Stars at Lyric

I recently went to a concert downtown Chicago at Millenium Park. Stars at Lyric was the theme. I was thrilled to go with a fellow musician. How refreshing to discuss music with someone who understands.

It was a clear, beautiful evening. Perfect for an outdoor concert of vocals, ensembles, and orchestra. Each voice was unique. I was entranced. There was a violin solo that left me with tears in my eyes, it was so beautifully and musically played. The vocals were all the classic arias from various operas. How inspiring to hear arias that I will sing someday voiced by mature, confident singers. I felt each note all the way down to my very soul! And yet, it is also comforting to hear the humanness of each singer. None presented a perfect solo. Yet, in all its humanness, it was perfect----as perfect as it could be, and stunning! Oftentimes, as we listen to CDs, we get the misconception that there are perfect singers, because the CD sounds perfect. We forget the technology involved. How inspiring it was to hear several voices as they are in their humanity, yet with all their training, hard work, diligence, and determination.

Probably my favorites were Elizabeth Futral and Isabel Bayrakdarian. Their voices rang out with excitement, energy, and pure control--elements I long to have as I progress a long this journey!