainly due to the greed and mis-management of the Government....it is my understanding that Britain was in dire deficite PRIOR to the International financial crisis....that simply gave G. Brown a useful 'let out' from his disastrous fiscal borrowings, and general spendthrift in his early years of Chancellorship - i.e.- selling of 75% of the gold reserves, appropriating billions out of National Pensions, all paid in in good faith by the workers in their years of employment ....tut, tut, subsequently a lot of pathetic, hypocritial bleating of late from Ministers, about the sad plight of.....pensioners ...oh dear, what ever happened to the duty of Parliamentarians to 'serve the people' - modern "'self-service" is now 'the norm' in The Houses of Parliament it seems.... .My pension, TAXED - has been 'frozen' whilst the ghastly collection of 'free loaders' in The House, become richer and more callous, as witnessed in personal interviews on t.v. ....breathtaking audacity ..... Maybe the forced collaboration between parties will resolve some of the problems with paying off our astronomical National Debt... how about the banks helping ease the flow of cash to small businesses, the basis of local prosperity in 'normal' times...it has to be wise to encourage any wealth creating enterprise to stay in the U.K. as they help to fund a Social budget - if no one is earning and paying taxes, National and Health Insurance - the whole system is - bankrupt- and we all starve...I guess Dignitas in Zurich will be the most popular destination for many, with the incidence of life threatening illness due to stress....hmmmm....all very depressing...but..my Devoted Breathers....chin up, boobs up...nice deep breath...watch a fun film...sing along with "Mamma Mia"...and let's put HOPE back on the agenda - "Hope springs eternal in the savage breast"...and I'm feeling quite savage at the moment ...te hee heeee ! See some of you in Stockholm sooooon..'til then ..k..p b.......g....

Breathe to 'sing'......remember - "Less Is More".....

This week I met a new 'breather', anxious to know what "Less is More" refers to - and can I demonstrate it? Well - Yes, it's very simple, but as with all things simple, rather tricky to explain...and often elusive to the impatient explorer, especially if they've spent years with 'singing teachers' encouraging them to take a deep breath in through the mouth, and "PUSH Darling!"... and WHAAAT..?? Death to natural phonation...mmm, but it keeps many medical practitioners happily employed chopping bits and pieces - polyps, nodules - basically 'corns' on the vocal folds - etc...Very lucrative business...mmmm. I was horrified by a singer in Sweden who announced that it was usual for singers to experience the aforementioned conditions, being inevitable - and NORMAL - simply because she had suffered such self inflicted injuries 'several times' - what UTTER RUBBISH !!!...not sure is she is still 'in the business', a miracle if so.... The secret of 'singing' is not to 'sing'...! What the heck am I talking about...? As a student at the now defunct, London Opera Centre, I was blessed by the good fortune of meeting and becoming a friend of the most influential singer of my life, the adorable, generous, vivacious and genius talented New Zealander Kiri - te Kanawa. What an amazing stroke of fate.... We've had so much fun over the years, although our paths went their different ways, and the reason for bringing her into the picture is that her attitude to singing has influenced me more than I realised, until I started helping other singers 're - train' their voices when they'd 'lost their way' vocally. I've found myself advising them what Kiri told me all those memorably happy years ago...When I remarked that I could always understand her words when she sang, she replied "Anna, I never 'sing' , I just talk on musical notes " - simple as that !! I've never seen her use the 'hippopotamus mouth' method thankfully.. Sometimes, if the singer has a sense of humour, I vow to park my car in that vast apperture which is their mouth ....and I discovered with my limited lung capacity after a fire accident, that the less air pressure you create under the larynx, the more effective and easy is is to 'talk on a musical note'....I recently wrote to Kiri, treadin' the boards' entertainingly in the cameo role of 'The Duchess of Krackenthorp" - (Wooow - that hat !!) in 'La Fille du Regimant' at The Metropolitan Opera, New York, that HER advice has been the secret of MY - success with so many 'breathers' over the years...teasin', teasin' ....thanks a bunch Magical Maori Maiden...So, if you wanna know how to control your air flow minimally ..let me know and we'll have some fun...it's great for all, not just singers....k..p b.......g...and warm..

Breathing a la "Simsannabim" is at The Metropolitan Opera, New York ....WOW !!!

Hello Dear Readers - 'The proof of the voice is in the breathing' - vis a vis = 'The proof of the pudding is in the eating'.....for many years I've enlightened some hundreds of willing human beings, from all walks of life, ethnic backgrounds, faiths, professions, etc....the common link - simply - BREATHING ....yes, as simple as that ! Many cynics have declared that my interest and application to the subject is a joke "After all, everyone can breathe" they usually say..."Ah yes, but it's the 'quality' of your breathing that is paramount" I reply...Then usually ensues a debate as to how one can quantify 'the quality of natural respiration' ...and unless the sceptic has well connected inspiration, they are usually surprised - should they then try my little 'inspirational' excercises, at their benefit, almost immediately...It takes about two years for anyone who has not trained their breathing for some specific motive - dance, sport, singing...etc., to fully co-ordinate the respiratory system to maximum effeciency = "less is more". That is fairly general - the longer project, which can take years, is to re-train the natural respiratory function for those who constantly OVERBREATHE - most of my time is taken up with this particular malfunction...especially with singers and musicians...the good news is that several of my brilliant breathers without these problems have made it to The Met...all female ! When I manage to train and persuade the average male singer of the 'Less is More' attitude, they are not terribly happy to discover that they don't have to push and shove their voice, and feel pain in the throat - !! I'm chuckling at this - one sweet man, who sang fabulously after about three years of 'goat bleating' - suddenly let out his gorgeous 'natural' voice. When I complimented him he was so angry " You mean I've spent all this time for you to show me how I sang before I was trained by a singing teacher"...enough said...So, it's great to report that Erika Sunnegardh has sung 'Turandot' in the hallowed New York house of opera, Rosalind Plowright, O.B.E., who has been a regular at The Met over her entire career, amazingly sang 'The Mother' in 'Hansel and Gretel' in the 2009 Christmas season, breathing and singing immaculately !! Another very successful soprano, Nina Stemme with whom I worked in the 90's in Stockholm and uses the technique, is about to continue her association there as 'Ariadne auf Naxos'...and last Saturday Adrianne Pieczonka, the impressive Canadian soprano, sang 'Amelia' in the matinee premiere performance of 'Simon Boccanegra', with Placido Domingo - it was broadcast 'live' on BBC 3 - fabulous....later, in the evening performance - on the same stage, my 'voice idol', from whom I learned by association almost all I know about singing, the ikonic, brilliant, adorable Dame Kiri (te Kanawa), played the speaking role of 'The Duchess of Krackenthorp' in 'La Fille du Regiment' - what a coup !! We can hear it 'live' this Saturday 13th. Feb. 2010 at 18.00 on the same programme relay...not to be missed...yeah, yeah,yeah ! I know several other Annabreathers who are booked for some really exciting dates, but not released yet ..mmmm...and watch out for the gorgeous Natasha Sutton-Williams, cross-over contralto, MOST exciting potential, so delightfully young .WOOW... and k..p b.......g....

Eliasson "Future Stars" - Concert in Stockholm - 16/01/10 18.00 Grunewaldsalen, Stockholm

The good news is that if you are in Stockholm on the above date, you can have the pleasure of enjoying a concert given by the extremely exciting new group of young singers who are in the "Future Stars" Programme of Eliasson Artists Management, brainchild of the distinguished tenor Goran Eliasson, and Anna Larsson, the ikonic contralto, who are training and inspiring this talented group. I have had the pleasure of joining Anna and Matthias Bohm, the eminent accompanist and coach, in Masterclasses in Stockholm - so much talent, and really awakening the 'ART of SINGING' to audiences hungry for the new 'sounds of music' - mmmmm -- (amazing what a little air can do when fully synchronised with the body)....It is my great good fortune to be part of a growing concern Internationally by some other very fine artists - Dame Kiri te Kanawa and her Foundation in New Zealand, successfully and generously supporting gifted young singers from the Pacific area, (type in - anna sims breathing on Google), and Rosalind Plowright, O.B.E., in the U.K.. Incredibly she has just returned from New York where she made a major contribution to the success of "Hansel and Gretel" at The Metropolitan Opera, playing the role of "The Mother". Rosalind has been a brilliant singer in the world's operatic life for some thirty five years - and is still in great voice - and going strong !!! Fantastic....You can see her in Google at - Rosalind Plowright.com - check down to item - Rosalind Plowright Classical Singing Lesson and minimasterclass ... At present I am isolated by the heavy snowfall which, typically, has almost 'shut down' the U.K., and the cold spell is expected to continue indefinitely...never fear, I have enough fuel and food to survive a couple of months!! Survival is basic to anyone who was brought up in a wartime situation, cupboards full of dried, preserved, and tinned foods..mmmm..think I'll go and make some nice, nourishing soup...'bye for now - k..p b.......g...and warmly wrapped up...

It's time to record "Simsonic ping" and Synchronised Breathing for posterity.....!!

Having witnessed the demonstration of breathing exercises I've developed over a period of years as the means of surviving severe lung damage sustained in a fire accident, by a couple of senior amateur tenors, who have attended a few breathing sessions and have put videos on You Tube, without any consultation with me, their version of what they think I intend to achieve by synchronisation in two of the most complex physiological functions of my breathing routine. To say they make 'a pigs ear' of each one would be an understatement - it is obvious to all my experienced professional singers that they haven't a clue as to how the simplest move is executed, and their efforts could result in physical injury to the general public - scary to think that a osteopath, Peter Saunders, one of the ill -advised, self styled breathing guru's - has no professional integrity or common sense! My breathing routine is not a primary school P.T. workout, but much more spiritually conceived. The original embarrassing video on You Tube was removed, but another is now on view - on the pretext that it will be of benefit to a wider audience, especially opera singers.....hmmm, not if anyone tries to emulate these guys who are not physically co-ordinated, and old enough to know better !! True, many very fine creative artists are enjoying success worldwide in professional music and theatre circles using this breathing method - but they have all studied my "Art of Breathing" for years, and none of them has attempted to explain the process 'on line'.... Methinks the time has come for Rosalind Plowright, one of my most brilliant breathers, and I to put the whole routine on to d.v.d., I continue writing my promised book, and publish "Anna's Breathing Bible" as one of my extremely inspirational singers has named it ...A friend has taken me to task and told me that "your breathing must live on after you, this should be your life project'.....and so it shall be.... I promise...don't forget Dear Reader.....k..p b.......g ....

Winter is a'comin in...brrrrr....

We've been lucky in England that tempuratures have been unusually warm this autumn, putting off the need to engage the central heating unit, gas fired - now extremely expensive, so wartime practises are being revived. Happily the majority of the population won't have experience of such frugal times, when a regular room warming method was to place a 6" terracotta flower pot on it's drip tray, put a night light candle inside, light it and invert another flower pot over it - hey presto, a mini heater ! The warmth created was sufficient to keep the frost at bay in a room about 20' X 20'. It was necessary to be careful not to set the house on fire ! I didn't hear of any such cases, but these days open fires are not a feature in most homes, so I don't recommend this method. It is a fact that in this country we keep our room temperatures much cooler than our European and Scandinavian counterparts. I always advise visitors of this before they arrive, and suggest they bring thermal underwear - ! Another economy to beat the excessive energy price is to use a cast iron chiminey in the garden to cook delicious meals - it always raises a smile from diners when I disappear out of the French windows on to the patio - and return with a
succulent roast chicken, plus all the trimmings - ooh, the delicious smell wafting through the air.... lip smackingly good fare..mmm...I was questioned about such drastic measures as we're 'enjoying peace' - until you realise that we do have at least two wars in progress which are bankrupting the countries finances, draining our resources for health, education, etc., etc., We can only pray for some Divine intevention to restore a sense of security in our troubled world...so, let's keep on endeavouring to respect and be kind to each other - k..p b.......g...Dear Readers...

A balmy summer, and butterflies are back...

Spending a summer in England, instead of careering about the planet on my customary breathing crusade (!), has given me a wonderful opportunity to enjoy my little house and garden, with it's profusion of flowers, fresh fruit daily - and happy hours observing the abundance of wild birds, and several species of butterfly which had become almost extinct, through the use of lethal pesticides, and their effect on the natural food chain ...glory be, we even have song thrushes enchanting with their glorious warbling - and a blackbird which seems to duet with me ! He perches high in the tall wild cherry tree at the bottom of the garden - and I'm convinced he joins me in song - I even recorded a sequence - he trills away happily - I whistle a slightly difference tune - and he either repeats it, or gives me a new air to 'play with' - a sceptical friend assures me it's only in my imagination - which as you know, is rather fertile. Nevertheless, it pleases me to think I have a new singing partner....sweet, isn't it? I wonder if you've ever struck up a musical connection with a bird, beast, or fowl...Recently I journeyed down to Hampshire, to celebrate my Brother's 80th. birthday, a very warm and memorable day. One of the highlights was visiting the Portsmouth Royal Naval Dockyard, and viewing the area from high up in the Spinnaker Tower, a very impressive structure, taller than the Eiffel Tower - spectacular views...Another charming event was visiting my new and delightful friend Ronnie (Schneider), strolling in the beautiful environs of his friendly home and the picturesque village in which it's situated - so very 'comfortably English', much warmth and friendly discourse with local residents and traders, one feels safe and loved in such a community, mmmmm..Ronnie is obviously treasured and respected there...Celeste, my Goddaughter, and Richard her fiance, are here prior to their wedding on Saturday 22nd. August, so we are having a lot of fun, and things become more exciting every day. Richard is a brilliant pianist, coach, conductor, etc. at The Bayerische Oper, Munchen, and unexpectedly offered to play for some of my breathers - gratis - and what do you know ? We discovered that we are en rapporte, and look forward to collaborating whenever possible in future - it was such a joy 'combining' our skills... The wedding guests will converge from all corners of the world, a truly International gathering, small but very distinguished, I'm sure it will be a beautiful ceremony - must remember to stock up on tissues....and not hold my breath too often ....hope you're all enjoying a relaxing and inspiring summer...k..p b.......g...lots o' love to you all - Anna - Simsannabim...