David Portillo & Ashlyn Rust with the NSO
Well, actually, it was David & Ashlyn and Nathaniel & Hana who got to spend last evening with the amazing National Symphony Orchestra, bringing bits and pieces of the Romeo and Juliet musical legend to the stage. To the approximately-115-degree stage of the Filene Center. But even the current heat wave didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd or take the edge off last evening’s performances.
Nathaniel Peake sings "Ah, leve-toi, soleil"
The NSO players and conductor Emil de Cou were all so gracious to our young artists, and the singers were predictably thrilled to have this opportunity. This was our only presence at the amphitheater this summer (for all three of our staged operas are indoors at The Barns), and we were grateful for this chance to put our singers on the Filene Center stage. They did us all proud.
Hana Park sings Juliette's Waltz
Kudos also go to Studio Artists Claudia Rosenthal & Rafael Moras, who entertained the preshow Chairman’s Dinner crowd, and to FYA (and former Studio Artist) Catherine Martin, who spoke so eloquently and charmingly about her Wolf Trap journey.
How lucky I am to be surrounded by all of these people and their equally generous and talented colleagues!
[Photos by the multi-faceted and ever-awesome Eric Melear]
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