Blog Feed: Bryan Pinkall's World of Opera

The KCVI Charity Auction is underway! CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE UP FOR AUCTION!The first items up for bid include several Melissa Etheridge Autographed CDs - other autographed CDs include Chanticleer and Gregory Porter.Autographed Photos include: Betty White, Norah Jones, and Stanley Clarke.100% of the proceeds will go toward the artists' respective scholarships through the Kansas City Vocal Institute. > read more

All Hail Anthony Bourdain!

Published on 2012-04-15 18:05:47

Weekly, I join the blogosphere with a somewhat small-minded, blunt, and hopefully insightful perspective on my life through music. > read more

The Other Mary, The Grim Reaper, and SuBo fans

Published on 2012-04-09 17:19:16

Hopefully you all enjoy the new layout of my blog! > read more

Three Susan Boyles!

Published on 2012-04-03 22:00:11

I apologize for the late posting of my new blog entry, while I have been busy procrastinating...(pause)...I needed time to finish my paper on the Schmalkaldic War's effect on Lutheran music in the Holy Roman Empire. > read more

Polka Band & a Goat's Head

Published on 2012-03-27 14:47:46

Finally, I have some time to relax. > read more

Mary Magdalene Wars

Published on 2012-03-20 01:21:34

Life is back to normal, for at least two days. > read more

CARMEN!

Published on 2012-03-12 16:58:18

Pop some popcorn! Find a nice comfy chair and enjoy some music and videos.Finally, life is getting back to normal...and I am so excited for the Conservatory's production of La Tragedie de Carmen this week! If you think something seems a little out of place, your suspicions are correct - it is different than the famous opera, Carmen. Peter Brook compiled the music for La Tragedie by taking all of the most famous musical segments from Carmen and splicing them together, making a shorter and more [..] > read more

Snow White Passion

Published on 2012-03-08 00:57:04

In August of 2009, four days before my wedding, one of the most influential and beautiful persons in my life learned that she had very aggressive cancer. Connie Schneweis continued this battle until last Friday. She quoted J.S. Bach as to what she wished to be said in her funeral homily: "To God be the Glory".Bach wrote oratorios based on the biblical stories of Jesus' death called "Passions". It so happens that I am preparing a production of a modern "passion" called "The Little Match Girl P [..] > read more

This Is Not Working

Published on 2012-02-28 00:47:46

Thank you to everyone who came to my Doctoral Recital last week. I hope to provide some recordings at a later date, but in general, I thought it went very well. My voice was in good shape and I remembered the words! Last week, I put together a video and wrote a little bit about the uniqueness of this concert. CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT!Also, I was informed at half-time of the recital that the audience didn't receive the translation pages. I was upset because it was a very complex and meanin [..] > read more

Doctoral Recital - The Volga German Genocide

Published on 2012-02-20 17:43:47

I have had an amazing and heartbreaking week. There are many stories that I would love to share, but alas this is a very public forum. Unfortunately, I will wait a few years to tell some of the lessons that I have learned this week - not all good things, but great life lessons and professional lessons.Tonight, I will be singing in the Conservatory's production of Carmina Burana. I know you all know it - CLICK HERE TO SEE IF YOU DO. We will also be performing some exciting world premiere piec [..] > read more

Opera Singer Critiques the Grammy's, KC Lyric Opera Audition, & COOL NEW GIG

Published on 2012-02-13 17:25:57

Hello, America. Why do you enjoy singers yelling so much? Seriously, this isn't just my opinion - technically these singers are yelling and belting all the time, even to the point of hoarseness! My overall impression from the Grammy's this year is that I'm astonished that people aren't bored with people yelling all the dang time. Leave the musical genres out of the picture; the pop singers, country singers, rock singers all have the same technique. You should expect more from your favorite s [..] > read more

Misses

Published on 2012-02-06 20:22:14

Last Thursday was a special day for me. I began my day sitting-in on a lecture by an applicant from the Peabody school to be a new musicology professor at the Conservatory. We talked about John Dunstable. It was certainly difficult to maintain my concentration, enough so that I originally wrote this confusing him with John Dowland. In any case, here's a great John Dowland lute song:After that was over at around 10:45, I drove over to Visitation Catholic Church near the Conservatory. It is a [..] > read more

Cell Phone vs. New York Phil

Published on 2012-02-06 20:22:14

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is warm and windy here in Kansas City, and I have enjoyed my day away from school playing golf.This week, I began work on several different projects. I am preparing for many musical events coming up, and I have tried not to be overwhelmed. I do have a new schedule change - my recital commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Soviet genocide of the Volga Germans has been moved to February 21 at White Recital Hall a [..] > read more

Death Knell for Opera? & The Cotton Bowl

Published on 2012-02-06 20:22:14

"Fighting ever fighting", my Alma Mater lost the Cotton Bowl but I had a great time with my wife and family (pictures of our time are at the end of this post). We went to the Cotton Bowl Classic at Cowboys Stadium, the JFK "6th Floor" museum from where JFK was assassinated, the "grassy knoll" outside the museum, the old Cotton Bowl stadium at the state fair - where we discovered and reported a gas leak, shopping malls, and in the end had a great time with my family.My wife is sure to give me a [..] > read more

Slump

Published on 2012-02-06 20:22:14

What a busy time of the year! Last week, I sang Mahler's Second Symphony with the Kansas City Symphony. It was majestic to say the least - certainly the loudest classical concert that I can remember. I sang a Bach cantata on Friday at the Conservatory. It was a very interesting setup in that we had bleachers all around us like an arena. It was packed as well! These monthly Bach's Lunch concerts are become more and more popular every time. I will also be a soloist in next month's concert on [..] > read more

Fun with Flags

Published on 2012-01-30 17:11:27

Hello, my name is Bryan Pinkall. Welcome to the One Hundred Fifty-Second episode of Bryan Pinkall's World of Opera. Weekly, I have inundated the internet with many of my more abstruse passions.This week, I will dissertate a topic that captured my liking at an early age - FLAGS.I originally didn't watch the Big Bang Theory because I thought it was too corny. I believe after only one episode, it was clearly apparent that what my wife was laughing at, wasn't necessarily the corny jokes about the [..] > read more

Auction, "Imagine", and Proper Hat Etiquette

Published on 2012-01-02 18:14:14

Happy New Year to you all!Yesterday, was the first day of the KCVI Charity Auction. We just started our silent auction and every two weeks we will have 4 more items up for bid. This silent auction is a great way to get items for cheaper than what our more public, ebay auction, will run. Also, it will feature some very unique items. It is very easy to bid: go to www.kcvocalinstitute.com, click the auction button, click on the item, give your bid and contact info, and you will get an email if [..] > read more

KCVI Charity Auction - Eric Whitacre Handwritten & Autographed Score

Published on 2012-01-02 17:49:58

http://kcvimagazine.blogspot.com/2012/01/kcvi-charity-auction-eric-whitacre.html > read more

KCVI Charity Auction - Lyric Opera of Kansas City Ticket Package

Published on 2012-01-02 17:49:47

http://kcvimagazine.blogspot.com/2012/01/kcvi-charity-auction-lyric-opera-of.html > read more

KCVI Charity Auction - Stephen Flaherty Autographed CD "Seussical: The Musical"

Published on 2012-01-02 17:49:37

http://kcvimagazine.blogspot.com/2012/01/kcvi-charity-auction-stephen-flaherty.html > read more

Sing-a-long with Bryan - A High C Fourth

Published on 2011-07-04 12:07:19

> read more

The Art of Singing (for tenors) Part 3

Published on 2011-06-29 17:23:36

Aria #3 - Nessun DormaWe ended yesterday's post with some Lithuanian talent, and unfortunately that leads us to our last aria - let's see if his technique improved as he sings one of the most famed tenor arias of all time in the Semifinal round of Li > read more

The Art of Singing (for tenors) Part 2

Published on 2011-06-28 18:44:31

Aria #2 - Pour mon ameSo, this trio wouldn't be complete without Pour mon ame - famed for its 9 high C's. Here is a clip of one of the most famous singers in the world today, Juan Diego Florez...it's a short aria; you should listen to it all.Be > read more

The Art of Singing (for tenors) Part 1

Published on 2011-06-27 17:56:36

Last week was incredibly exciting on many levels: I sang the Canadian National Anthem at the Sporting KC game (video to come), I was able to go to the Populous Architecture Firm and see the designing of several stadiums including the Houston Dynamo's > read more

The Pied Piper

Published on 2011-06-20 17:29:51

If you build it, I will come...evidently...like a child following the pied piper. EXAMPLE #1The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will be opening soon! As you may know, I auditioned for next year's Lyric Opera season and was not hired, however > read more

Inspiration

Published on 2011-06-13 15:41:34

I had the great privilege of being the Administrative Director for the 33rd Summer Choral Institute this last week. I have to say that it is absolutely one of the most incredible weeks of the year. What's even more exciting is how we are > read more

The Art of Song

Published on 2011-06-06 14:32:13

Why am I so critical of poor singing?...Because singing is an art. I believe without any explanation I can show the difference between poor singing and artistic singing techniques by playing a recording of this one simple art song most of us kn > read more

Remembering...

Published on 2011-05-30 15:27:47

Last night, my wife and I went to Celebration at the Station in Kansas City. And it was so incredibly awesome, that we have decided to make it an annual tradition. Essentially it was a classical patriotic concert, with over 60,000 people > read more

TODAY IN OPERA HISTORY - May 29

Published on 2011-05-29 11:02:31

Happy Birthday to little known opera composer, Isaac Albeniz, who was born in Spain on this day in 1860.Today is also the birthday of one of the least known super-geniuses of music, Erich Korngold, who was born into a Jewish family in the o > read more

TODAY IN OPERA HISTORY - May 28

Published on 2011-05-28 11:41:03

Opera composer Friedrich Baumfelder was born on this day in 1836 in Dresden, Germany. He studied under previously mentioned Ignaz Moscheles (what a cool name).György Ligeti was born on this day in 1923. Certainly one of the most prolific > read more

TODAY IN OPERA HISTORY - May 27

Published on 2011-05-27 12:21:35

Probably the least known of the famous French group of composers Les six, literally "the six", Louis Durey was born on this date in 1888. Les six wrote their music in a reaction against neoromanticism and impressionism, in other words > read more

TODAY IN OPERA HISTORY - May 26

Published on 2011-05-26 20:49:26

On this date in 1893, Eugene Goossens was born in London. Goossens was a conductor and composer of operas, however he is mostly credited for being the major lobbyist for the creation of the Sydney Opera House, arguably the most famous opera hou > read more

TODAY IN OPERA HISTORY - May 25

Published on 2011-05-25 15:52:32

On this date in 1878, the Gilbert and Sullivan opera H.M.S. Pinafore made its world premiere at the Opera Comique in London. This was the first big hit for Gilbert and Sullivan and spurned the creation of more comic operas. This style of > read more

TODAY IN OPERA HISTORY - May 24

Published on 2011-05-24 11:35:39

Happy Birthday to the late, great Duke Ellington. Take a listen at one of my favorite recordings of his - the Duke is on the piano, but the bass is the best part. It is simple and clean, but a lot more interesting (musically that is) than > read more

TODAY IN OPERA HISTORY - May 23

Published on 2011-05-23 15:28:15

Last weekend, my wife and I took the opportunity to visit a Kansas City Symphony concert. They are certainly excited for the upcoming opening of the Kauffman Center, billing it as one of the greatest performance halls in the entire world. > read more

Things I Care About

Published on 2011-05-16 21:32:31

I had an amazing week. I sang at the Department of Energy's Small Business Conference with special dignitaries, Governors, and US Congressmen in the audience. It went very well - and especially well for waking up at 5:30 am! This we > read more

They didn't know I was listening...

Published on 2011-05-09 18:15:35

Last week was graduation week at the University I had the honor of singing the National Anthem and Alma Mater for eight commencement ceremonies: 1 on Thursday, 4 on Friday, and 3 on Saturday. Now, this is a good thing for me, because I ge > read more

Osama, Food Porn, & the Royal Wedding

Published on 2011-05-02 17:12:51

This morning I woke up to read the various opera blogs across the web all stating the same thing. Obviously there are some "full time" bloggers that post several times a day and have tens of thousands of viewers. But for the first time th > read more

The Opera Whistler

Published on 2011-04-25 18:46:01

UPCOMING PERFORMANCE SCHEDULENational Anthem - UMKC School of Nursing Commencement - 5pm 5/5National Anthem - UMKC School of Computer & Engineering - 10am 5/6National Anthem - UMKC School of Arts & Sciences - 1pm & 4pm 5/6National Anthem > read more

Worst National Anthems for Opera Singers & BREAKING PULITZER PRIZE NEWS!

Published on 2011-04-18 16:33:14

The sheer freakiness of number 10 blows my socks off. I know it sounds ridiculous, but that guy sang two high E flats!!!!!!!!!! Good luck EVER hearing someone do that again in your lifetime. I certainly cannot sing that high.However > read more

I'll Sing Louder

Published on 2011-04-11 17:35:42

I saw a production of The Last Five Years in Wamego, KS last week. First of all, the cast did very well, and I love seeing a small company in Kansas do modern musical theater productions. In my humble opinion (and experience mind you - fo > read more

Doppelbock & Poppies

Published on 2011-04-04 18:40:12

Paulaner monks in Munich began an interesting tradition in the 17th century. During Lent, the Catholic season of penance before Easter, they would consume only water and a hefty beer called a Doppelbock. In the Paulaner tradition, the mon > read more

Seasons at War & an Elephant

Published on 2011-03-28 19:45:05

Morning. Staring blindly at the ceiling fan above the bed. "It's 9:30 already?" Roll over.Blink.Ugh, it's 10:30! "What an unforgiving sleep."Shower. Get dressed. "I know I have some clean clothes somewhere." Struggle down the stairs. > read more

Don Giovanni and Helicopters

Published on 2011-03-21 21:29:50

I want to thank all of my friends and family who came to watch the opera this weekend. It really means a lot to me that you made the trip to see my performance in Don Giovanni at the Conservatory. I thought it went well, and I am excited > read more

A Lazy Person's Guide to Opera: Don Giovanni - Part 4

Published on 2011-03-17 16:26:03

It's opening night. You're surrounded by over-perfumed women, their male dates following along as some kind of prized door-opener. "Something's wrong here," you think to yourself. "Men acting chivalrous, women aloof. What madn > read more

A Lazy Person's Guide to Opera: Don Giovanni - Part 3

Published on 2011-03-16 16:45:08

I have figured out that people who don't like opera seem to have one thing in common - they don't know anything about it. So, I've provided a few tips on enjoying opera: (1) Try not to read the supertitles the whole time! and (2) Remember, oper > read more

A Lazy Person's Guide to Opera: Don Giovanni - Part 2

Published on 2011-03-15 16:59:13

Welcome back! Yesterday's tip, Try not to read the supertitles the whole time!, was just one attempt to help the laziest of us appreciate opera without falling asleep. Today, I'd like to help those who are so lazy that they do not want to > read more