Day 39 - You say potato, I say legato

Mittwoch

9:00 - Practice

9:15 - Breakfast

10:00-12:15 - Coaching with Eckhart and Wil

12:50 - 1:50 - Practice Wolf

1:50 -Lunch

2:05 - 2:40 - Coaching with Eckhart and Ian

2:50 - 4:00 - German class

4:10 - 4:40 - Coaching with Eckhart and Kat

4:45-5:45 - Practice Wolf

5:55-6:20 - Practice Wolf

8:25-9:50 - Practice Wolf

Yesterday evening, a large group of us ventured to Dresden to watch the opera Street Scenes by Kurt Weil at die Semperoper. Oh beautiful Dresden. I somehow forgot I was there a few weeks ago. Now there is a nice place to walk and to lose yourself. It sometimes feels a little surreal to be around so much beautiful architecture. The history is also overwhelming. I can't really keep track of it all. During the intermission of the opera, I walked by myself from the opera house through town to find an ice cream vender. It was so refreshing to walk back by the bridge, to feel the cool air and to see the sun sitting low on the horizon. Of course, my cone of chocolate coconut ice cream did much to enhance the experience.

The opera itself was initially confounding with some bogus staging and costume choices in the first act, but the second act was much more appealing. The music was particularly striking tome in the second act, too. When I had gone out on my walk during intermission, I remember thinking that I had no idea how long the pause would last but wouldn't mind missing the second act if that meant I could wander and soak up some of the tranquil sights in Dresden. I'm very glad I made it back in time to see the rest of the show.

After struggling for a couple of days, I think I'm starting to make some progress with my Wolf songs, which is kind of amazing since I've had little energy and time for practicing. Somehow, I've spent more time in coachings than I have spent by myself practicing this week, which is also amazing. I think the constant reminder of playing legato is starting to register with me. Just goes to show you what rest and staying outside the practice room can do for you, I guess.

It hit me today that I don't have much time left here. On the one hand, I feel pretty much ready to go (except for the fact that the lieder course is going on and I'm very involved in it). On the other, I'm not sure what else to do to make use of my time here so that I don't go away wishing too much about things I had not done or accomplished. I wonder what I will miss.