Handel's Alcina

Title role of Alcina with the New York Opera Forum at the Plainfield Masonic Temple.

Alcina is a sorceress living on an island with her sister and the many men they have seduced. When they are ready to move on from a man, Alcina turns him into a rock, tree, ocean wave, lion, whatever she pleases! Everything has been going just great until Alcina's latest guy recognizes her for what she is - thanks to his betrothed showing up on the island to find out what's going on and rescue him.

Alcina has six beautiful arias! Two of them are quite long, and all of them allow for so much ornamentation options in the return of the A section. I experimented, worked with a coach, wrote out different ornaments I heard on recordings, and of course, came up with my own. The end result was both planned options as well as improvisatory moments. It was really different than working on classical or romantic music and I think I'd like to do another baroque role, or revisit this one!

This venue, the Plainfield Masonic Temple, also known as Jerusalem Lodge No. 26, is fantastic to sing in! The Masons have gotten several national trust grants to help rehabilitate the building and fund a preservation plan. It was built in 1929 and placed on National Register of Historic Places just two months ago.