Oh my gosh, I don’t even know where to begin this blog post about the very first Miss Cheesemonger Sings operatic cheese pairing recital! There was so much to the day. The room was absolutely full, the energy was so joyous and open-hearted, and everyone was very good about not devouring all the cheese before getting to their moment in the program!
The idea to do an operatic cheese pairing has been with me for a few years now, just as classical singing and this blog have been with me for a quite a number of years! I’ve always thought they went beautifully together, since they are both tied to ancient traditions, and elevate very basic human needs–communication and nourishment–into gorgeous, nuanced art forms. Instead of just having people sit and eat cheese while someone performed, though, I wanted to deliberately, thoughtfully pair a piece of music with a piece of cheese. During the recital, everyone managed to stay engaged that way. There wasn’t really any mental down time, since people constantly found new opportunities to consider the music, the storylines, and the cheese.
I have been practicing some of these songs for over a year, and I really wanted to find a forum to get them out of my system and into the world. The practice involved was epic! I worked on my posture, and I visited my friend The Singing Lesson Betany for coaching on diction, acting, and interpretation. I go to my voice lessons every week, and every month, I attend a studio class, which is like a performance focused voice class. The month and a half before our show, I began rehearsing with my incredible collaborative pianist Dwight Okamura. I spent so much time hoping I could do justice to both music and cheese on the stage.
But Miss Cheesemonger Sings could not happen alone! Not only did I have the help of my teachers above, but that of some incredible help and my dear M. Cheesemonger. The day of the recital, a mini army of friends and family were there to help set up the room and break it down. The operation involved moving about 80 chairs around out of and into position, setting up tables, and prepping each setting–in 30 minutes. I wish I could help, but I had to start running through some music with the short time we had.
Ray, the owner of Cheese Plus, my cheese and food/wine partner for the event and fave neighborhood cheese shop, very graciously donated so much of his time and resources to help me bring this whole thing to life. He and his cheesemonger Genevieve were in the basement of the venue cutting and prepping everyone’s cheese plates long before I arrived that afternoon! Thank you thank you thank you, Ray. SF locals, definitely visit his shop! You will not be disappointed.
And then, very suddenly, it was time! Walking out onto that little stage, and seeing so many happy, expectant faces, was a little overwhelming! But, singers have a job to do, and that’s to perform. Even though I’m quiet day-to-day, being on stage brings me so much joy and freedom. I love performing. I love singing, I love opera, and spend so much time thinking of both every day.
It was over so quickly. The room had a lot to digest, literally and figuratively. Between the cheese talk, the cheeses themselves, the music, and the little stories in between each pairing, it was a lot for one little recital. Everyone managed beautifully, though. My greatest wish for the recital was that people could consider and enjoy these two historical, complex, rich art forms–singing and cheese–in new ways, all while respecting their great traditions.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. So many people left while asking when the next one was going to be. Well–I need to think of a program for the next one!! People have sent me such touching, beautiful messages about how they enjoyed the event, and how they could see cheese, opera, and me in new ways.
It was so personally and artistically meaningful to me to be able to share this event with those who attended, and I cannot wait to do it again! Even Kirstin Jackson of It’s Not You, It’s Brie was there! AAHHH!! THANK YOU to the readers who joined me that afternoon! It was an honor to meet you! I cannot wait to see more of you in person!
Stay tuned, as it looks like Miss Cheesemonger Sings is just getting started!
Miss Cheesemonger Sings Food, Cheese, Wine Partner:
Cheese Plus: 2001 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
