San Diego Opera's 60th Anniversary La bohème sees Mimì as a ghost
Ways to procrastinate: the plot-generated opera
HumourReaders, we've discovered a new game. If you head over to Plot Generator, you can fill in a form that creates your own short story (sort of like Mad Libs). It's kind of fun on its own, but there's a nerdy twist to it.
"I didn't get in": a short story about clarity
Op-edI cross the street and jump over a huge puddle to get to the sidewalk that leads to my apartment. I look up, and there they are: Mrs. Shame and her good friend Mr. Humiliation. So we greet each other, reluctantly shake hands and pick up our usual conversation where we left it the last time I ran into them: "How can this happen to you? They said they loved your dress! But perhaps, if I you had done this phrase differently... I didn’t want to have to tell you this, but your high C was flat.
Killer women: Shadwell Opera's double-bill
Interview"I think the honesty and compassion of these pieces can have a saline, stripping effect on boring ideas about how the mind works. Somehow the psychology of a single human being is unfathomably more complex than we pretend from day to day. Without the music, it would not be possible to explore those depths in the same way."
The Tinder Opera hits the stage
NewsThe Tinder Opera was written by composer Scott Joiner and librettist Adam Taylor, and it was originally produced for film by Galaxy 454 Productions and the Rainy Park Opera Company. Their next film opera collaboration is Something Blue (L'opera del Bachelor), which features a cast of 30 - led by Joiner and soprano Jessica Fishenfeld - and a 10-piece chamber orchestra.
Dracula's neighbour: Nancy Allen Lundy
Interview"Alfred Corn is the brilliant wordsmith of this beguiling story. I can't say enough about how beautifully crafted the text is. The words are like music, tripping and bubbling off the tongue. They are a pleasure to speak, and every phrase is an economic distillation of words to convey intention."
In review: Jamie Barton at Wigmore Hall
ReviewBarton's big smile is infectious, and her singing is totally satisfying. She left us heavy in our seats during Brahms' "Unbewegte laue Luft," and Dvořák's "Songs My Mother Taught Me," and she seemed to be making a good case for a definitive performance of Turina's Homenaje and the Sibelius songs.
5 people who would make great opera roles
HumourRight up there with Donizetti's Tudor Queens, the hypothetical opera about Michelle Obama is packed with some serious history. The election of Barack Obama exposed the real racism that still exists in the United States; yet at the same time, the Obamas set a new bar for humanity and class among politicians.
When lost, find roots
Op-edFor any of you involved in the freelance performing arts as a source of income, I don't have to tell you the struggles of making a living, having a life, or maintaining relationships. There are, of course, the 1% who have hit the jackpot of a permanent gig that provides steady income, God forbid benefits, and the luxury of being in one place year round as to actually have a family and a home.
In review: Dido and Aeneas
ReviewSpeaking of the Ballet, this is some of the most athletic dancing I've seen them do yet. An actor friend of mine once described period dancing as "just fancy walking". This is proof of the opposite. The lines, shapes and footwork were energetic, clean, and emotionally executed. For once I found the ladies large skirts accented and enhanced their choreography, rather than getting the way of me enjoying their fancy footwork.
Pocket Concerts loves classical music newbies!
News"If you or someone you know has never heard live classical music before, we want to give you the most intense and personal experience we can, for FREE. All you have to do is post a photo or video of yourself on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #classicalnewbie and tell us why you want to come."