Recently, we had our first complete run through of Figaro. It took place in the rehearsal hall at the Elgin Theatre and was attended by an extremely appreciative group of OA donors and supporters. It was a great relief for our singers and dancers to finally perform in front of a live audience and to get [...]
Posts under ‘Backstage’
Damon presented as a demon…
It is such a pleasure for all of us at Opera Atelier to be preparing Handel’s ravishing pastorale, Acis and Galatea for the opening of our 25th anniversary season. I’ve always adored this work but for years I was stymied by the character Damon. It struck me as odd that although he has a great [...]
I think artists must be the most generous people in the world
Let me explain. Last night we shot Opera Atelier’s 25th anniversary image! It was the most complex shoot we have ever had involving ten artists in the photograph in addition to stage management, hair, makeup, wardrobe, our photographer Bruce Zinger, OA General Manager Jane Hargraft and our art director Gerard Gauci. We began hair and [...]
I’ll give you another clue…
Many of you have responded to my blog in which I described our most recent photo shoot for the opera which will open Opera Atelier’s 25th anniversary season. We’ve had some extremely ingenious guesses as to the name of the opera in question but it would seem my hints have been too broad. I’ve decided [...]
Yesterday I had the great pleasure of an informal “staging session” with Canadian soprano Mireille Asselin
Yesterday I had the great pleasure of an informal “staging session” with Canadian soprano Mireille Asselin. She happened to be in Toronto visiting friends, prior to returning to Connecticut where she continues her music studies at Yale. I first met Mireille while conducting a masterclass for the Glenn Gould School and she, as a young [...]
Guess the name of the opera and win!
Yesterday evening we had a photo shoot (something I adore) with the incomparable photographer – Bruce Zinger. I’m not at liberty to divulge the name of the opera the resulting photograph will represent as it will open Opera Atelier’s 25th anniversary season, but I can at least tell you a little about the shoot itself. [...]
Last Thursday Gerard Gauci and I flew to New York…
Last Thursday Gerard Gauci (Opera Atelier’s set designer) and I flew to New York in order to meet with Ralph Rucci – the extraordinary couturier introduced to us by Jeanne Beker. It was Jeanne who originally suggested that Mr. Rucci would be the ideal designer for a special production slated to take place as part [...]
The road to Rome…
Very soon Jeannette and I will be leaving for a week in Rome – something that I would love to be a yearly event for the rest of my life. This is our fifth trip to Rome in the past decade and I still have an overwhelming sense of anticipation. The city is so extraordinary, [...]
Tuesday’s Iphigénie
I arrived at the theatre last night only to be greeted with the news that Kresimir Spicer, (our Oreste) was suffering from a sinus infection, and was worried that it might compromise his performance. I dislike making announcements regarding illness to an audience, as I take it for granted they will then hear evidence of [...]
Two shows down…
Two show down and I still feel like the most fortunate director in the world. The performances of Iphigénie become riskier and more thrilling every time the singers and dancers step onto the stage. The singers are delivering their “lines” with such freedom, Tafelmusik practically has to read their minds – and they do! I [...]