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A Failure of Objectivity

If I had a personal blog, this might be the kind of post I’d write. Nothing awfully revealing, as I’m essentially a private person; but more than I’m accustomed to sharing professionally. I do try to cultivate some objectivity about our company and its product, but I think that I’ve lost this particular battle. Rake’s Progress is

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Bring on 2013 !

Audition applications for the 2013 season are now being accepted at our interactive application website. The first application deadline is September 9, 2012. Basic information and background are here.  

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Freude!

Last night, Ryan, Jason, Maggie & Corinne joined forces with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Chorus for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. It was a magical evening in the outdoors – one that reminded me of my love/hate (or, in this case, shall we say “Freude/Bösen”) relationship with our beautiful outdoor venue. Die Freude On

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Gimmick?

I hate blog posts that begin with an apology, but here ’tis: I dearly love the chance to speak my mind in this forum and to tell you things about our little opera company that you couldn’t learn from an official website or a brochure. So I hate the way I am neglecting this little

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Stocking the Jukebox: Day 4

Final two rehearsals for Sunday’s Make-Your-Own-Concert: Mezzo-soprano Maggie Gawrysiak and I had our rehearsal in the theatre, to check balances. (We’re already building the Rake’s Progress set onstage, so the piano is on the house floor.) We prepped Joan of Arc’s aria from Tchaikovsky’s The Maid of Orleans, the Witch’s aria from Hansel and Gretel

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Stocking the Jukebox: Day 3

Three more rehearsals today, dusting off aria and song favorites in preparation for Sunday’s aleatory musical event… (I may never go back to my desk again…) Mezzo-soprano Olivia Vote and I covered some amazing ground, from Rossini to Strauss. We started with the Habanera from Carmen, and moved on to the gorgeous Viljalied from Lehar’s

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Stocking the Jukebox: Day 2

Tuesday’s rehearsals for Sunday’s wildly exciting make-your-own-concert: Bass-baritone Ryan Kuster and I made the rounds from the boy next door (Figaro) to the the testosterone-laden Toreador, and from the incurable optimist (Don Quixote) to the devil himself (Méphistophélès). We began with Mozart”s “Se vuol ballare” (The Marriage of Figaro) and moved into “Votre toast” from

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Stocking the Jukebox: Day 1

I’m happily back at the piano this week, prepping music for this Sunday’s Aria Jukebox. Each singer is offering four arias/songs, and audience members will get to choose the playlists for the concert by stuffing the coin bins with quarters. (At left: quarters at the ready, to be distributed at the door!)  Monday’s Rehearsals Bass

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