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The WTOS in Charge

It’s all about the Studio for the next few days as we head into their spotlight performance on Wednesday evening. In previous seasons the WTOS presented scenes from full-length operas; this year they serve up four 1-act operas in their entirety! Rehearsal photos by Eric Melear GALLANTRYby Douglas Moorefeaturing: Rebecca Nathanson, Carla Jablonski, Daniel Maimone,

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Ingredients for July

5 One-Act Operas27 Ulysses singers2 Artist Panels1 week of Instant Opera!8 National Symphony Shows7 Days with Steven Blier6,400 Boheme tickets3 Ulysses performances1 Everybody-Off-At-the-Same-Time Company Free Day… = The Busiest Month of the Year. Bring it on.

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The Fox and the Critics

First, the Fox. Big Daddy Fox Volpone. Exactly two years ago tomorrow, our recording of Volpone was In the Can. As of last weekend, it is finally on my desk, available in the lobby at The Barns and on its way to CDBaby and iTunes! (Should be available online in a little under 2 weeks.)

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In the Name of Love

Così is sold out. Has been for weeks. A donor gave back a pair of tickets, though, and we’re holding a contest to give them away. The tickets are for closing night, Tuesday, 6/30. If you want them, all you have to do is go to the Hotspot and tell us about the craziest thing

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Così Final Room Run, Vocal Colors v.2 & Backstage Buzz

June 16-19, 2009: The Così cast conquered two room runs in a row. What fabulous musicians, fascinating actors and special people these 6 are. One day off, then into the theatre for sets, lights, costumes, makeup, magic… opera! On Thursday, Daniel Billings, Michael Baitzer and The Phillips Collection filled our small auditorium with music and

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Vocal Colors II: Billings & Baitzer

For the second (and final!) time this summer, our artists engage in a musical dialogue with paintings from The Phillips Collection.  Tomorrow (Thursday 6/18) at 1:00pm, baritone Daniel Billings and pianist Michael Baitzer treat Wolf Trap staff and guests to a mini-recital inspired by the likes of Renoir, Hartley, Manet, Degas, and Hopper.  Songs of Tchaikovsky,

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Così at the Backstage Buzz 6/16

As I attempt to channel James Lipton, I’ll chat with with members of the cast and creative team this Tuesday afternoon, and we’ll get to the heart of this Così  fan tutte thing.   Why should I care about these people in this opera?  What challenges have Dorabella and Ferrando (the roles played by the two singers

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06.11.09

Today is StageMan’s birthday, and we started the day in style with bagels and a prop cake at the scene shop. Fabulous crew this year! The Vocal Colors mini-recital charmed the socks off a capacity audience of Wolf Trap Foundation staff, WTOC members, donors, housing hosts, and representatives from our partner The Phillips Collection. (Above,

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Apple and Chagall

I’ve blogged before about my visual incompetency. I yearn to see with the detail and texture with which I hear. It’s a lifelong quest. Tomorrow I will sit in awe of two of our performing artists (mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton and pianist Jeremy Frank) as they revel in a challenge to respond to paintings by Cézanne,

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In the Rear-View Mirror

Last night’s Road Trip! concert left me speechless. The paradox of blogging is that the stories that defy description are the very ones that demand to be told. Tweets and posts don’t feel like strong enough vessels to contain an evening filled with such beauty, humor, talent, and generosity of spirit. The full house at

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