San Antonio Opera presents Verdi's Rigoletto this weekend...

http://www.saopera.com/rigoletto/

Rigoletto
By Guiseppe Verdi
Friday June 18 at 8:00 PM
Saturday June 19 at 8:00 PM
Sunday June 20 at 2:00 PM

Location:	Municipal Auditorium
Street:	100 Auditorium Circle, San Antonio, TX

Sung in Italian with English surtitles

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

Rigoletto, Giuseppe Verdi's tragic classic is the story of the cursed court jester whose obsession to revenge his violated daughter's honor turns viciously against him. Its familiar music includes the arias "Caro nome" and "La donna e mobile." Incensed by the rapacious Duke of Mantua's seduction of his beloved daughter Gilda, Rigoletto plots the duke's assassination. But Gilda, hopelessly in love, sacrifices herself to save the duke. The curtain falls as Rigoletto in a horrifying mistake causes Gilda's death and in despair embraces his dying daughter. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Cast
Rigoletto: Daniel Sutin
Gilda: Audrey Elizabeth Luna
Duca: Michael Wade Lee
Maddalena: Dana Beth Miller
Sparafucile: Matthew Trevino
Count Ceprano: Brace Negron
Countess Ceprano: Crystal Jarrell
Monterone: Matthew Arnold
Marullo: Ryan Kuster
Borsa: Jeffery Halili
Giovanna: Diane Jiminez
Paggio: Crytsal Jarrell
Usher: Carlos Saenz



Conductor Enrique Patron de Rueda
Director Sam Mungo

http://www.saopera.com/single_tickets/

Concert a success... on to Rigoletto...

The concert last Sunday with the San Antonio Choral society was a huge success; not only did I have the opportunity to work on an incredibly interesting new piece, but also I was able to sing with friends old and new and work with some incredible San Antonio musicians!


Next up on the calendar is Verdi's Rigoletto with San Antonio Opera! I am singing the role of Contessa di Ceprano in Act 1 and then appear in Act 2 in the pants role of Il Paggio. The cast is supposed to be pretty well stacked talent-wise... It is at the Municipal Auditorium June 18-20.

An upcoming concert you won't want to miss...

Sunday, May 16, 2010, 5:00pm
          Alto Soloist
          Seven Last Words **World Premier**
          by San Antonio composer Jerome Malek
          with the San Antonio Choral Society
          Recital Hall, University of Texas at San Antonio

And we are live!

Website is launched! View my website at www.cjarrell.com.

Web site going live!

Well finally after several delays this year, the official website is ready to go! All of the design elements and content are completed, for the most part, and I am so excited to announce the arrival of this long awaited landmark. I have been planning the website for a while, and finally today I had in front of me the final draught! I sent the word after perusing it this afternoon, and we are all set to launch in the next 48 hours. I hope we don't run into any more snags- we are so so close. I will keep you posted.

I will be so glad when it happens that I just might have to celebrate.

The mailings

Every time I have to mail off an important package, I go through this. What exactly this is it's hard to say... a combination of emotions and logic rattling around my brain and body. Mostly fear of being permanently labeled and destroying my good reputation I guess. This fear though is ridiculous. I have been successful so far and have every reason to trust that I am on the right track. Somehow though my fears kick in every time I mail off an audition request or competition entry package. At some point you would think it would dissipate. I think I care too much. But that is exactly what motivates my creativity and my art.

I sent off a packet yesterday and have 2 more to send today and a few more to send after that. Mailings are not my favorite thing in the world, but are a necessary evil. If only I weren't so invested, it wouldn't be a big deal every time. But then again, how intensely exciting it is every time I hear back a positive response! Which lately has been most of the time :) And like Ian said... "You get none of the jobs that you never apply for."

Year in Review

2009
This has been a huge year for me. I was concerned earlier in the year that things would be slow going the next couple years while I transition from YAPs to fully professional mainstage gigs, but things are still spinning. I am thankful! Here are the highlights:

Jan-March 2009 Finished up my final young artist program
March/April 2009 Countess Ceprano/Paggio in Rigolettto with San Diego Opera; Created 5 year plan with input from Ian Campbell
May 2009 Audition for San Diego Symphony; Audition for company in IN; Coachings with Edoardo Muller; Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with San Diego Opera; New Headshots by Greg James
June 2009 Began work on Website (then tabled it for a while...); Began working on new competition rep; Found another great coach!
July 2009 Artist Retreat & 6 voice lessons at IU
August 2009 Bought house & set up new music studio!!! 6 more voice lessons at IU; Made recording
September 2009 Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with San Antonio Opera
October 2009 Audition for company in OH/ company in TN; Audition for company in TN; 6 more voice lessons at IU; Pitched Masterclass/Recital concept and began planning process.
November 2009 San Diego Symphony Debut; Finalist in San Antonio Artist Foundation Competition; Finalist in National Opera Association Vocal Competition; Audition for company in UT; Audition for company in TX


I am happy to say that I am right on target with goals for 2009 and have started checking a few things off 2010 as well! Thank you to my left brain for all your hard work and planning and to my right brain for continuing to dream and create. I am so glad you two decided to work together this year.