Last Saturday I spent the day with some friends from Occidental College at Monmartre. This is one of my favorite places in Paris. Its elevation gives you a fantastic view of the city, and the steep streets and narrow alleys are so picturesque. Plus, Sacre Coeur is one of my favorite sites. The basilica is on the top of the hill, and on this sunny Saturday it was glowing white. We made our way up the steps to take a look inside. Then we climbed all the way up to the dome for a breath-taking view of Paris. Needless to say, my knees were in a lot of pain the next morning, but it was worth it. We walked around the city for the next several hours until dinner. A day well-spent, in my mind.
On Sunday, the London Symphony Orchestra was playing at La Salle Pleyel. The concert featured Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor, and Maria João Pires, pianist, presenting works by Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus- overture, Concerto No. 4 for piano, and The Third Symphony. I didn't have a ticket, but I wanted to see where La Salle Pleyel was and hope that a ticket might become available.
The stand-by line had already formed when I got there (an hour early) so I was about 25 people back. I was next to an older woman who was shorter than I am and who also really wanted a ticket. She kept harassing the employees. A man came out and told us that at most 10 spots would become available. The determined woman next to me said, "Tant pis, on reste ici. On ne sait jamais." (Too bad, we're staying here. You never know). I almost left, but then I thought, if this crazy lady is going to wait it out, then I will, too. Then, about ten minutes before the concert, a guy in his 20's approached me and explained that he had an extra youth ticket for 8 euros. The youth tickets are for those 28 years old and younger. I couldn't believe it. He went on to tell me that it was in the first category seating, normally 85 euros! So, in the end I saw the London Symphony Orchestra with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Maria João Pires in the middle of the first balcony of La Salle Pleyel for 8 euros. Quelle chance!
Monday I started classes at IES. I think that they will be interesting, keep me busy, and, of course, help my French.
On Tuesday I had my audition at L'Ecole Normale de Musique. I sang for M. Mansard, the director of the school Adele's laughing song and La Diva de l'Empire. After that some tedious paper work, and boom. Now I'm enrolled in l'Ecole Normale de Musique. The only unfortunate thing is my classes run into my weekend.
Here's the schedule:
Monday/lundi
9:00-10:30 Theater
10:45-12:15 Modern Art
12:30-2:00 Phonetics (sometimes followed by an individual lab)
Tuesday/mardi
9:00-10:30 Language and Culture
8:00-10:30 Chorale de la Cité International Universitaire
Wednesday/mercredi
9:00-10:30 Theater
10:45-12:15 Modern Art
12:30-2:00 Phonetics (sometimes followed by an individual lab)
Thursday/jeudi
9:00-10:30 Language and Culture
2:00-3:00 Solfege at ENM (audit)
Friday/vendredi
12:00-1:00 Sight Reading for Singers
Saturday/samedi
12:30-1:30 Voice lesson
On Sunday, the London Symphony Orchestra was playing at La Salle Pleyel. The concert featured Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor, and Maria João Pires, pianist, presenting works by Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus- overture, Concerto No. 4 for piano, and The Third Symphony. I didn't have a ticket, but I wanted to see where La Salle Pleyel was and hope that a ticket might become available.
The stand-by line had already formed when I got there (an hour early) so I was about 25 people back. I was next to an older woman who was shorter than I am and who also really wanted a ticket. She kept harassing the employees. A man came out and told us that at most 10 spots would become available. The determined woman next to me said, "Tant pis, on reste ici. On ne sait jamais." (Too bad, we're staying here. You never know). I almost left, but then I thought, if this crazy lady is going to wait it out, then I will, too. Then, about ten minutes before the concert, a guy in his 20's approached me and explained that he had an extra youth ticket for 8 euros. The youth tickets are for those 28 years old and younger. I couldn't believe it. He went on to tell me that it was in the first category seating, normally 85 euros! So, in the end I saw the London Symphony Orchestra with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and Maria João Pires in the middle of the first balcony of La Salle Pleyel for 8 euros. Quelle chance!
Monday I started classes at IES. I think that they will be interesting, keep me busy, and, of course, help my French.
On Tuesday I had my audition at L'Ecole Normale de Musique. I sang for M. Mansard, the director of the school Adele's laughing song and La Diva de l'Empire. After that some tedious paper work, and boom. Now I'm enrolled in l'Ecole Normale de Musique. The only unfortunate thing is my classes run into my weekend.
Here's the schedule:
Monday/lundi
9:00-10:30 Theater
10:45-12:15 Modern Art
12:30-2:00 Phonetics (sometimes followed by an individual lab)
Tuesday/mardi
9:00-10:30 Language and Culture
8:00-10:30 Chorale de la Cité International Universitaire
Wednesday/mercredi
9:00-10:30 Theater
10:45-12:15 Modern Art
12:30-2:00 Phonetics (sometimes followed by an individual lab)
Thursday/jeudi
9:00-10:30 Language and Culture
2:00-3:00 Solfege at ENM (audit)
Friday/vendredi
12:00-1:00 Sight Reading for Singers
Saturday/samedi
12:30-1:30 Voice lesson
The solfege class was pretty hard. It'll take a lot of practice because I'm a little rusty and the class is already at a pretty advanced level. Plus I have to learn all the music terminology in French. But I think it will be a very useful class. The sight reading class is interesting. There are anywhere from 3-5 people of all instruments in the room at once. The professor gives you a piece of music and you look at it for a few minutes while other students go with their pieces, and then when it's your turn, you sight read it on you instrument: piano, guitar, voice, whatever. It was intimidating but all the professors and students are very nice. Again, the French language makes everything more difficult, but little by little it's coming. Tomorrow I have my voice lesson with my professor, Caroline Dumas. I go for an hour and then I stay and watch other students for about 2 more hours.
You can see in my schedule that I joined a community Chorale at la Cité International Universitaire. We have a concert in about a month. We're working on some lively music, including several waltzes, and opera choruses from La Traviata and Die Fledermaus. The director is very good, and I'm understanding him more and more. There are people of all ages 20's and 30's mostly) and all nationalities in the chorale. It's been a nice experience so far.
A lot's happened this week! I'm still enjoying myself so much! 
1 comment:
i hope the voice lesson went well! When I get my suicidal computer back I will get skype!
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