Noncerto Videos, Blondchen, West Coast and Germany, Oh MY!

Dear Blog world,

It is that time again. Blog update! I am finally feeling "on top of things" and am enjoying a few lovely days at home with my super supportive boyfriend, Christophe! One of the most important things about this career is having a wonderful support group by your side. My parents and family are incredibly supportive and have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and now I am lucky enough to have found a partner who is equally encouraging and is very patient with my crazy schedule. For example: I have been gone since December 28th and have been home in Montreal for a little more than a week with him in total. We are long distance pro's at this point and our worst day is when we have a bad wifi connection or that our schedules don't line up. Christophe if you read this: Thank you for all that you do!

Alright, enough with the mushy stuff. It has been a busy time with so many things happening. Lets go in chronological order, shall we?

On January 16th I was fortunate enough to sing Blondchen with the Ann Arbor Symphony in Michigan. Well, this town was so adorable, the company was incredible to work for and I feel I have made friends for life now. One of the huge bonuses of this career is having met a lot of wonderful people. I love that I get to reconnect with old colleagues and make new colleague/friends. There was incredible singing and performing happening and we were able to have a semi-staged production within two days. That requires a lot of trust and team work, and that is one of my favourite parts! I grew up playing on team sports and in choirs etc, and one of the most amazing bonds you can have in this world is trust. So, all in all, that was a fantastic experience.

After this trip I hopped home and back between the states for a few auditions and then jumped the pond to try out the European houses. I again got to meet up with some wonderful friends and the weather was much nicer so I started training for my next half marathon! I will be doing the blue nose half marathon on May 22nd in Halifax. For me, I have to have goals or else I get a little aimless when it comes to training, so this is exciting.

Okay, back to the story: I spent five days in Amsterdam (what a cool city) and I did an audition and a workshop there, then I missed my train by literally a minute and caught the next one to Augsburg Germany. I bopped in and out of France, Germany and Italy for a few weeks doing auditions. My favourite being on the Regio di Torino stage. That was INCREDIBLE. What a theatre. It felt like you didn't have to do anything to create a sound there. Here's to hoping I get to go back. Anyway, then I made my way up to Berlin for the final two weeks. I enjoyed being there- again catching up with old friends, seeing beautiful opera, taking a german intensive language course, running, eating fantastic vegetarian and vegan food and Christophe came for the final week. It was truly a dream come true. He and I really fell in love with the city, so if by writing it down for the world to see here on my blog will help at all: Dear Universe- we would really like a chance to live there and work there at some point. There, the wish has been sent!

Next on the list- Noncerto Videos! There is a very cool tv channel that produces classical music videos in and around montreal but now they have outreached into the rest of Canada. Below I have posted my most recent videos that were just released and then just last week I was lucky enough to go out to the Monashee Mountains to film up at Mustang Powder; one of the coolest places I have even been to! (The picture above this post is my view from the hot tub!) I can't wait to see the next videos we will post about that. Please check out the following ones and share them. They are out here for all to see!

http://www.suzannerigden.com/#!video/lctc1

If you ever have any questions please feel free to contact me via my website at info@suzannerigden.com

Happy Friday!

Pirates of Penzance Photo and Reviews

Good evening!

I hope this blog post finds you well. I am personally enjoying a quiet evening after a fun day. Today I performed my 12th show of Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan with Drayton Entertainment at the St Jacobs County Playhouse. 

I have to say it has been a long time for me to play in a musical, but also in G&S! I had my first big exposure to operetta at the age of 17 when I played Rose Maybud in Ruddigore with the G&S Society of Nova Scotia. It has been a treat to come back with it, but also to play it with a predominately Musical Theatre company. I have to say, I love it! I have learned so much in such a short period of time, and I am now motivated to work up some musical theatre repertoire and to take more dance classes. (I love to dance, so, bonus!)

There have been some pretty positive reviews so far that I would like to share:

"Suzanne Rigden, an opera singer making her Drayton debut, has a high, clear agile voice that clearly has no need of amplification.  Besides bringing off Mabel’s highly-ornamented songs perfectly, Rigden also proves herself a fine comic actor."

Christopher Hoile from Stage Door

http://www.stage-door.com/Theatre/Current_Reviews/Entries/2015/10/11_The_Pirates_of_Penzance.html

"Everyone is exceptionally good with considerable vocal skills yet there is a standout here: Suzanne Rigden as Mabel in her Drayton debut.

While other cast members have musical theatre voices, Rigden is pure opera. She has beautiful, crystal-clear vocals, which led her to be named one of CBC's Hot 30 Under 30 Classical Musicians."

Valerie Hill from Waterloo Region Record

http://www.therecord.com/whatson-story/5955345-updated-pirates-of-penzance-brings-the-zany-to-st-jacobs-stage/

file:///Users/suzannerigden/Desktop/untitled%20folder/The%20Pirates%20of%20Penzance_Drayton%20Entertainment_2015_139.JPG

"Soprano Suzanne Rigden excels as Mabel.  Her rich operatic voice fills the theatre."

- Mary Alderson from Entertain this thought

http://www.entertainthisthought.com/2015/10/10/the-pirates-of-penzance-2015

Here are some production photos! 

Photo 1: Post "Poor Wand'ring One"
Photo 2: Post Second act duet
Photo 3: Finale of Act 2: Reprise of "Poor Wand'ring one"

Good evening folks! Come out and see Pirates if you are in the Waterloo area.

CBC Classical Music's Hot 30 under 30

Hello again!

I just wanted to write and update you on some fun and exciting news:

I have been selected this year to be part of CBC Classical Music's Hot 30 under 30! I am very honoured and excited to be named on this list.

It has been a wonderful 2014-2015 season and this is icing on the cake.

http://music.cbc.ca/#!/blogs/2015/8/30-hot-Canadian-classical-musicians-under-30-2015-edition

Happy Wednesday to all!

Suz

Update from Tanglewood #TMC75

Hello blog readers,

I am writing after a very long hiatus. Actually, I can't believe it has been so long! I have been quite busy since I wrote last and there is much to update which is, of course, great news.

I am currently a vocal fellow at Tanglewood, which has been a wonderful and enlightening experience. It is very exciting to have been part of an institution that so many famous musicians have been a part of. A few notable alumni include: Leonard Bernstein, William Bolcom, Zubin Mehta, Dawn Upshaw (Who is our current head of voice faculty), Michael Tilson Thomas, Stephanie Blythe, Leontyne Price, and Aaron Copland. As you can imagine, I have been around some wonderful performers, seen some great concerts and have learned quite a bit about my own learning process. My particular highlight has been learning the Concerto per la notte di Natale dell'anno 1956 by Luigi Dallapiccola. That was a tough piece, but my goodness did it teach me a lot. I am learning new arias now and they feel like baby food in comparison! 

A little quote for fun:
Soprano Suzanne Rigden (who also provided the English program translations) has a lithe and athletic voice that easily encompassed Dallapiccolla’s complex vocal lines, executing the stratospheric ascents without undue effort. -Brian Schuth
http://www.classical-scene.com/2015/07/25/fcm-night-3/

On another note, I have become a vegetarian! It has been a little over two months that I have not eaten anything that moo's or coo's. I will say that I have on occasion eaten some fish. That being said, it was only about four or five times. I have to say, I feel great! It was not a dietary thing, more of an environmental reason and animal rights etc. I keep telling myself I will do the vegan thing, but I wouldn't have survived here on residence food, that is for sure. I would like to disclaimer here: I do not do this to make anyone else feel bad about what they ate and am not judging of those who do eat these things. Since becoming a vegetarian I have had a lot of people ask why, and then they immediately become defensive. Therefore, please don't ask if you don't really want to know. #endrant

Okay, back to singing things: Since writing last I had and wacky trip to China. We toured fourteen cities. I can tell you that I saw a lot of hotels and not much of the cities themselves. I went to the great wall of china whilst being extremely get-lagged and, frankly, quite sick. It was still very impressive and breath-taking. I will say though that I do not want to eat Chinese food for another year. It was great food but I had enough! Other than that, it was cool to feel like celebrities there. I love that they enjoyed the operatic pieces and especially our Rossini cat duet.

Immediately following that I had a turn around of two days in Montreal and then headed to the Lunenburg Academy of Music for four weeks. It was a great program as it was an intensive individual study program and its in such a wonderful picturesque town! I met some really wonderful people and got to see my family. It really was the best of all worlds. While there I was preparing my repertoire for the Montreal International Music Competition, which happened between May 25-June 6th. What amazing voices we heard from all over the world. I had a really great experience preparing for this competition and was pleased with my performance. I unfortunately did not advance from the Quarter Finals, but I feel lucky to have been selected to be there. 

That brings us up until the present. I can assure you that there are many other wonderful things that have happened during these experiences, but I am leaving you with the highlights of it. If you would like to have more information of upcoming performances etc. Please see my website: www.suzannerigden.com

This picture is relatively self-explanatory. This is myself, Rich Coburn and Christianne Bélanger on a huge poster in China.

Until the next time...

Vancouver Opera Die Fledermaus Reviews

Salutations from Vancouver!

I have been thoroughly enjoying my time here, as well as working with Vancouver Opera. I have to say the winter is most definitely more tolerable here. Ten Degrees and sunny in February works well for me!

As for the show, it has been so wonderful working with these world class colleagues and singing at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.  The music is just so joyous, and so fun to sing! 

There have been a few reviews out, and I wanted to share some of their comments with you!

"..The part of her savvy, cynical maid Adele gives Suzanne Rigden (another new face) a chance to play the perfect high-voice ingenue."David Gordon Duke from The Vancouver Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Opera+review+Fledermaus+evokes+mystique+Vienna/10852858/story.html#ixzz3TRRCO6qC

"My outstanding pick of the night has to be Suzanne Rigden’s Adele, who was not only a fine singer, but flirtatious and very funny with a great sense of comedic timing. She stole the stage." - Cathy Browne from Vancity Buzz

http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/03/die-fledermaus-frothy-fun-fabulous/

"Soprano Suzanne Rigden, in her VO debut as Adele, possesses a lithe and delicate coloratura, and an impish coquettishness."- Jessica Werb from The Georgia Straight

https://www.straight.com/arts/401466/die-fledermaus-positively-effervescent-production

"Suzanne Rigden as Adele, captured everyone’s heart within the first few seconds; her operatic laughter, squeals, and giggles could be understood in any language. Her role did much to keep the laughs rolling throughout the evening." - Boating Vancouver

https://boatingvancouver.wordpress.com

"Playing the part of Adele, her chambermaid, the Canadian soprano Suzanne Rigden received kudos from the audience for her effervescent approach and her strong and confident singing of the most striking coloratura parts." -Carlos Javier López from Opera World

http://www.operaworld.es/en/fledermaus-vancouver

Below is a picture of Act I taken by Tim Matheson: 

Best wishes for 2015!

Dear Blog world,

I am deeply sorry for taking so much time in between posts. When life happens, sometimes you need to just get up from the computer and enjoy it! There have been some really great things happening in the past little while. 2015 is turning out to be a pretty exciting year, and it has only just begun. Resolutions are of course important, but I just am trying to constantly find the best I can give and be the best person I can be. I learned a lot last year through running and singing. If I were to sum it up:

1. If you put in the time and effort, you will see the results. 
2. Be kind to yourself. Love yourself more than someone else can love you, then you won't need someone else. (Not that its bad- just that you will enjoy it more when you aren't asking constantly for their affection)
3. Focus on the positive and you can move mountains.

So far here is how 2015 is shaping up:

I started the year on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with my special someone... ;)

Then shortly after, I took the First Place, Artist Division, in the National Opera Association Voice Competition, winning the Todd Duncan Legacy Award in Greensboro, North Carolina.

In a week or so I head back to Vancouver for the first time in almost six years. (Crazy!) I am so excited to get back to the West, run outdoors in the winter, do yoga, eat cheap sushi, see friends and most importantly sing Adele with Vancouver Opera. When I finally get to do what I love the most and what I sacrifice so much for, it makes it all seem worth it. 

After Vancouver I will head back to Montreal for a few days and then head to China for a fourteen city/ fourteen concert tour with some great friends. We will be there for Three weeks touring all over the place! I can't wait to head back. I haven't been there since 2008.

Next up is a trip back to the Maritimes in April/May to be a part of training and outreach for the Lunenburg Academy of Music Program, where they bring in different conductors and coaches from Italy to work on Rossini. They have a partnership in Italy. I am looking forward to returning home to see my family as well as work on some great repertoire. 

In May-June I will be home in Montreal finally to check in on the cat etc. I will be very happy to get back home after about three months living out of a suitcase. Then I will head south a few hours to Tanglewood to be a part of the 2015 summer festival. I will spend two months in Lenox, MA. 

So far, its looking pretty fun for 2015! I have a lot of music to learn and a lot of traveling to do. 

Please check back in! I will be periodically blogging and keeping everyone up to date on my experiences. You can also follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/serigden

Feel free also to check out my website: www.suzannerigden.com
I have new pictures, videos and music to hear!

Keep moving; It's cold out there!

Suz

New Headshots and Montreal

Good evening!!

Wow, it has definitely been too long since I have updated. It is October 9th and I have had a whirl wind of a trip in Europe and have now officially settled back into "everyday life." 

I ran my first half Marathon in August of this year (It was pretty tough as I was jet lagged and dehydrated... but I completed it in 1:54, which is not too bad). I will be competing my second one on November 2nd. It turns out I really love having goals and I think that running has sort of saved my career in a strange way. It has given me back a confidence that apparently I was missing. I think everyday is a goal attained in my running life, and it directly translates into my singing. I will never stop running now. Its just such a great meditation for me and on top of it, it helps me with my breathing. 

Below are some new headshots. What do you think?

I will write more later. 

Bisous from Montréal.

xx Suzanne