A novice blogger's manifesto, or Welcome to my brain.com

Well, here we are.  I sort of have mixed feelings about blogs.  I mean, it sort of presupposes that anyone cares about what I have to say.  I've never blogged - I have rarely even kept a journal.  But I sort of have a unique opportunity here that seemed too good to let slip by.  You see, over the next 11 months (from April '09 to February '10), I will be playing the role of Figaro - the factotum, the big fig, everyone's favorite barber!  I am playing the razor-wielding and razor-witted Figaro in 4 productions of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and 1 production of Rossini's The Barber of Seville.  This character will take me to Louisiana, Vermont, Virginia, and Milwaukee (twice).  Some productions will be in Italian, some in English, and all will be fully staged with orchestra and all the trimmings.  

I thought this might be a good time to try my hand at a blog because, for no other reason, I might like to look someday and remember what my Figarofest was like, and, like I said, I don't want this experience to just slip by.  Hey Bill Shakespeare, why not just write it down in a journal, you ask?  Well, that's a good question.  I don't know.  Am I a closet exhibitionist?  I don't think so.  I just like the idea of sharing this experience with other singers, friends, or the random passer-by...I don't know, jeez, do I need a reason to start a blog?  Yoda has a blog, for pete's sake!

I've sung Mozart's Figaro before, but this will be my first time tackling the famous Rossini opera and the infamous "Largo al factotum" on stage.  It is somewhat daunting to think about spending most of a year with one character.  Will it be monotonous? Will it be thrilling?  Yes.  Yes.  I don't know.  All I can do is be open to the experience and enjoy the ride.  The Marriage of Figaro is my favorite opera, so I really can't imagine a better predicament to be in.  

Here is what I want to accomplish.  I am going to write about my experiences telling the story of Figaro, including the challenges (of which there will be many), the benefits (of which there will be even more), and how my thoughts about Figaro evolve and are enriched over the course of a year.  A year of Figaro.  I'm going to try to stick to my experiences only - I'm not going to use this blog as a forum for venting or airing out dirty laundry.  I'm going to try to be honest and candid - if I'm not, why even bother with a blog at all?  And most of all, I'm going to try to actually make regular blog entries!!!! As I said, I'm not practiced in the art of journaling.  

So, welcome.  I'll end with a quote from Mr. Mozart himself:

"To talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but an equally great one is to know when to stop."

So I will.

Oh, and I lied about not having blogged before.  I kept one for a few weeks in 2006 under the moniker JackHanSolo (don't ask!) and had a readership of one.  If you can find it, enjoy.  It's pretty silly.  

AW