As we did research for this season’s Tales of Hoffmann for this season, I was repeatedly amazed and inspired by the real-life hero of Offenbach’s opera. I kicked the challenge over to WTOC coach/pianist Jeremy Frank and a quartet of singers, and tonight they’ll present a free talk and concert that includes vocal music written
Read MorePosts Categorized: 2011 Season
The Next Generation: #2
In the wake of Instant Opera, we hosted another event especially for the youngest opera lovers among us. This morning’s Behind the Curtain (Family Day at Wolf Trap Opera) was a rousing success, thanks to the efforts and unspeakable goodwill shown by the 30 artists and staff members who showed up before 10am to take
Read MoreThe Next Generation: #1
The last few weeks of our season included two opportunities to engage budding opera fans. First, the Instant Opera residency at the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts: The kids choose characters, locations and actions, and the cast takes it from there, mixing original language aria excerpts with improvised English
Read MoreHoffmann Stage Rehearsal Photos
Finally put them on Flickr. Enjoy!
Read MoreThe Path to the Tales
I’ve been remiss in not shouting from the Blogging Rooftops how thrilled we are to be working from Schott’s Kaye/Keck edition for our Tales of Hoffmann. Producing this opera is like being presented with a wealth of confusing riches, not all of which can (or should) be piled into one evening at the theatre. Musicologists
Read MoreHoffmann Is Here
Such empty promises. In spite of such good intentions. I would have loved nothing more than to take you along with me on the ride that is Hoffmann at The Barns. But, as too often happens, it came down to managing the week or writing about it. I chose to try to keep the train
Read MoreHoffmann: Early Look
First look at this beautiful production. Early images from Monday evening’s piano tech. More tomorrow.
Read MoreReady… Set…
Our fearless quintet of artists tackles their craziest challenge of the summer (writing and performing their own opera on the spot…) in front of the toughest audience imaginable (hundreds of kids and parents). Outdoors. To get ready, they hosted a trial run last weekend, in front of about 25 of their colleagues. This is what
Read MoreSitzWandelProbe
We’ve wrestled this fantastical, sprawling opera into 3 beautifully tight hours. But you’d never know it from the look of our directing intern’s score. :) SitzWandelProbe tonight. Some standing, little sitting, a fair amount of wandering, and some jaw-dropping singing. Welcome to The Barns, E.T.A. Hoffmann.
Read MoreDon’t Make Me Sing…
Tonight’s task: final editing of supertitles for the Antonia Act of The Tales of Hoffmann. In short, the heroine of this act is a sensitive artiste, a former singer who has become so weak that she may not survive the physical exertion required to sing again. The villain is determined to make her sing, and
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