WANT TO BE AN INSIDER? EXCLUSIVE RECORDINGS
Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and happy Festivus!
It’s a beautiful time to reflect on how far you’ve come over the past year and to set intentions for what's around the corner. What are your intentions for 2019?
I’m up in Montréal for 10 days visiting friends and my old stomping grounds. I’m from the States, but I went to the Schulich School of Music at McGill University to train to be an opera singer.
I thought it'd be fun to share an opera recording from a recital, some photos from those days, and a fun story about challenging yourself to do something wild and memorable - and then going through with it!
10 years ago one of my all-time favorite authors, Dave Eggars, came to Montréal on a book tour to promote his new book, What Is The What. I think he's a brilliant writer, and I especially loved his tongue-in-cheek titled memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius.
My physicist friend Dan Cooper (he also shot the photos above) and I went to the talk. I was asking questions, enthralled by the conversation with the audience and his humor. I was swooning at how much I admired him and his writing.
At the end of the talk, we walked up to the meet-and-greet table to get our books signed, and we knew we just had to do something special so that he'd remember us.
In line, Dave's assistants had us write our names on post-it notes so that he could address his signage to us.
When it was my turn, I proudly walked up to his table, gave him my name, and told him, "remember this name. It'll be famous one day."
Intrigued, he grinned and responded, "Oh yeah? What do you do?"
"I'm an opera singer."
"Alright, then!" He smiled as he reached down, pulled out his wallet, slapped a $20 on the table, and said, "Ok, sing me an opera aria."
The world around me became fuzzy in an instant. I hadn't sung at all that day and wasn't prepared, but I knew I couldn't make that declaration and then back down.
In that hotel conference room filled with hundreds of people, I had to do it.
I sang O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini.
I think Dave was surprised that I went through with it. He was delighted, though. He knew the aria and gave me that $20. I'm sure he remembered it.
I'm happy to share with you two audio recordings I performed in a recital at McGill. The first is a beautiful, dark, enchanting Russian aria by Rachmaninoff, and the second is a gorgeous German Lied by Schubert. Dana Nigrim is on piano.
I later went on to perform these pieces in a castle in the Italian Alps and in Graz, Austria.
Because my singing and songwriting studio and my musical output are expanding plus I’m further developing my own skills to share with you, my rate for a package of 12 lessons is raising to $2000 for new clients on January 1, 2019.
That said, now is the time to lock in your spot for 2019 at $1500 PLUS the free bonus 90-minute Breakthrough Intensive. Lessons are available in New York City and online.
If you're interested, email me at mary@setyourlifetomusic.com and let's talk!
Some other things - I've been considering offering VIP songwriting retreats around the world. Based on certain personal connections and experiences I have, some potential opportunities include:
- songwriting on a sailing yacht through the Aegean Sea and in the Greek Islands
- songwriting on a luxury motor yacht in Turkey
- songwriting in the luxurious historic château and award-winning vineyard in the south of France, Château de Paraza
- songwriting and recording with platinum record producers in Los Angeles and New York City
- songwriting in beautiful Montréal, Québec
- songwriting and recording in Havana, Cuba, with Havana's leading musicians at the studio of the famous Cuban singer Pablo Milanés
- songwriting at a luxurious estate and horse farm on a volcano in Nicaragua
- songwriting in the James Bond-esque Lugano, Switzerland, which is close to Lake Como, Italy, but fancier ;)
- songwriting and recording in beautiful Washington, D.C.
If you're interested and have other destinations in mind, let me know. I've always found a way to make it happen.
Well, that's it for now. I'm off to chill out and live it up in Montréal.
Can't say it enough. I couldn't and wouldn't do it withoutcha.
Happy New Year.
Mad love. Wishing you inspiration and expansion.
XO MARY ALOUETTE AKA ALARKE
P.S. Click here to support my music on Patreon.
P.P.S. Click here to learn more about songwriting lessons with Set Your Life To Music.
