I’M SICK, BUT I HAVE TO PERFORM
TONIGHT! AAAAUGH- Part 2!
APRIL, 2009
In my last season at the New York City Opera,
before going across the Plaza to the Met, I
found myself in the unusual circumstance of
having to open two operas, that were new to me,
in one week; Ezio, Generale Romano, in Verdi’s
“Attila” and James, Earl of Moray, in Thea
Musgrave’s, “Mary Queen of Scots,” both very
demanding roles. It was particularly demanding
in the case of the “Mary” for the fencing, which
was very physical and fought with sword and
dagger … “Richard Fredricks, as James, Earl of
Moray, staged a dashingly athletic and
convincing sword fight - in fact, all the
slashing and stabbing during the evening was
done with theatrical flair …” New York Times.
Because of the scheduling, I had two dress
rehearsals, before the first performance of
Attila. Everything went very well … but, as I
prepared to sing the opening night Attila, I
found that every time I would sing several pages
of music, and then have a few to rest … my cords
would load up with phlegm. When I began to sing
again, because of strong technique buttressed by
flexible support, I was able to regain control,
but unsettling. It was particularly worrisome,
when I finished my first act and last act arias,
when I then had to sing the cabaletta, with the
expected high note finale. I got the notes … but
it was hard work.
The next day, I went to my doctor Roger Rose,
who gave the throat a look, but pronounced me
healthy. I asked him for an antibiotic, which he
declined to give me. “Dick … there’s nothing
there!”
Then, the same with the “Mary!” I was really
frustrated. I went back … to Roger … same story.
Before singing my second Attila, I called my
primary doctor Charles Schneider, who had moved
to Los Angeles and who practices here, still. I
told him the problem and he told me to tell
Roger to “look under the cords.” I did and Roger
said, “Oh … yeah, there it is!” … a low grade
infection, under my cords … not enough to knock
me outta the box, but enough to make those
nights on stage reeeeally long! He started me on
an antibiotic, but unfortunately, I still had to
sing the last two performances, before the
medicine could kick in.
I called Charles and told him how the cords
loaded-up, during the applause before the
cabaletta and he suggested I take a bottle of
Afrin on stage and stash it, where I could use
it during the applause.
Soooo … I put it on the table in both operas and
when the time came, I turned my back to the
audience, leaned over and inhaled two sprays of
Afrin over my cords. That did the trick …
cleaned the cords and tightened them up a tad.
Have I had to do that other times? Seldom, but
… only when really necessary.
If you have similar problems, but the cords are
healthy … look to your technique; keep your
support flexible and lift every high note …
while you sing the most focused, pure vowel, as
high and as far upandforward as you can. That
takes the load off’n the throat …