Home for the Holidays

Well my time at home is coming to an end and I feel as though I should reflect a little on it.

I have loved every minute of being home. Every time I am here I realize how wonderful it is "out east." People will look you in the eye and genuinely greet you. It is also pretty nice to walk around the city and run into people you have known since you were in junior high etc. It is a wonderful feeling to have history with people.

On top of all of that- I got to see my 93 year old Grandmother, two of my three nieces and of course my immediate family. There were many laughing fits over inside jokes and even our yearly "fam jam."

As for the next couple of weeks- I am in the home stretch for Zerbinetta! I could not be more excited for a role. On top of it, it seems as though it will be an Atelier Lyrique reunion! I have worked with quite a few of the artists already, so I am sure it will be a blast. Now it is time for serious reading, German touch ups, Journals for memorizing and just general comprehension. If you see me in Montreal muttering German... just shake me!

I am looking forward to getting back into my normal gym routine as well. My gym is going to be so busy though, which I don't look forward to. My friend and I have our morning routine where we get an amazing coffee on the way and then work out.

New Years approaches- and now it is time to think of resolutions.

My top five are:

1. Take more time to enjoy each moment.
2. Be on time.
3. Read more
4. Join a team or group
5. Make a new recipe once a week

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

One last thing; I updated my website, check it out: www.suzannerigden.com

Here is a picture of my Mom and I on a walk in my hometown around the Holidays. 

I thought I knew what tired was....

People say you don't know what it is like to be tired until you have a baby, but I am pretty sure I know it. I have felt it this week.

Traveling is just plain tiring. I have been NON STOP for the past few weeks and I crave a day in my bed. Watching movies. Thinking about nothing. Even just practicing without a deadline. I am trying to please everyone else in my life and I realize thats not helping me.

Lesson learned. When trying to learn extremely hard music. Do only that. Nothing else. I would rather eat peanut butter for a month than do what I am doing right now.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Keep going. This is my motto for the next month or so.

I wish I was going on a cruise this year.

Dear Opera Gods, or producers or whoever. Please produce more concerts on boats! ;)

Have a great week.

Suz

Time, and time again....

Here I am, again, on the overnight bus back from New York City.

Here are the tricks I have learned along the way with this form of travel....

1. Drink first. I know this sounds ridiculous,  but if you have a glass of wine or something, it will help you fall asleep... because this is necessary.

2. Go on a weekday. Less people take the overnight bus on a weekday. Fact.

3. Go towards the back. Somehow people are lazy and like to stay near the front. You are more likely to get a place to yourself near the back... aka the toilets..

4. Bring sleeping gear. Wear puffy clothes. It gets cold. My favourite article is my blow up pillow and  eye mask.

5. Have NO shame. None.

6. Eat in Albany. (Bring your own food, because that stuff they sell... yuck!)

7. Be honest. Don't try and steal the extra seat. People are less likely to bother you and sit with you. Ha. You would think this would be the opposite. I have also heard of people faking being sick so that people don't sit with you. I believe this might be a good option.... but I am not sure I could do it.

8. Fly.

Alright, but seriously, this is brutal. I can't wait for the day that I have some sort of flight pass, or enough points that I never have to take the bus again. The problem is that sometimes the flights don't work out to get you on time. Luckily the bus NEVER cancels. (Unlike airlines)

Have I said enough?

Update on life: I am feeling very excited for the upcoming months. I am LOVING coaching Zerbinetta all of the time. This character might actually be me. This is so fun. I love New York, also. I just love the hustle and bustle. I once said it is like shopping in a mall around Christmas all of the time in New York.

Today I bought a new winter jacket. I planned on giving my old one to a person who needed it in the street, although I didn't see any female beggars along the way (to the bus stop) that it would fit or needed a jacket. I guess I will give it to a Montrealer. On a random note: The beggars are quite resourceful in NYC. I saw one who had a carpet set up on top of the Subway grate. Genius! Thats way more comfy than the bus... although I would never trade my situation to live on the street. It still hurts me to see people out on the streets. :(

Alright, its time to try and sleep again. Oh! I forgot to mention- I listen to a meditative application called "Omnivana" and it is the loop of "Deep Sleep." It REALLY works. So far, so good!

Bonne nuit mes amis!

Suz

One of those days

Good evening blog readers,

I am sitting down- (does anyone blog while standing?) trying to sort out my life for the next couple of days. It is very hard to do all of this when your computer has crashed two days ago...  I am now forced to take one day at a time and feel very lucky to have some computer savvy friends in my life. It will be back in working order by Wednesday, I believe.

I find it quite funny that something that one could call a "first world problem" (Oh god, my Macbook's hard drive died... is nothing in comparison to world hunger, war etc.) sent me into a funny self-reflective state as well. You never realize exactly what you have until it is taken away. Why do we always realize what we had only after it is gone? Why are we programmed to realize everything in hindsight? I can't say that this is always the case, but quite often we are always looking forward, to the next step, the next phase and don't recognize that the reality of the present is actually quite as lovely as the future.

I sit here, Zerbinetta score next to me, the kitchen a complete mess (because, for once, I was cooking- and let me tell you- it was actually good!), a funny computer situation and booking ridiculous travel for the next few days. I am quite happy. Right now.

I am thankful for so many things in my life right now, and feel that I would like to send a few shout outs! I am ever so thankful for my loving, supportive and all around awesome family. They have never, ever, disappointed me in their care. I also want to thank my friends who entertain me, support me, listen  to me and are willing to do go the distance with me. I may not see you all extremely often, but it doesn't even feel like a day goes by.... You know who you are ;)

I also am so thankful to be able to do something that I love so much on a daily basis. This is something I really count myself lucky for. I realize that I have chosen a challenging path, but I choose this everyday when I wake up. I would take all of the struggles,  sacrifices and peanut butter meals just to make sure that I am able to do what I love the most. Create music.

Alright, enough procrastinating.... I have a lot of dishes to do and a suitcase to pack.

Happy Halloween!

Suz

Queen of St-Eustache- Okay Just of the Night...

Long time no blog!

I feel like I have been running around like a crazy woman for the past couple of months. I am very happy to take a moment and reflect sometimes. Like now. :)

At the moment I am in rehearsals for my first official Queen of the Night with Festival Opéra de Ste Eustache. We had our pre-générale tonight. Our Papageno hadn't arrived yet, so it was a very exciting rehearsal. By the way, shout out to Nicholas Rigas for walking in after a trans-atlantic flight and knocking it out of the park! It is those moments that make me bow down in awe to such incredible artists.

So this week has been a little crazy transporting back and forth to Saint-Eustache and not stopping my regular Montreal life at the same time. It makes me begin to realize what it must be like to have a child. You just need to be on top of the game at all times or else something could go wrong. Kudos to all of the wonderful mothers out there who keep on top of it.

I guess I am really in a thankful mood. On that note: Happy belated Canadian Thanksgiving.

So if you are reading this and are not too far from Saint-Eustache, Quebec, come out to the Petit Église on Friday October 18th at 8pm to hear my first (but definitely not last) Queen of the Night.

Happy Wednesday!

Suzanne

PS this picture is from before my Dartmouth Community Concert Recital debut. What a blast to sing my favourite pieces for my hometown!

Learning like a crazy person

Aloha!

It feels like a tropical country right now here in Montreal. It is so muggy! I went for a run today and it was hard to breathe.

I wanted to write a little check in tonight. I spend a Saturday night at home preparing food for my upcoming week. I am proud to say that I CAN COOK! I used to cower in front of the stove and for the past couple of months I have been asking for help from friends as well as looking up new recipes. Guess what? I am not so bad!

Tonight I made a vegan mousse. It is delicious!

Okay, on other news I am learning a lot of new repertoire for my upcoming recital and I am so excited to start feeling settled and ready for it. I have been going non-stop for the past weeks and I am planning on going further into it. When you love what you do, you never work a day in your life! T-minus 26 days until the concert! Looking forward to it.

Have a wonderful Labour Day Weekend to my readers!

Suz xo

Back to "real life"

I am feeling a little nostalgic today I suppose about life.

I have been very busy the past few weeks trying to balance teaching, exercise, friends, learning music, preparing an opera and a gala. I am now finally taking a breather and can say that it was fabulous.

I have met wonderful people from around the world, made new connections to teachers and coaches, I have also turned a year older...

I now have a bit of time to let life soak in and dive into my concert repertoire as it is coming up in five weeks! I am very much looking forward to it, and love the music that I have decided to prepare for it. J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Poulenc, Mozart and a little Maritime Surprise at the end!

Thank you to the ICAV family and to all of my new colleagues and friends. You keep me going. Thank you!

I have attached a photo taken by Pierre-Etienne Bergeron of me singing "Glitter and be Gay" from Candide by Bernstein

CVAI changed my life.

Dear Opera Gods,

I would like to sincerely thank all of the people that have enriched my life as a singer as well as person. I would not be here without the generous support of music-lovers alike.

It is not an easy career and when you know you have the love and support of others, it makes the world of a difference.

Below is a small clip of Canadian Vocal Arts Institute in the news.


http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/ID/2400045451/


I am forever thankful.

Fondly yours,

Suzanne

Summer in Montreal and Life as it comes

I will start this blog off by saying I LOVE MONTREAL.

I have never felt more at home in a city than I do now here in Montreal. That being said, I have never actually spent a summer in the place I actually live in because I was always doing summer programs. I am not sure I ever want to go back, I forgot how much fun summer can be!

I have been to the Jazz Fest, Francofolies, Completement Cirque (I even tried trapeze!!), I have spent a lot of time in parks, ran more than I have in the past year, went to tam tams, I have learned to play Australian Football, met wonderful new friends, ate ants (obviously not on purpose...) and the exciting summer list goes on.

At this present moment I feel that my life is turned upside-down while at the same time I am the happiest that I have ever been. It is a strange and wonderful feeling all at the same time.

After experiencing so many lovely things in the past couple of months I have decided that I just have to sit back and relax and let life happen. I find that I am constantly looking ahead and what else I can be doing to get to the next step instead of sitting back and enjoying the step I am in the middle of taking. I have devoted this summer to taking time to smell the roses.

I have uploaded my picture from trapeze trial. It was scary and wonderful. Exactly how my life feels!

Traveling, learning, jet lag, summer!

Long time, no post!

I just got back from a little trip to Paris for two auditions and I feel I must be still jet lagged because I keep waking up too early!

This morning I have a rehearsal for the Motezuma show with Ensemble Caprice which is going to be lots of fun. I will get to work with the current atelier members today - whom I have not worked with yet and I am quite excited! I love the challenge of this piece and am looking to expand my baroque repertoire. Bring it, Vivaldi!

The month of May has flown by because I have been learning music and cramming and it sometimes feels like it was for no reason. I learned an ENTIRE opera for one audition... and while you are doing so you realize you it could be a complete waste of time... If I think of it in those terms though, I would go crazy. Instead I am choosing to stand up to the challenge, trust in this business (even though it can be hard) and appreciate that I was able to accomplish it.

Walking around Paris I found "Place du Québec"

Summer has "sort of" arrived in Montreal. It was raining cats and dogs for the past week in Paris and when I arrived home it didn't stop. The past two days has felt like summer though. I spent a whole afternoon in the park one day and then after a trip to Ottawa and back I went to a friends for a BBQ and we all sat outside while singing and playing guitar. Summer has begun!

Now that summer has begun I am happy to say that I have finished my traveling for a while. I look forward to settling into Montreal for the longest stretch I can remember. I have been to London (UK), Halifax, Ottawa, Paris twice and New York three times since February and last year was no better. I think I have had my fair share of jet lag and I want to unpack the suitcase!

It terms of my happiness challenge from my previous post- I would like to say that things are going very well! I am finding back the activities
that I love to do (outside and within music) and my general mood has completely switched!

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions" - Dalai Lama

Happy end of May!

Suzanne

Fun, non-singing news!

How is it April 30th already?

Well life has its way of speeding up and slowing down on us at different times.

I am running off to New York tomorrow for an audition and coachings, rushing back for some teaching and then heading right back down and then off to Paris. May is a little crazy, but I am looking forward to the excitement that brings.

I am excited to head back to one of my favourite cities (New York) and hopefully spending as much time in the Central Park as possible.

As for the non-singing news, last night I decided to start training for the "Tough Mudder" competition. I was looking for a fitness goal and a friend suggested this one! Here we go. I have a little over nine weeks to get into top shape. Wish me luck! Happy MAY!

http://toughmudder.com

Cleaning out the cobwebs!

Spring cleaning time (even if it doesn't feel like spring!)

I have cleaned out closets, bought a bike and have joined up for some community events and now its time to get creative. 

In the past couple of weeks I have decided to re-define what makes me happy. I challenge whoever reads this to do the same. It is an extremely refreshing feeling and I look forward to the positive results.

I also was just thinking of writing down list of things I wanted to do in the near future, so I decided writing on my blog might help me make sure things things happen.

Things I would like to accomplish (in no particular order)

1. See an NHL Hockey Game

2. Join a soccer team

3. Create a crafty group with friends

4. Go to Southeast Asia

5. Continue to learn languages

6. Stay in better touch with my family and friends

7. Have more picnics

8. Be more in the present moment

9. Be more honest with people- be myself

10. Have more baths.

As for Career stuff.... Had a little trip to Paris in March, that was nice... heading to NYC on Monday for an audition and a lesson and then there is a possible trip back to Paris in May. I love traveling so this is fine with me!!!

Happy Camper here... ooh maybe I should add that I would like to go camping this summer!

Happy April showers!

Suz

Off to Paris and New Recordings!

I am updating from my four hour (ugh) layover in Chicago Airport on my way to Paris for an audition!

Sometimes this job blows my mind! I have spent the week learning some new Mozart and now I am hopping the Atlantic for an audition! Send me good vibes on Saturday 10:45am.... or for my North American readers... sleep me some good vibes?...

Anyway, I wanted to let you all know that I had a little day in the recording studio so feel free to visit www.suzannerigden.com to hear the most "up-to-date" recordings.  

Joyeuses Pâques et Happy Easter!

Suzanne

Zerbinetta

Hold the phone....

Did I mention I will be singing Zerbinetta with Pacific Opera Victoria next February?!

My dream role! I am so excited!!!

Suzanne

New Youtube video!

Hello again!

Just thought I would post a new video on youtube from a concert I did for the IVAI gala.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z8hPbeslBw

I hope you enjoy!

Happy Saturday.

Suzanne

March Madness..

Morning!

Today is spring forward, so really it feels like an hour earlier, and I went to bed late... why do I feel so awake? Mystery....

Anyway, just thought I would write a quick little note to say that Dead Man Walking at Opera de Montreal was AMAZING. I was so impressed by the production, singing.. the whole gamut. I went to it the other night and I believe it was one of the best productions I have seen... EVER! Congrats to all who are involved.

March is all about learning new repertoire and spring cleaning! I am so happy to be settled a bit in Montreal and to really feel at home for a while. I almost feel this post should be named "March Calmness" because the more I am here, the happier I am! I have been away so much in the past year that its so nice to unpack and stay a while. Even the quick trip to NYC doesn't seem so bad when you know your things and home are waiting for you when you get home.

Happy Spring everyone!

Suzanne

London, 'Love and Sax' and Life

Greetings from the land of jet lag!

I just arrived home from London yesterday and I did "all of the right things" like drinking tons of water, staying up late to get your body back to the normal schedule. I need a better "quick fix" than this! I am still tired but that is okay. Today was a wonderful day! This morning I had an interview Andrea Nemetz from the Halifax Herald:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/685150-world-acclaimed-soprano-comes-home-to-sing

After that I had a dress rehearsal with Jérémie for our concert "Love and Sax" which is happening tomorrow night (or depending where you are, tonight!) at 7:30pm at the Maritime Conservatory of Music. We are all looking forward to this concert! My dad Steve Rigden will be performing with his Saxophone Quartet named SAX4HIRE.

I spent the early evening with some lovely singers from the Youth Honour Choir. We did a workshop on breath, vowels, posture and support! What a great bunch of girls!

I finished off the evening with the Dartmouth Choral Society. We had lots of fun and I got some exercise! I didn't realize how much I moved when I was expressing certain concepts!

All in all it was a wonderful day. I am now sitting in bed ready to roll over and sleep! I will bid you adieu.

I am so happy where I am right now. Not just that I am in Halifax, but just in general! Share the love and happiness everyone. You are enough!

Suzanne

2013... and we are off to the races!

Greetings from cold and snowy Montreal!

I have spent the morning looking at new music, and preparing my upcoming concerts. It is a great feeling to have goals and projects... even if it can get overwhelming sometimes!

My next concert is a concert I have done once a year now at St Moritz. It is a retirement home and the people are so warm and receptive. I love singing for them! It also gives me a chance to "break out" some new repertoire, which is a very important step in terms of performances as well. We need that extra pressure and nerves to test our abilities. 

Immediately after that I will be heading to London England for an audition and then flying to my home town of Halifax to perform in "Love and Sax" a recital Jérémie Pelletier and I are performing and then I will sing in the fundraising event "Opera Valentine" with Opera Nova Scotia. I am very much looking forward to these events! Hope to see you there :)


Suzanne Rigden, soprano

Jérémie Pelletier, pianowith special Guests Sax4Hire

February 13th 2013 at 7:30pm Lilian Piercey Hall at the Maritime conservatory


Dartmouth soprano Suzanne Rigden joins Montréal pianist Jérémie Pelletier for an evening of love songs and arias. The local saxophone quartet Sax4Hire featuring Steve Rigden, Brian March, Tobias Beale and Brad Reid will be special guests with a twist. Bring your Valentine to this heart melting musical treat.

For advance tickets please call 902-434-2017

$10 students$15 adults

Or visit www.suzannerigden.com for more information

2012 In Review..

Greetings from a small town in Québec!

I don't get cell service, and to be honest, I am not sure I miss being completely connected all the time! I won't go through a list of resolutions, but I did find something I really enjoyed that I wanted to share. (A Facebook post that came across my newsfeed!)

My project for this year is to have a jar, and whenever I think of something that made me smile or happy, I write it on a piece of paper and put it in this jar. I will then open it on new years eve and see all of the things I am grateful for. Often times we get some bogged down by everything negative in our lives, that its time to start appreciating what we have!

Here are just a few of the things that I would have put in my jar for 2012:

Family and friends
My grandmother turned 92 and is still lively and living on her own!!!
Three adorable nieces
Two cute kitties
Supportive parents
Friends far and wide who I got to reconnect with! (A major bonus in this career!)
Signing with Uzan International Artists
JMC Tour of Carmen throughout Quebec and Ontario
Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail in my hometown!
Second Season at Merola Opera Centre singing Lady with a Hand Mirror
An offer with Edmonton Opera and a couple of more I can't announce!
An audition trip to Europe where I got to visit some new countries, cities and make music!
Fun times in France with singing friends.
Signing with a French Agent: Florence Brunel
Singing on a cruise ship- and a family vacation all in one! "We're all in the same boat" was what we kept saying...

Thanks for reading! I hope that 2013 brings you health, happiness and good fortune!

Suzanne