Wolf Trap Opera » vocal colors

Così Final Room Run, Vocal Colors v.2 & Backstage Buzz

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:47:00 +0000

June 16-19, 2009:

The Così cast conquered two room runs in a row. What fabulous musicians, fascinating actors and special people these 6 are.

One day off, then into the theatre for sets, lights, costumes, makeup, magic… opera!

On Thursday, Daniel Billings, Michael Baitzer and The Phillips Collection filled our small auditorium with music and art on Thursday in Vocal Colors. What a wonderful new project this turned into!

And on Tuesday, artists and staff from Così joined me for a panel discussion in this week’s Backstage Buzz.

The next 3 days? Così tech, the start of Ulysses rehearsals, and our official welcome reception for artists and donors.

Vocal Colors II: Billings & Baitzer

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:13:00 +0000

For the second (and final!) time this summer, our artists engage in a musical dialogue with paintings from The Phillips Collection. Tomorrow (Thursday 6/18) at 1:00pm, baritone Daniel Billings and pianist Michael Baitzer treat Wolf Trap staff and guests to a mini-recital inspired by the likes of Renoir, Hartley, Manet, Degas, and Hopper. Songs of Tchaikovsky, Copland and Barber take the stage along with traditional spirituals and a dose of Sinatra.

This weekend, it’s onto the stage for the beginning of tech week for Cosi fan tutte. We’ll integrate sets, costumes, hair & makeup, lights, and orchestra in a dizzying 72 hours. I’ll report from the trenches.

06.11.09

admin — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:43:00 +0000

Today is StageMan’s birthday, and we started the day in style with bagels and a prop cake at the scene shop. Fabulous crew this year!

The Vocal Colors mini-recital charmed the socks off a capacity audience of Wolf Trap Foundation staff, WTOC members, donors, housing hosts, and representatives from our partner The Phillips Collection. (Above, Jamie Barton and Jeremy Frank introduce Daumier’s The Strong Man to Big Sister Says (“Beauty Hurts!”) by Libby Larsen and Kathryn Daniels.)

A glimpse into the rehearsal hall shows that we are well into the “garden” scene of Così.

And… our 2009 newsletter is now available for viewing and download! Go here.

That’s it for now. Scene shop is already counting down the days!

Apple and Chagall

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:38:00 +0000

I’ve blogged before about my visual incompetency. I yearn to see with the detail and texture with which I hear. It’s a lifelong quest.

Tomorrow I will sit in awe of two of our performing artists (mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton and pianist Jeremy Frank) as they revel in a challenge to respond to paintings by Cézanne, Chagall, Daumier, Bonnard, Monet, Lawrence and Degas. They’ve chosen songs by Libby Larsen, Henri Duparc, Fiona Apple, Claude Debussy, Charles Ives, and Elton John; and they’ll perform the music in front of projections of the artwork (courtesy of the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC.)

If you’re a fan of ours in the Vienna, VA area, and you’re interested in coming to this mini-recital at 1:00 pm tomorrow (Thursday, June 11), drop us an email at wtoc@wolftrap.org, and we’ll reserve you a seat! (Reservations required)

(A fly-by visit to my office a few minutes ago reported that the Mark Chagall / Fiona Apple pairing is a marvelous thing:)