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After having taken two (count ’em, two!) consecutive days off, I’m far more clear-headed than I’ve been in weeks. I’m using my newfound (and I’m sure temporary) clarity to plow through the backlog on my desk, so today’s blogging is images only. Little of substance, but a pretty good representation of life around here lately.

I’ve alluded to this, vaguely and cryptically, over these last weeks. As of 4 hours ago, we now have the raw material for a commercial live recording of Volpone. And this has been possibly the most frustrating and confounding journey of my professional life thus far. The recording project was launched and cancelled more times

Carmen in concert on Thursday night. (Photos by Carol Pratt) With the National Symphony Orchestra, guest artists, chorus, World Children’s Choir. More exhausting than it had any right to be, but more rewarding, too. Diva and divo (WTOC alums Denyce Graves as Carmen and Simon O’Neill as Jose) were on site for about 3 days,

Deep into Carmen mode – suddenly and brutally. It always seems as if we should be able to pull off a concert opera with minimal staff and less fuss. But it’s always far harder that I remember. (Yes, we all know my memory is not my best feature.) Why can I not learn? Anyway, all

When there’s time to blog, there’s not a whole lot to report. And when there’s a lot happening (euphemism for not keeping my head above the operatic waters), there’s no time to blog. Thus, this week-long silence. Volpone Nice web feature on WETA.org – go here to listen.A week of indescribable ups and downs, putting

sitzen: to sit / proben: to rehearse The singers don’t always sit during the Sitzprobe, but it’s a much less active rehearsal than the rest – particularly for this sometimes-physical comedy. It’s a time to temporarily shelve the costumes and props and focus on the music. The singers and orchestra hear each other for the

Friday Afternoon A good time was had by all yesterday, recording our Volpone artist podcast. The result was longer than these things should be, but there’s not enough time to do much editing. So grab a cup of coffee and settle back for a chat with us. Download or listen here, and below at right!

Total grab bag today. Things are moving very fast here (public disclosure coming soon), and there’s not much time to blog, to say the least. Quotes “It’s not even half bad.” Coach Thomas Lausmann, about something… I can’t remember what, but it was pertinent. “I burned the damn popcorn. Knew I should’ve just eaten the

Above: The Moscateers. Volpone has 4 servants. In addition to his main man Mosca, there are (left to right) Nano, Epicene, and Castrato. The Moscateers. Quotes of the Day From fabulous Bradon McDonald of the Mark Morris Dance Group, during his morning dance/movement class with our Studio (how lucky can we get…), responding to some

Volpone (L) and Mosca hatch their scheme in Act 1 Scene 1. I love Josh Winograde’s translation of Volpone’s name. (And Josh should know because he premiered the role.) “Volpe” means “fox” in Italian, and when the Italians put “…one” (pronounced oh-nay) at the end of a word, it means BIG. Josh says that Volpone