Welcome to the redesigned site – just in time for Christmas!
As you can see I have finally emerged from behind my “little cartoon me”…
I used yesterday to upgrade to Thesis 1.6 so I could take advantage of Chris’ new drop down function on the navigation bar. I believe it’s a testament to the power of this incredible theme that I was not only able to upgrade quickly and easily but I could then tweak and customise the changes to get it the way I wanted in only an hour or so. (I couldn’t have done this without spending a long time in the support forum – it is such an invaluable resource and given my tiny amount of experience with CSS and PHP, I would have made such a mess without their help!)
But most importantly I hope this redesign has made the site a little more me - and now I’m really keen to hear what you think. continue reading…
Have you ever had the kind of day where everything just fell into place? Where you felt great, nothing seemed to phase you and everyone around you was on your side? The day flies by, stuff just gets done, and before you know it you’re falling into bed with a smile on your face, a little amazed at how easy it all was?
Or is it more like a struggle? Squeezing yourself into a space on the train that turns up late, resisting every call you have to make, staring at a blank computer screen or shouting at your kids? Another week of feeling too tired, too stressed, depressed and anxious.
Which “you” sounds more like you? continue reading…
Welcome to the home of The Tiny Soprano. As many of you will already know, I am only 5 feet tall. But the operatic stage can often be very generous to those of us who are not vertically-blessed, and very often people would say “My, you don’t look quite this little from the audience.” That is, of course, unless you are singing next to a 6′5″ baritone, in which case there is simply no escaping the fact that you are, indeed, really, really short.
Now being tiny as a light lyric soprano has many advantages. There is never the embarrassment of being taller than your leading man. One can be cute, petite, charming, and rather yummy in a kind of sexy-but-only-in-an-opera kind of way.
There is however a downside. Being taken seriously as a “diva” is never really possible.
As the renowned music exec and the great Pav’s old manager Herbert Breslin once declared, “Big, big, big things don’t happen to little Despina!"
He was referring at the time to Cecilia Bartoli, another tiny soprano, who has forged a massive international career on singing what most consider “small-voiced” roles. And yet she strides across the operatic stage, breasts heaving, sweeping away everything in her path as she takes over the world.
The Tiny Soprano is with you, my operatic amici, to help us all to do exactly that.
Yes, even those burly baritones among you will be free to heave and swing a breast or two in the name of changing the world (as we all know there are many man-boobs hidden away under those flattering costumes).
For far too long, opera singers have slaved away in the pubs, bars and green rooms of the world, as pint follows pint follows pint, safe in the knowledge that the only thing to fear of the new morning would be a hangover, or the possibility of a cancelled show, or having to explain to one’s dresser why those trousers will not fit anymore.
The Tiny Soprano is here to issue a challenge:
How much can a world-wide group of seemingly opera singers and opera lovers come together to change the world for the better?
My mission is to think of new and crazy ways to help all of you wonderful singers make a huge difference to the causes that matter.
I would like to announce the creation of OperaAid.
OperaAid will be a unique movement and will ultimately depend on all of you getting involved. The aim is to mobilise everyday opera singers to come together to create extraordinary change in the lives of others.
There will be more news on the official launch event very soon, and I will also reveal the names of the remarkable global-based team of singers who will all be helping to make this happen.
In the meantime, I need you to do something for me, because you, yes you, will have a leading role in this tiny show of mine. Please post as many ideas and suggestions as you can on this site.
Subscribe to the feed, join me on Twitter and let’s start doing something!
Those of you out there who have been Twittering furiously for charity already know about Twestival Local, which is happening over the weekend of September 11-13. Brisbane Twestival kicks off on Friday 11th at the Joshua Levi Galleries in Woolloongabba, and Tiny Soprano will be there with a clutch of diva hangers on, ready to make merry, eat cup cakes and even stand on a table and sing an aria or three, all to raise money for the Inspire Foundation. This is a fabulous cause, helping young people to escape from depression and potential suicide. In true TS style, one tiny donation on one little evening can make a massive difference and I urge any one who can make it to come down and join in the craziness.
And stay tuned for news of my own little baby, OperaAid – launch date to be announced very soon!
