We have the great privilege of going to LA for the GRAMMYs this weekend! The Volpone recording nomination (one of 5 in the category of Best Opera Recording) meant that Wolf Trap, as the record label, was able to get a few tickets for the ceremonies. (GRAMMYs are for artists on the recording, and even
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“Special”
Special (Merriam-Webster): distinguished by some unusual quality. Life’s a Pitch just finished a week hosting a virtual panel on when and how artists, managers, journalists, presenters and publicists single out musicians for being “special” in their promotion and career-building efforts. Amanda’s summary of the posts by her 4 guest bloggers is here. I hesitate to
Read MoreBlog Clog
Brain Drain. All sorts of things interfering with blogging. This week included a trip to New York for preparations for our upcoming workshop of Musto & Campbells Inspector opera. And the little remaining office time was clouded by fumbling attempts at writing marketing copy for our 2010 shows. (You’d think that struggling with Twitter would
Read MoreWhat *Were* You Thinking?
I just got back from hearing dozens of aspiring young singers in the North Carolina district auditions of the Metropolitan Opera National Council. As is typical, I am equal parts exhausted and energized. And, as is typical, I had the following post-competition discussion with a number of audience members. Patron: It must’ve been such a
Read MoreCreativity’s Worst Enemy
If you haven’t yet read Byron Janis’s recent article in the Wall Street Journal, go here. I am at my happiest when sight-reading music, but never really bothered to articulate why. I suspected that it had a good deal to do with being too lazy to practice. So I felt completely understood (and vindicated!) when
Read MoreJanuary: When the Music Goes into Hiding
I wear my Marketing and Box Office hats a lot in January. (Good thing, too, for it’s bloody freezing around here. I need all the clothing I can find.) All of the music that surrounded us during the audition and casting process has temporarily disappeared to make way for writing copy and selling tickets. So,
Read MoreIt Just Feels Like a New Decade
The happiest of new years to one and all! Strictly speaking, I know it’s not a new decade, but it feels like it is. And that’s good. I’m back at my desk after a miraculously restful 11 days away from work. (Thank, you Wolf Trap Foundation, for the immensely sane and merciful act of shutting
Read MoreHoliday Hiatus
We weren’t terribly good about documenting this year’s audition tour, but thanks to CameraMan, we have a few images from our travels. It was a terribly dense trip – due to extenuating schedule and budget parameters – and I think we only (barely) had enough brainpower and energy for the compulsories. The blog silence in
Read MoreThe Long View
I sat for an interview last week, and a typical question came up: “What was the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far in your career?” How coincidental that this interview came right after our recent oh-so-sweet GRAMMY news. For the fight for this Volpone recording was probably the biggest hurdle I’ve had to clear, at
Read MoreScrappy & Outrageous
It’s been a bit of a wild ride over the last few days, as last week’s GRAMMY news eclipsed much of business as usual. We are working overtime to choose and cast next summer’s operas, and I haven’t forgotten my promise to post the list of most-offered arias during November’s audition tour. [UPDATE: These are
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