I had a fantastic time at rehearsal last night. Goosebumps abounded: we no doubt have a special cast on our hands, and the chorus is sounding extra strong and polished. There are a few things I love about being a fly on the wall at our rehearsals. First, I am perpetually blown away when I hear opera singers up close and stripped down, with just a piano in an enclosed rehearsal room: the massive volume they are capable of and the intense physical demands of performance are never more evident. And perhaps more importantly is the clear fun everyone is having and the sense of camaraderie that fills the room. Hopefully some of my pictures capture this. Enjoy!
General Director Allan Naplan brought Opera Up Close: The Faust Preview to the Capitol Lakes Retirement Community yesterday afternoon along with mezzo-soprano Marie Lenormand, baritone Scott Johnson and accompanist Scott Gendel. The audience was treated to excerpts from Faust by our wonderful singers and learned all about the history and music of Gounod and his opera. Enjoy the pictures! Opera Up Close takes place this weekend on Sunday, May 10 from 4-6 p.m. at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. General admission $20; students get in for free!
Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., tune in to Wisconsin Public Radio WERN 88.7 to listen to a broadcast of Madison Opera’s Madama Butterfly, recorded live on Friday, November 21, 2008. If the ovation in Overture Hall that night was any indication, this was a performance to remember, so tune in to recapture the magic of Puccini as sung by Maria Kanyova, Arnold Rawls, Grant Youngblood, and Heather Johnson with the Madison Opera Chorus and Madison Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Leonardo Vordoni. If you’re not in Wisconsin, listen online here (use whichever link from the left column works best for your computer).
REMINDER: Registration for “Explore the Voice” on May 16 closes today, so sign up online now for this free event!
