I managed to get up and go running today, which I was very happy about, and it made me feel much better.
Today we had more rehearsal with Volker Hempfling (I finally learned to spell his name!) and had a wonderful time in the process. He’s brilliant, and has given me some very helpful insights that will be indispensable in my future in singing and conducting. We’re very lucky we’ve had this chance to work with him, and can’t wait to meet him again in Marktoberdorf.
After our rehearsals, Jared and I went forth into the town to see the Castle. It’s beautiful and surrounded by a lush, green park. The town is wonderful, too; very small, intimate, and European! I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
Today in our walk around the castle, Jared and I encountered about 7 or 8 very drunk Croatian high school students who stopped us and asked us for a little money. After we got around the language barrier (their English was very broken, and our Croatian was worse), they all introduced themselves and asked where we were from, if we were enjoying Varazdin, etc, and then offered us cigarettes and beer. We explained that we did not smoke and that we were not allowed to drink, since we were on a trip with our school, to which one of them responded, with a delightful accent, "F*ck trip!" Raucous laughter followed, and we shook their hands and bid them farewell. As bizarre as it was, it was really my first real interaction with the local people, and if I could have I would have loved to sit and have a chat and a beer with them.
Our concert this evening was truly the hottest concert I have ever done (everyone was very sweaty by the end), but the audience very much appreciated it and we gave a series of encores. Here are some additional photos of the venue, and us preparing to sing.
Tonight we bid farewell to Carol Ann, Dr. Allred’s angel of a wife, who will be returning to the States from Zagreb tomorrow morning.
As always, when we move to a new location the status of the internet availability is a great mystery that we only uncover when we arrive. So I am not sure when I will next be able to blog, and it may not be until Ljubljana that you hear from me again. But rest assured that if I find internet access, I will post something every evening for you.
I have only learned two Croatian words in my stay here.
Hvala – Thank you
Da – Yes
