I've been absent. . .
. . .I've been busy!
Since my previous post I have performed for the Michigan Opera Theatre in Naples and Sarasota, Florida; Grosse Pointe, Detroit on Valentine's Day; at the Macomb Center for the Arts in Clinton Township, Michigan; two performance of Mark Adamo's Little Women (featuring a cast with an embarrassment of talent - and much is needed for Mr. Adamo's challenging work).
AND... we are just ending our first week of staging rehearsals for La Fanciulla Del West. I am playing the character Trin, a miner.
There is really so much to share... because I did not write much about Little Women, let me say this: it was my first opera (and Theodore "Laurie" Lawrence my first featured role) since having my frenotomy last November. The show went very well; audiences seemed please.
Mr. Adamo was present for the two final dress rehearsals and the opening night of the show. The show was a spotlight on the MOT Studio: Briana Hunter as Jo; Angela Theis as Beth; Jeff Byrnes as John Brooke; Brent Michael Smith as Prof. Bhaer. Admirably filling out the remaining roles were Clodagh Earls as Amy; Laura Krumm as Meg; Diane Schoff as Aunt Cecelia; Lisa Agazzi as Alma March; Mark Gardner as Gideon March; and Branden Hood as Mr. Dashwood.
The ensemble was lead by Maestro Suzanne Acton, and directed by the methodical and thoughtful Lawrence "larry" Edelson.
I will try to get more info to you sooner.
AND... we are just ending our first week of staging rehearsals for La Fanciulla Del West. I am playing the character Trin, a miner.
There is really so much to share... because I did not write much about Little Women, let me say this: it was my first opera (and Theodore "Laurie" Lawrence my first featured role) since having my frenotomy last November. The show went very well; audiences seemed please.
Mr. Adamo was present for the two final dress rehearsals and the opening night of the show. The show was a spotlight on the MOT Studio: Briana Hunter as Jo; Angela Theis as Beth; Jeff Byrnes as John Brooke; Brent Michael Smith as Prof. Bhaer. Admirably filling out the remaining roles were Clodagh Earls as Amy; Laura Krumm as Meg; Diane Schoff as Aunt Cecelia; Lisa Agazzi as Alma March; Mark Gardner as Gideon March; and Branden Hood as Mr. Dashwood.
The ensemble was lead by Maestro Suzanne Acton, and directed by the methodical and thoughtful Lawrence "larry" Edelson.
I will try to get more info to you sooner.
Thank you so kindly for reading!
All the very best,
Joe
PS I just finished reading William Berger's work on Puccini "Puccini without excuses," It is masterful... I feel an innate impulse to share some of William Berger's empassioned testimony in support of opera: "I do not hold with those who believe that Opera is a dying art form. The same things have been said about Opera almost since its invention. Opera was said to be doomed when the castrati disappeared in the 18th century, when the Napoleonic Wars shut down the conservatories in the early 19th century, when tonality was redefined in the 20th century, and so on. Movies, television, radio, and the internet were each supposed to nail the coffin lid shut, and all of those media have become part of the Opera story. If Opera were mortal, it would have died by now... I believe Opera is the most important art form. It is not the most important because, as is always said, it's subsumes every other art form (which happens to be true), but because at its very best it has the ability to probe deeper into the human experience than any other art form. There are never any easy answers in Opera, and it promotes critical thinking. This is why fans are always said to be so passionate. While I can celebrate the high-profile of opera in America today, I wish it were even higher, much higher." - W. Berger "Puccini without excuses"
All the very best,
Joe
PS I just finished reading William Berger's work on Puccini "Puccini without excuses," It is masterful... I feel an innate impulse to share some of William Berger's empassioned testimony in support of opera: "I do not hold with those who believe that Opera is a dying art form. The same things have been said about Opera almost since its invention. Opera was said to be doomed when the castrati disappeared in the 18th century, when the Napoleonic Wars shut down the conservatories in the early 19th century, when tonality was redefined in the 20th century, and so on. Movies, television, radio, and the internet were each supposed to nail the coffin lid shut, and all of those media have become part of the Opera story. If Opera were mortal, it would have died by now... I believe Opera is the most important art form. It is not the most important because, as is always said, it's subsumes every other art form (which happens to be true), but because at its very best it has the ability to probe deeper into the human experience than any other art form. There are never any easy answers in Opera, and it promotes critical thinking. This is why fans are always said to be so passionate. While I can celebrate the high-profile of opera in America today, I wish it were even higher, much higher." - W. Berger "Puccini without excuses"
I wish I could share the entire book with you all. I encourage you to borrow it from your local library and indulge.
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