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Pia Broden Williams is a faculty member of the Flint School of Performing Arts. She taught general music to grade levels K-12 in Flint and Mt. Morris and has served as musician and choir director for various churches. She is a seasoned vocalist and has acquired extensive recording and performance experience with several organizations, including various jazz groups and currently with the Michigan Opera Theatre (chorus member) and Flint Jubilee Chorale. She has appeared at the Detroit Jazz Festival and other venues across the Midwest. She has a rare voice that can execute proficiently classical, jazz, gospel and pop styles. She received her Bachelor of Arts in vocal performance and philosophy from the University of Michigan and her Masters of Music in performance from Michigan State University. Currently, she holds the position of Director of Music at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint. She writes today about the process of preparing for her upcoming Faculty Concert.
This Saturday, November 7th at 2 PM is my faculty recital of bel canto arias entitled “Bel Canto Bonbons”. I have had such a wonderful time preparing for this concert and there is just so much I can say about the process, the music, and the enjoyment I experience as a performer, bringing this music to an audience. But I think a great place to start would be a sneak peak into the “behind-the-scenes” activity that must take place in order to have a successful concert.
First of all, performing bel canto repertoire presents a few challenges that, I think, are heightened when compared to other styles. For instance, since bel canto (Italian for “beautiful singing”) is all about using the beauty of the voice to express the emotions and thoughts of the character, it can be very fluid and personal but must also be structured. So, it demands lots of time coordinating musicians and singers so that we are “together,” understanding how fast, slow, etc. a phrase will move, -- the ebb and flow, so to speak. My voice teacher at Michigan State compared bel canto to jazz because it’s so individual and emotionally driven; and, as a person who sings both styles, I’d say that’s a perfect way to describe it! Bel canto is like the jazz of opera.
Before one can even begin to put things together with musicians, one should first have a fairly good handle on what he or she wants to do expressively, know what every word of the text means, and of course, know the music. I learn word-for-word translations, write them down in my score, start learning notes at the piano, and I listen to the interpretations of the greats to give me a starting point. A few of my favorite sopranos to listen to are Joan Sutherland, Beverly Sills, Kathleen Battle, and Natalie Dessay. I spend hours practicing, listening, and working through the music daily.
Now, after I’ve done a nice portion of the groundwork, I’m ready to work through with my orchestra – Frank Pitts. Over the last five or six weeks, I have met with Frank, who is collaborating with me on piano, and with Nada Radakovich, who is providing very knowledgeable, informed, coaching. The journey has been amazing! Every time we meet, I discover some new way to approach a line or connect with the characters of Giulietta, Adina, and Lucia. And that’s what collaboration is all about! Since Frank is a both a singer and a pianist, he truly understands how to support a voice; and it’s a fact that a good accompanist is VERY important for a singer!
In addition to working with Frank and Nada, I’m having a blast collaborating with some other FIM colleagues: Jessica Price and Glen Holcomb. Jessica will play the flute obbligato for the famous Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor on the concert. Glen will be my Nemorino in a scene from The Elixir of Love. Just for a rough estimate in case anyone is curious, I’d say that by Saturday’s forty to forty-five minute concert, over ninety hours of preparation have gone in, including rehearsals with each person involved and coachings -- and not counting research.
I’ll conclude this entry by saying that the best part about being at the FIM is being surrounded by so many others who are dedicated to musical excellence, artistry, and education. I feel truly fortunate to have such wonderful musicians and friends performing with me. I look forward to Saturday when, hopefully, you will be able to enjoy the fruit (or bonbons, as it were) of our labor as much as we have enjoyed the journey!
-Pia Broden Williams
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