A guest post by Gary Wedow, conductor of Le donne curiose: For a very short period of time before the outbreak of WWI the operas of Wolf-Ferrari were among the most popular and most performed in the world, championed by Verdi and Boito; the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Le donne curiose was conducted by Toscanini
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The Curious Music
It’s probably not a surprise that the printed music for a rare opera is just a touch hard to read… Actually, the string books are in pretty good shape, but the wind parts… well, let’s just say that conductor Gary Thor Wedow is keeping a positive outlook by reminding himself that it’s possible that these
Read MoreBandìe xe le donne!*
Digging into an opera that hasn’t been produced in this country for 99 years is a fascinating, somewhat masochistic way to spend one’s time. But every day, this charming little-known piece is coming more and more into focus. Today brings a dilemma in fine-tuning the synopsis: What does one call this charming place where the
Read MoreInspector in the Rear View Mirror
Now that was something. And just like that, it’s over. Years of writing, tweaking, editing, workshopping; and a few short weeks of rehearsing and performing. After tonight’s recording patch session (iPhone photo at left), and tomorrow’s load out to Boston Lyric Opera, we let go and let fly. And move on to three more operas
Read MoreShooooooooooooes
The Washington Post has run a preview piece on The Inspector. I’m happy to see a light shone on this wonderful new opera and the Wolf Trap Foundation’s commitment to supporting the creative spirit! (I do end up sounding like a bit of a plucky frontier wife, with my “can-do” attitude, but I won’t complain.
Read MoreThe Inspector: Final Dress
Dress rehearsal: Done, done and done. Lots of laughs, not always at the places and of the durations we expected. Another week of previews and we should be able to get the timing just right :)
Read MoreThe Inspector: Tech Week Photo Diary
24 Hours in the Life of a New Opera
So you want to produce a new opera? Do you hanker after the artistic satisfaction that comes from shepherding a work of art from creation to performance? Ever wonder how the magic happens? Come along for the ride. Thursday, April 21 2:30pm: Check in on orchestra reading. All on track. 2:40pm: Learn that one of
Read MoreINSPECTING: Meet Beatrice
The Mayor’s daughter was ecstatic about escaping Santa Schifezza for college. Unfortunately, it only took a year for her mother to realize that her daughter was growing up, learning to think for herself, and developing ideas of her own. Beatrice was yanked out of school and is suffocating back in her parents’ house. She prays
Read MoreINSPECTING: Meet Sarelda
An ambitious woman. Married to an influential and ambitious man. She has many political echos in our own time – on both sides of the aisle, as we say here in the capital of the free world. (Although many of the woman of whom she reminds me are prominent in our own time, I love
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