Chopin Nocturne E Minor

While learning this Nocturne in 1974, at the age of 14, I made a memorable creative breakthrough. I was studying and analyzing the piece intensely when I suddenly felt I understood how to interpret a musical phrase. I had gained the confidence to make this piece work musically within my own creative vision.

My piano teacher at the time, Sister Gabriel Bruyere, was wise enough to let me follow my instincts and only chimed in when it was obvious I was lost. The creative freedom she allowed me gave me confidence. Confidence that later in life, enabled me to take the creative risks that would be so crucial to my success as an adult.

Nocturne means “night music” and this 3-minute jewel from Chopin is especially beautiful to listen to before going to sleep. Apologies for the technical quality of the track. But what do you expect? It was done in my parent’s basement — below their bedroom — in 1974!

Here with Melody Jacobson Krever, my first and I guess the only girlfriend. We were so young then!

On a Side Note

Ironically, my voice teacher at the University of Michigan, Katherine Hilgenberg, originated the role of Nettie Fowler in the Lincoln Center version of Carousel. And Nettie was the character who sang You’ll Never Walk Alone. That’s why, a scant 35 years later, I would like to dedicate Melody’s and my performance to the memory of Katherine Hilgenberg.

My Jury Recital

Anyone who has attended music school (mine was at The University of Michigan School of Music) knows that your jury recital is one of the most daunting experiences of your life. Because your jury recital is your final exam. Its outcome decides whether you graduate or not. And the terror is compounded by that fact that there are only two grades possible: pass or fail. Drop a beat? You fail. Miss a note? You fail. You don’t graduate. Your life is over. And, if that isn’t pee-your-pants scary enough, all your friends, all your classmates, all your family, all the faculty are in attendance!

So, no surprise, I was a hot mess going into this trial-by-vocal-cord. I had been battling laryngitis the entire week before. And, my opening selection, Mi Parto, is not an easy piece to sing. So, as I walked out on stage, I had no idea what was going to come out of my mouth. A choking croak? A high-pitched screech? Nothing? All I remember is repeating to myself, over and over, “I am a professional … I will get through this.”

And then, I found myself onstage. I hit my mark. I opened my mouth. And it was…

Good! A strong voice. No trace of laryngitis. And, best of all, a few measures into the song, I settled down and hit my stride for the rest of my program.

For those who are interested in technique, take a listen at the 1:25 mark. I surprised even myself with how well that high “E” came out. For a baritone, very high and yet very soft (pianissimo) spells trouble most of the time.

Handel Cantata – Della Guerra Amarosa

The second song of my jury recital is performed in memory of Yakov Kreizberg. Yakov, my accompanist was a fellow Michigan student who was a Russian Jew studying to be a conductor. Having your friends, family, and faculty in attendance was daunting in itself. So, I can honestly say that his support for me during the recital was the only way I got through it.

Years have passed since then and, when I googled his name a while ago, I found out he’d become one of the top conductors in the world. He was renowned as an opera conductor and was a guest conductor in every major opera house in the world. He was the principal conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and conducted every major orchestra in the United States. So I reached out to him, and we briefly relived some very nostalgic moments from school. Yakov was an incredible musician. Yakov earned high respect among opera singers around the world. A musician who was known for his ability to understand the individual needs of the singers he was coaching. Yakov put that knowledge into his conducting so the orchestra he was leading supported the singers in the best way.

I say “was” because when I looked up the correct spelling of his name for this post, I was shocked to discover he died of cancer on March 15th, 2011.