Bob Orth

Our Schicchi, Bob Orth, has arrived, fresh from performing Nixon in John Adam's NIXON IN CHINA.

Here he is pondering a fine point of staging with our director, Nelson Sheeley.

Set model

Perhaps because of growing up with some model trains, I love set models. Here is Garett Wilson's model for the double bill. It is a traditional setting. Apparently the TRAVIATA they are doing here is set in 50s Rat Pack Vegas, so I guess this balances things off.

Narco corridos

A sad article in the Telegraph about how musicians in Mexico are being killed because of their connections to the drug trade. Having a narco corrido, or drug ballads, written about you is apparently a mark of prestige for a drug lord. Music is being taken deadly serious there. And we complain about our budgets and audiences.

Porgy in Paris

One of my colleagues is in a production of the Gershwin's PORGY AND BESS in Paris at the opera comique. He sent this postcard which is one of the more unusual ways I've ever seen to market the opera, which as far as I recall, has no small furry animals in it, except for Porgy's goat.

"Porky(pine), I'se your woman now..."

Inconvenient Truth, the Opera

We are all going to have to go to LA SCALA in 2011 and see the new opera being created based on Al Gore's INCONVENIENT TRUTH. I think it's really important for opera to be relevant, so I am going to try to stifle my giggles and...

Tut by Marcus Hummon

Last week the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville hosted a staged reading of Marcus Hummon's new show, TUT. The rock opera/oratorio tells two stories, one about the Pharoah and the other about the discovery of Tut's Tomb in the 1920s by Howard Carter. From the start, the piece is being told through musical storytelling and choreography by Abdel Salaam. The effect reminded me of Orff's CARMINA BURANA.

Marcus is one of the most talented musicians on the planet.

Golf Tournament

Earlier this week we had a golf tournament to support Opera Memphis. It happened to fall on Wagner's Birthday, May 24th.

Ralph the Rat on the Radio

Last night we did a preview of Opera Memphis' 0809 season on WKNO-FM which also featured excerpts from our current school tour show. We invited several schools to participate. The piece is called MYSTERY ON THE DOCKS and it is by Edward Barnes.

Midsummer Night's Dream, opera a capella

I am working on a new opera project, a setting of MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. The twist is, that the whole opera is going to be a capella. Well, maybe a harp or electronic keyboard to help keep people in tune once in awhile.

Yes, there is a quotation at the end.

This is a setting of the last couple of speeches:



OBERON

Through the house give glimmering light,
By the dead and drowsy fire:
Every elf and fairy sprite
Hop as light as bird from brier;
And this ditty, after me,
Sing, and dance it trippingly.

TITANIA
First, rehearse your song by rote
To each word a warbling note:
Hand in hand, with fairy grace,
Will we sing, and bless this place.

Song and dance

OBERON
Now, until the break of day,
Through this house each fairy stray.
To the best bride-bed will we,
Which by us shall blessed be;
And the issue there create

Ever shall be fortunate.
So shall all the couples three
Ever true in loving be;
Every fairy take his gait;
And each several chamber bless,
Through this palace, with sweet peace;
And the owner of it blest
Ever shall in safety rest.
Trip away; make no stay;
Meet me all by break of day.

Exeunt OBERON, TITANIA, and train

PUCK

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

My friends at Opera New Jersey are going to workshop some of this in mid July. In the meantime, here's an electronic demo, done with an amazing instrument, called a VP-550 by Roland.

Article on Songwriting Program

Memphis' Tristate Defender has an article on a song created by Kipp Diamond Academy in collaboration with our songwriting program. The song was based around themes in MACBETH.