Friends, we have finally churned through the data and have the Aria Frequency Lists for your perusal! They are linked here, and we will link to them on our social media sites. If you’ve followed us for any length of time, you know that this blog was a true labor of love put into the
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Wrapping up…and introductions!
Friends, I am happily ensconced in my office in Vienna Virginia, plotting all things opera for the 2022 season. Let me tell you that the talent was an ocean – so deep that I’m wishing I had twice the number of projects to assign! Also, let me congratulate every singer who put themselves out there
Read MoreThrough the Midwest: WTO 2022
I’m writing this from my hotel room at The Palmer House. Both of the hotels we’ve stayed in in the midwest have been beautiful, historic properties. This is the Palmer House’s 150 anniversary season, and the hotel is iconic, a real remnant of old-school, glamorous Chicago – it’s a treat to see it being
Read MoreWTO 2022: Southern Passage
Our days in the south have yielded some beautiful auditions! We started in Atlanta, with The Atlanta Opera serving as our gracious hosts at their rehearsal facility in midtown. Here’s a shot of their rehearsal room taped out for an upcoming production: each color denotes a different scene, and the singers have to navigate
Read MoreWTO 2022: The Search Begins
Dear Friends of WTO, I’m writing this from an airplane heading out of Los Angeles, winging home for 20 hours to doing some laundry and see my husband and pets before starting the second leg of the journey: Houston, Cincinnati, Chicago – and starting with our first-ever trip to Atlanta! The week in New
Read MoreLast Call
“Peak happiness lies mostly in collective activity.” Adam Grant, a professor at The Wharton School writes in a recent New York Times Opinion piece about Collective Effervescence (caps mine). I hadn’t seen that phrase before, but it perfectly encapsulates the feeling I’ve had after the last several live performances that we’ve had this summer.
Read MoreBig Week
WTO had a big week last week, with the classical emphasis for the 50th Anniversary concert, Fifty Years Together: A Celebration of Wolf Trap and two performances of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert. The weather at the beginning of the week was oppressive: hot and humid, and hovering relentlessly
Read MoreTurning the page
I’m writing this from the back of the Barns, listening to Joseph Li run the Sweeney Todd chorus through their lines, first on words, then on neutral syllables…shortly I’ll get the full effect, and I can’t wait! There are still tickets available for July 2 and 3, if you’re in the DMV. I have to
Read MoreCorriam tutti!
Corriam tutti! My first summer at Wolf Trap (fifteen years ago now!) I remember hearing our Instant Opera! cast rehearsing at Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. As I crossed the bridge and made my way through the woods, I heard Mozart’s famous chorus; “Corriam tutti! Corriam tutti a festeggiar!” Everyone run to celebrate! Today feels like the embodiment of that vivacious musical moment, as we announce the return of live music
Read MoreIntroductions are in Order! Ronald Lee Newman
We are thrilled to introduce you to the newest member of the Wolf Trap Opera team! Ronald Lee Newman joined us just last week as the Director, Artistic Operations. This position will play a critical role in future season planning and implementation, and we are confident Ron is more than up for the task with
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