Wearing my Education Manager hat, I spent most of last week visiting schools, talking with fine arts classes and music classes about "opera" and why they should give La Boheme at the West Virginia Symphony a try on Saturday night.
One young lady from St. Albans said she didn't like opera, but when I probed a bit deeper, she had never been. I challenged her to accept a complimentary student ticket and try it!
I am anxious to hear what she thought, and what you think too.
I was pleased with the number of younger patrons we had floating around the Grand Lobby at the Clay Center.
I spoke with one adult patron who was working for a few days in Beckley. He ended up staying in WV a few days longer and was thrilled to see that La Boheme was playing in Charleston. He was far away from his season tickets at the Oregon Opera, but took advantage of our offering on Saturday night!
Another couple was seeing La Boheme for the second time as a couple. They were anxious to compare the two productions.
So, now is the chance for you to share with us your thoughts about the production. Comments are encouraged!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Rehearsals in Full Swing...
Mimi (Barbara Shirvis) and Rodolfo (Jeffrey Springer) in Act I.
The Maier Foundation Performance Hall stage is set. The principals have been in town for a week now, putting together their actions on stage under the direction of Bob Neu.
The final props are gathered and the paint is dry on the fireplace. Two final rehearsals are all that remain between now and Saturday night's performance of La boheme by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
Want a sneak peak?
Monday, May 11, 2009
Opera is not for me because...
Opera is only for serious music lovers: I won't understand it.
...a lot of serious music listeners are into opera, and yes, the words will be sung in Italian, but there will be supertitles projected over the stage so you can follow the plot in English. A summary of the plot is also included in the program.
Opera is boring and tragic: Isn't this one a tragedy?
...a tragedy doesn't have to be totally dark. La boheme is full of comic scenes and songs.
Opera is attended by people who wear fancy clothes:
...there is no dress code to attend. Some people choose to dress up, go to dinner, and craft a special evening around the performance. This is personal choice.
Opera is outdated and has no relevance to my life:
...the stuff of opera happens all the time in every day life. Events are often magnified and exaggerated just a bit--just like on television. My favorite is when the writer when the writer sees the seamstress for about 20 seconds in the dark, decides he is in love with her and will spend the rest of his life with her, and says so in spontaneous song.
If you have seen the musical RENT during its run in the last dozen years or on video recently, why not experience the main source of inspiration. Remember AIDS in RENT? In Paris back in Puccini's day, the main disease spreading quickly and killing folks was tuberculosis.
Opera is long: It's not over until the fat lady sings, and she usually sings and sings and sings...
...not the case in all operas, especially in La boheme. The dying scene is quite a simple one. None of the artists or their girlfriends are "fat". Remember, they are all poor, starving artists! This opera is made up of four acts with an intermission in the middle. There is so much going on in each act, time will fly. The overall running time is about two and a half hours.
If you have never seen an opera before, La boheme is a great starting point:
...come broaden your horizons. See local Charleston folks as the chorus members, waiters, and children on stage. See and hear the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor Grant Cooper.
...a lot of serious music listeners are into opera, and yes, the words will be sung in Italian, but there will be supertitles projected over the stage so you can follow the plot in English. A summary of the plot is also included in the program.
Opera is boring and tragic: Isn't this one a tragedy?
...a tragedy doesn't have to be totally dark. La boheme is full of comic scenes and songs.
- the writer burns his play manuscript to keep warm, and sings about how the critics didn't enjoy the plot, but the play is meaty enough to keep him from freezing
- the landlord stops by for the rent, the roommates ply him with alcohol and then distract him with stories so he forgets about the money
- the singer who arrives at a restaurant with her new love interest, flirts and sings to woo her old love interest, and leaves the other man with the bill
- one guy sings an song to bid farewell to the coat he is about to sell
Opera is attended by people who wear fancy clothes:
...there is no dress code to attend. Some people choose to dress up, go to dinner, and craft a special evening around the performance. This is personal choice.
Opera is outdated and has no relevance to my life:
...the stuff of opera happens all the time in every day life. Events are often magnified and exaggerated just a bit--just like on television. My favorite is when the writer when the writer sees the seamstress for about 20 seconds in the dark, decides he is in love with her and will spend the rest of his life with her, and says so in spontaneous song.
If you have seen the musical RENT during its run in the last dozen years or on video recently, why not experience the main source of inspiration. Remember AIDS in RENT? In Paris back in Puccini's day, the main disease spreading quickly and killing folks was tuberculosis.
Opera is long: It's not over until the fat lady sings, and she usually sings and sings and sings...
...not the case in all operas, especially in La boheme. The dying scene is quite a simple one. None of the artists or their girlfriends are "fat". Remember, they are all poor, starving artists! This opera is made up of four acts with an intermission in the middle. There is so much going on in each act, time will fly. The overall running time is about two and a half hours.
If you have never seen an opera before, La boheme is a great starting point:
...come broaden your horizons. See local Charleston folks as the chorus members, waiters, and children on stage. See and hear the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Artistic Director and Conductor Grant Cooper.
Want to know more before you attend Saturday night? Part 1
Once upon a time…there were four roommates who struggled to make ends meet. While they each enjoyed their chosen noble professions, they are, in fact, poor starving artists who have adventures. It is these adventures that make up the action of La Boheme.
For a quick video musical introduction by the San Diego OperaTalk!, link to http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=4315
Tickets are going quickly for Puccini's La Boheme, presented by the West Virginia Symphony with Artistic Director and Conductor Grant Cooper. Call the Clay Center Box Office at (304) 561-3570.
For a quick video musical introduction by the San Diego OperaTalk!, link to http://www.uctv.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=4315
Tickets are going quickly for Puccini's La Boheme, presented by the West Virginia Symphony with Artistic Director and Conductor Grant Cooper. Call the Clay Center Box Office at (304) 561-3570.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
What does Semi-Staged mean, anyway?
Is Semi-Staged opera the same as a Concert version?
A patron of our concerts this past weekend sent me the following question via e-mail [gcooper@theclaycenter.org]. I hope my response helps clarify a point which could remain unclear about our upcoming semi-staged version of La Bohème.
He wrote:
“Maestro Cooper; We thoroughly enjoyed last night's performance, but were wondering if the opera will feature soloists/acting, or if the singers will be reading from a libretto next to the symphony. I'm uncertain as to what "partially staged" means. Please let me know.”
I replied as follows:
“Thanks for your question. I need to clarify this point publicly, perhaps, since it is an important issue.
“The singers will have the music memorized; there will be interaction between and among the characters; they will be dressed according to their part (i.e. they will not be in tails or other "formal" concert dress). The singers will be downstage of the orchestra.
"So, what is "missing," as compared with a full production, is sets - that will be the main difference between what we are doing and a fully staged version. The vocal artists being in front of the orchestra, (and not enclosed by a painted-canvas, sound absorbing set), certainly ought to enhance the projection of the singing and, therefore, the total musical experience.
“I hope you choose to attend our performance - this will be an inspiring way to enjoy this incredible score.”
I was very pleased to receive the following reply:
“Thank you for clarifying the issue. I believe the perception is that the performance will be singers will be stationary and reading from the libretto. We plan to attend.”
I hope all music lovers will choose to attend, too. This is an amazing piece of music. The theatrical elements will still be there and you will be able to experience La Bohème as the powerful music drama that it is!
Yours in music,
Grant Cooper
A patron of our concerts this past weekend sent me the following question via e-mail [gcooper@theclaycenter.org]. I hope my response helps clarify a point which could remain unclear about our upcoming semi-staged version of La Bohème.
He wrote:
“Maestro Cooper; We thoroughly enjoyed last night's performance, but were wondering if the opera will feature soloists/acting, or if the singers will be reading from a libretto next to the symphony. I'm uncertain as to what "partially staged" means. Please let me know.”
I replied as follows:
“Thanks for your question. I need to clarify this point publicly, perhaps, since it is an important issue.
“The singers will have the music memorized; there will be interaction between and among the characters; they will be dressed according to their part (i.e. they will not be in tails or other "formal" concert dress). The singers will be downstage of the orchestra.
"So, what is "missing," as compared with a full production, is sets - that will be the main difference between what we are doing and a fully staged version. The vocal artists being in front of the orchestra, (and not enclosed by a painted-canvas, sound absorbing set), certainly ought to enhance the projection of the singing and, therefore, the total musical experience.
“I hope you choose to attend our performance - this will be an inspiring way to enjoy this incredible score.”
I was very pleased to receive the following reply:
“Thank you for clarifying the issue. I believe the perception is that the performance will be singers will be stationary and reading from the libretto. We plan to attend.”
I hope all music lovers will choose to attend, too. This is an amazing piece of music. The theatrical elements will still be there and you will be able to experience La Bohème as the powerful music drama that it is!
Yours in music,
Grant Cooper
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