Ana Feleo gets it straight from the masters

I got an e-mail from Ana Feleo who is in New York studying music under Stephen Smith from Juilliard School of Music. Ana is preparing for her role of Musetta in La Boheme, which will be staged on Oct. 3, 4 and 5 at CCP Main Theater. Read on:

To my super supportive friends,

I had my first meeting with Stephen yesterday. I’m still undergoing jet lag so after the lesson, I went to Lexington Ave to meet up with a friend in Bloomingdales, had dinner, went home and fell asleep. Had no more time to write about what happened.

Stephen was very nice. Very, very accommodating and not at all condescending.

After I sang, he said that I have a very beautiful and unique sound, that DOES have the quality of a mezzo, but he doesn’t agree that I should actually just stick to mezzo arie. He listened to my Una Voce, Quando M’en Vo and Jewel Song from Faust and he said that I don’t have problems with my French and Italian diction. He also said that I have a strong voice and a very good ear. BUT he thinks that I have been depending more on ‘talent’ than technique. I am lacking the EASE that comes from good air flow. Not support, but AIR FLOW. I tend to put too much pressure by ‘supporting,’ and so instead of making the air flow freely, (by doing so, naturally, all my resonators open up) I tend to physicalize and open it myself. (I don’t know if I’m making sense). He talked about the CHIAROSCURA (Chiaro + Oscura). The balance and the unity between the ‘ping’ and the fullness of the sound. (In Evelyn Mandac’s terms, it’s the high pitching and the vowel sound).

He talked about bringing my SINGING VOICE back to my SPEAKING VOICE. My “placement” or foundation should come from there.

My only worry now is that I won’t be able to get it in a month and a half. I told him about my fears on how to approach La Boheme VOCALLY. He told me not to worry and that he will teach me how to go about it. “I’ll give you the tools you need.” So there.

I was walking through the halls in Juilliard, and I was thinking, shucks, I’m actually here. Kinikilig ako na naiiyak at the same time. 
Mahaba na ‘to.. Next time ulit! God bless! Keep me posted :)

Swing Out Sister in Manila

Oscar San Pedro sent me a story about the Swing Out Sister’s concert in Manila.

One of the major events that contributed to the excitement of the local concert industry during the past years is the incredible number of foreign artists and bands that has been coming to perform.

What is truly impressive about this development is the variety and quality of the sounds and styles of these imported acts — from pop to rock to R&B of the ‘60s and ‘70s to the progressive rock, hard rock, punk and jazz of the present time.

Followers of good, old-fashioned melodic pop music will be treated to a new high when Swing Out Sister, the singing sensation behind the smash hit, Breakout and other easy-listening type of music, comes to Manila for a live concert on April 7 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

Billed as Swing Out Sister: Breakout Tour, the one-night musical presentation from Renen de Guia’s Ovation Productions and ETC Front Row will mark the third visit to the country of the popular act since its successful debut concert here in the ‘80s at the Ninoy Aquino Football Stadium in Malate.

It will showcase the exceptional talent of the British tandem of Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell whose remarkable brand and style appeal to a select group of audiences with a certain degree of sensitivity and sophistication to fully appreciate and enjoy its music.

Aside from Breakout, other hit songs to be featured in the show include Fooled By A Smile, Twilight World, You On My Mind, Where In The World, Waiting Game, Forever Blue, Precious Words, Am I The Same Girl, Lalala Means I Love You, and many more.

Swing Out Sister: Breakout Tour is sponsored by Philippine Airlines, Petron Xtra, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Imarflex, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, Pearl of the Pacific Boracay Resort & Spa and Top 40. Among the media partners are The Philippine Star, ABS-CBN, Myx and ASAP Live! Tickets are priced at P4,700, P4,500, P3,500, P2,500, P1,000 and P500 and available at Ticketnet outlets at SM Department Stores and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket office. For details, call 911-5555.