“Happiness is not a state to arrive, but a manner of travelling”

Posted on January 27, 2012 by mnopblog

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Permanent exposure to street reconstruction noise.

What is your idea of earthly happiness?
An orchestral score of “Tristan und Isolde”, a good bottle of French red wine and a group of friends to discuss our favourite recordings of the work.
Where would you like to live?
Close to my family.

Who are your (some) favourite characters in history?
Mahatma Gandhi, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Henri Dunant (founder of Red Cross) to name very few

Your favorite painter?
El Greco

Your favorite musician?
Gustav Mahler, because he so passionately bridged the world of opera and symphonic music.

Your favorite virtue?
Levity.
To quote from “Der Rosenkavalier”: “Leicht muss man sein, mit leichtem Herzen halten und nehmen, halten und lassen”
(“It is better to treasure lightness, to hold and to take with an easy heart, to hold and to let go”)

What natural gift would you most like to possess?
To play the cello.

What is your motto?
“Happiness is not a state to arrive, but a manner of travelling”

Do you have a website?
www.christophcampestrini.com

“The opportunity to meet wonderful people and travel to the world’s most beautiful places.”

Posted on December 2, 2011 by mnopblog

Feature Friday

Mary Dibbern (Head of Music)

How long have you been working with opera?

Mary Dibbern (Head of Music)

A man should never ask a lady her age!

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

A combination of the courageous repertoire decisions, always perfectly cast, along with the family spirit of the personnel.

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

Tuna with potato chips on top (must stay crispy during the cooking.)

What are your top three favorite operas?

La Juive by Halévy, L’Etoile by Chabrier and Les Troyens by Berlioz.

How has music changed your life?

The opportunity to meet wonderful people and travel to the world’s most beautiful places.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

Medicine.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Berg’s Lulu. I was one of the pianists for the rehearsals at the new production of the Paris Opera several years ago. The piano score is hard to read because there is so much music. I finally took white-out and eliminated everything I didn’t think I would play so that I could look at it without stress!

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

Je ne sais pas, mon cher!

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

www.Mary-Dibbern.com

Do you speak any languages besides English? What are they?

French fluently, opera coach’s Italian and German. I used to speak enough Mandarin Chinese to get into trouble, but not to get out.

John Lindsey (tenor, Resident Artist, Schmidt)

How has music changed your life?

John Lindsey (tenor, Resident Artist, Schmidt in the upcoming Werther)

The biggest thing music has done for me is improved my ability to communicate. I’m very quiet by nature, so being on stage and laying all of your emotions out on the table is an important learning experience. Having the music be the motor behind that emotion is very nice.

What are your top three favorite operas?

Carmen, Otello, and Turandot, for now. That will change by next week. I can’t ever narrow it down.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

I had to do the Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia when I was 20 and was absolutely terrified. I was very new to opera, and singing Britten as one of my first big roles was very hard, musically speaking.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous productions that our audience might enjoy?

There was a production in college I did of Marriage of Figaro. One of my best friends was playing the Count, and was supposed to open a window during the second act finale to look for Cherubino. The window, of course, just opened to the backstage area– so three or four of us guys stripped down to our boxers and posed like a model ad in the window, but just out of sight of the audience. He opened it and saw us and started cracking up. We didn’t think he would be able to get it together before his next line, but he did. He told us it was only because he bit his cheek on purpose to stop laughing. Professionalism in action all around, back then.

What is your dream role?

My dream role has always been Don Jose, but since I was lucky enough to do it already, I’m waiting to do Otello now. That one would be fun.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

I would be a personal trainer, I think. Or maybe go back to manual labor stuff like working roofs and lumber mills. I always really enjoyed that.

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

I grew up on all kinds of hot dish stuff– tuna casserole, frito pie, green bean casserole, shepherd’s pie, the list goes on and on. I think green bean casserole has always been my favorite.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

Staying engaged in a character between scenes can be tricky, particularly if you’re playing one of the many crazy people in opera. If you completely let down it will translate into the next scene, but if you try to get too into it backstage people start wondering if you’ll be committed to an asylum during the run of the show.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

If we’re talking material things (because I certainly would want my girlfriend and her dog to be there!), I guess I would say as much good cheese as possible, a set of weights to work off the cheese, and a good bottle of scotch for nights next to the campfire as we wait to be rescued.

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

ww.johnrobertlindsey.com

I speak Southern. Just you try and tell me it’s not a language. Try.

Posted on November 18, 2011 by mnopblog

Feature Friday

Angie Keeton (Teaching Artist)

What made you decide on a career in the arts?

Angie Keeton (Teaching Artist)

I don’t know if you really get to decide. Many talented folks try so hard for so long and still never get the chance to make this their full-time job. Hard work, sacrifice and luck all play into the equation when it comes to any non-profit work in the arts. Originally I was going to study medicine, but caught the performing bug in High School. With a LOT of encouragement from my teacher and even MORE counseling for my parents, I was lucky enough to get to study music in college and have been ten times as lucky to be able to make a living performing and teaching.

How long have you been working with opera?

I hadn’t even seen an opera until I was 18 years old. It was La traviata at Opera Theater of St. Louis. I wept my eyes out and decided that THAT was what I wanted to do. But I performed in my first opera 3 years later as a junior in college (Faust).

My first time in a show with Minnesota Opera was as a supernumerary in Rigoletto in 2003. I started as the Teaching Artist in early 2004. My 2 sad years away makes this my 6^th FULL season serving as Teaching Artist.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

I have never felt part of a work “family” more than with Minnesota Opera. Although the company produces opera and opera education programs that are world-class, there is still a small-company charm about it. Everyone is so committed to making a great experience for the artists and partrons. I am very proud to say that I work for this company.

Is there any “haute” backstage gossip you would like to share from this or previous performances?

Well, I don’t want to get in trouble. But in my first comprimario role in Madame Butterfly in 2004, one of my chorus colleagues, who is a MNOP veteran, always came to visit me on stage right before I was supposed to sing my lines as Butterfly’s cousin. He would hand me some random object that he was hiding up the sleeve of his kimono. One night it was a plastic eyeball, the next night an ENTIRE role of gaffers tape. But the last night he handed me a piece of chocolate that, god forbid, was going to melt all over the $1000 silk kimono if I didn’t eat it right away. Luckily I was able to gobble it up and clear my throat just before singing my line. Hope I don’t get banned from the costume shop for breaking the #1 commandment—NO EATING IN COSTUME!

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

Husband Seth, baby Miles and our 7lb rescue mutt, Stevie. But do you think I could get a bonus item in the form of a case of a good red wine for being such a good mom?

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Nixon in China at Minnesota Opera. You are just flying by the seat of your pants, concentrating on the challenging and unpredictable rhythmic patterns for 3 hours. It was thrilling and exhausting, but we always wondered if the audience realized how hard it was for the performers.

Besides opera, do you have any other favorite genres of music? What are some of your favorite artists from that genre?

I really listen to anything and everything. It helps me stay in touch with the kiddos I visit in the schools, as well as hold on to my youth. But our collection of music spans from Medieval Chant to LCD Soundsystem, or from Willie Nelson and Jonny Cash, to William Shatner’s “Has Been” album. You just never know what you’re gunna get if you shuffle our iTunes library.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

Me? No. I’m just all talk and no walk. Anyway, I work with kids! However my alter-ego, Sergeant Keeton, is a different story. To find out more about her, you have to attend Tempo’s annual Opera Boot Camp.

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

www.angelakeeton.com

Do you speak any languages besides English? What are they?

Typical singer’s working knowledge of French and Italian but my conversation skills are best auf Deutsch!

Gabriel Preisser (baritone, Lieutenant Gordon, Resident Artist)

Where are you based when not performing?

Gabriel Preisser (baritone, Lieutenant Gordon, Resident Artist)

Orlando

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Stay out of debt and follow your passion.

Where do you feel you delivered your strongest performance?

Figaro in Barber of Seville with Owensboro Symphony.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

Making new and fresh every time.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

I love to have a fun time, let’s leave it at that.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share?

Tenors… Agh…! “Where is the Count for his entrance?” Holds the show… Oh turns out he is taking a shower backstage. He thought he had enough time between scenes and was getting sweaty the poor thing… Tenors!

What are your top three favorite operas?

Falstaff, Giovanni, Il Pagliacci

What is your dream role?

Rigoletto

How long have you been working with opera?

About 8 years

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Postcard from Morroco, complex music and subject matter.

Mary-Lacey Rogers (Resident Artist Administrator)

How has music changed your life?

Mary-Lacey Rogers (Resident Artist Administrator)

It’s made me more self-aware and forced me to redefine the word “perfect.” It’s a brutal career path and staying grounded is a talent not maintained by all.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

Everyone here cares about what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and what they can do to make you or it better. Since I’ve been here I’ve been helped through running resident artist auditions to being offered winter clothes for my first winter ever… It’s an all around support system.

Is there any “haute” backstage gossip you would like to share from this or previous performances?

The Cosi cast liked eating potato chips with pickles…. In the same bite. Gross.

What do you typically order when you go out for coffee?

“The largest coffee you have plus a shot.”

Besides opera, do you have any other favorite genres of music? What are some of your favorite artists from that genre?

Country, Jazz, Blues, Pop—anything with a good story and a good beat.

Name your top five favorite movies.

Peter Pan

The Wedding Date

Sleepless In Seattle

Anything with “James Bond” in the title

The Proposal (#5 changes out depending on my mood and the weather)

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

I’ve heard rumor that behind my back, fellow employees call me a “kitten with a whip.” I’m not ashamed…

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

I have a blog! The Rustic Stiletto : http://therusticstiletto.wordpress.com/

Do you speak any languages besides English? What are they?

I speak Southern. Just you try and tell me it’s not a language. Try.

What do you like to do when you aren’t busy creating great opera?

Well the first time I wasn’t involved in an opera, I biked across America, a 4,000 mile, 62 day, Baltimore to San Francisco bike ride. Then I became a PADI certified Open Water, Advanced, and Rescue Diver and moved to Key Largo to restore Coral Reefs. Then I went into the wilderness in Utah to learn canyoneering, white water rafting, and how to safely remove scorpions from your sleeping bag while you’re still inside. Then I got Wilderness Medicine certified and obtained my Wilderness First Responder so that I could save myself (and others) in the wilderness. I assisted in Pediatric Pulmonary Cancer research study, and picked up blogging. (“creating great opera” is a really stable thing for me to keep doing…..)

They trade booze, tell stories, play soccer, and do other fun things to cut the tension of wanting nothing but to murder each other moments before.

Posted on November 17, 2011 by mnopblog

I Remember Thursday

“The work, based on a true incident from WWI, tells of three troops- one Scots, one German, and one French- who agree to a truce for Christmas eve, and find themselves unable to fight thereafter. The music and acting were stunning in their beauty. I was moved to quiet tears more than once.” -Diana Green

Diana Green

“Once again, the MN Opera put on an amazing performance. As usual, it’s difficult to draw when the action is so amazing, you want to just lose yourself in what’s going on on-stage, but add to that the incredible sets and music this time around, and I had the most difficult time yet trying to draw what was going on and not just watch. Thanks again to everyone who made this possible! ” -Jeremiah Halonie

Jeremiah Halonie

“Until last Thursday evening and the world premiere of Silent Night, an operatic rendition of the 2005 movie Joyeux Noel. It relates the tale of British, French, and German soldiers during World War I who disobeyed orders and spent the holiday not killing each other. The experience was, in a word, big. The staging, production and vocals were brilliant.” -Joel Vollmer

Joel Vollmer

“I’m always amazed by the strength and simplicity of the sets at MN Opera, but Silent Night went way beyond previous shows. I was amazed by how viewpoint and sympathy could shift as the stage rotated, and how dropping a window onto the battlefield could transform it into a mansion while retaining the sense of lonliness and fragility.” -Kate Saturday

Kate Saturday

“The MN Opera company was kind enough to let myself and several other comic artists in to yet another of their final full dress rehearsals this past week, so we could sketch, and tell you all how awesome it was. Thankfully, it was, as usual, pretty dang awesome. In fact, it was one of my favorites so far. The show was brand new, and commissioned by the opera company and was one of only 3 new, premiering operas in the US this whole year. It was called Silent Night, and was about the Christmas eve truce in WWI, between the French, the Germans, and the Scotts. It was surprisingly light on religious overtones, and focused more on the very human and earthy motivations and interactions of the men and women involved.” -Lee Blauersouth

Lee Blauersouth

“All the soldiers convene and mingle. They trade booze, tell stories, play soccer, and do other fun things to cut the tension of wanting nothing but to murder each other moments before. Horstmayer finds Audebert’s wallet and gives it to him, solidifying their friendship.” -Thomas Boguszewski

Thomas Boguszewski

“The largest coffee you have plus a shot.”

Posted on November 17, 2011 by mnopblog

Feature Friday

Angie Keeton (Teaching Artist)

What made you decide on a career in the arts?

Angie Keeton (Teaching Artist)

How long have you been working with opera?

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

Is there any “haute” backstage gossip you would like to share from this or previous performances?

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

Husband Seth, baby Miles and our 7 lb. rescue mutt, Stevie. But do you think I could get a bonus item in the form of a case of a good red wine for being such a good mom?

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Besides opera, do you have any other favorite genres of music? What are some of your favorite artists from that genre?

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

www.angelakeeton.com

Do you speak any languages besides English? What are they?

Typical singer’s working knowledge of French and Italian but my conversation skills are best auf Deutsch!

Gabriel Preisser (baritone, Lieutenant Gordon, Resident Artist)

Where are you based when not performing?

Gabriel Preisser (baritone, Lieutenant Gordon, Resident Artist)

Orlando

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Stay out of debt and follow your passion.

Where do you feel you delivered your strongest performance?

Figaro in Barber of Seville with Owensboro Symphony.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

Making new and fresh every time.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

I love to have a fun time, let’s leave it at that.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share?

What are your top three favorite operas?

Falstaff, Giovanni, Il Pagliacci

What is your dream role?

Rigoletto

How long have you been working with opera?

About 8 years

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Postcard from Morroco, complex music and subject matter.

Mary-Lacey Rogers (Resident Artist Administrator)

How has music changed your life?

Mary-Lacey Rogers (Resident Artist Administrator)

It’s made me more self-aware and forced me to redefine the word “perfect.” It’s a brutal career path and staying grounded is a talent not maintained by all.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

Is there any “haute” backstage gossip you would like to share from this or previous performances?

The Cosi cast liked eating potato chips with pickles…. In the same bite. Gross.

What do you typically order when you go out for coffee?

“The largest coffee you have plus a shot.”

Besides opera, do you have any other favorite genres of music? What are some of your favorite artists from that genre?

Country, Jazz, Blues, Pop—anything with a good story and a good beat.

Name your top five favorite movies.

Peter Pan

The Wedding Date

Sleepless In Seattle

Anything with “James Bond” in the title

The Proposal (#5 changes out depending on my mood and the weather)

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

I’ve heard rumor that behind my back, fellow employees call me a “kitten with a whip.” I’m not ashamed…

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

I have a blog! The Rustic Stiletto : http://therusticstiletto.wordpress.com/

Do you speak any languages besides English? What are they?

I speak Southern. Just you try and tell me it’s not a language. Try.

What do you like to do when you aren’t busy creating great opera?

Rumblings from the Opera Troops!

Posted on November 16, 2011 by mnopblog

Feature Friday

Liam Bonner (baritone, Audebert)

Where are you based when not performing?

Liam Bonner (baritone, Audebert)

New York City.

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Be yourself.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

My personality wouldn’t allow me to survive on a deserted island; Castaway was very traumatizing for me

What is your dream role?

Germont in La traviata

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous performances that our audience might enjoy?

Ewa Podles and I were doing Ballo together in Houston and since we were both finished at the end of the first act, we hung out in the dressing room on opening night drinking the bottle of champagne given to us as a gift until it was time for the curtain call. She told me her life story.

What are your top three favorite operas?

Marriage of Figaro, Don Carlo, Billy Budd

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

I have had “hot dish”, but in Pittsburgh (where I’m originally from) it’s just called a casserole. My favorite is zucchini casserole.

Where do you feel you delivered your strongest performance?

As the title role in Halmet with Washington National Opera.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Stravinsky’s ‘Les Noces’ – besides the fact that it’s musically challenging, it’s also in a rural Russian dialect that even my Russian speaking colleague had trouble learning.

How has music changed your life?

I never planned to make a career in music, but I can honestly say that I can’t imagine it any other way. I am aware of how blessed and fortunate I am to be making a living in this profession.

Jamie Andrews (Community Education Director)

What made you decide on a career in the arts?

Jamie Andrew (Community Education Director)

I was not good enough to play for the Twins.

How long have you been working with opera?

Since 2002.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

-My house

-West River Road, on my bike, at sunrise in the fall.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Eight Pieces for Four Timpani by Elliot Carter

Besides opera, do you have any other favorite genres of music? What are some of your favorite artists from that genre?

Jazz (Miles Davis and Esperanza Spalding)

Name your top five favorite movies.

Goodfellas

Enchanted April

Mediterraneo

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

The Godfather

How has music changed your life?

It opened so many doors, like the opportunity to travel and meet incredible people, that I could never had imagined growing up in a very small town in WI.

What are your top three favorite operas?

Der Rosenkavalier, Ring Cycle, Falstaff

What do you like to do when you aren’t busy creating great opera?

Going to graduate school.

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

Tator-tot! What else?

Philip Ostrander, trombone

What made you decide on a career in the arts?

My parents are music educators and I tried to do anything and everything else and couldn’t.

How long have you been working with opera?

5 Seasons.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

The Twin Cities community financial support for the arts, great marketing, costumes, sets. It’s a great show.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

XCEL center for hockey games!

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

My bible, wife and children. Maybe some water.

Where do you get your news?

Local Eau Claire newspaper.

What is your favorite thing about Minnesota?

Hockey.

What are your top three favorite operas?

Boheme, Magic Flute, Ring Cycle

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

A concerto I’m performing by Gunnar De Frumerie. Technical and range expectations are very difficult.

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

http://www.uwec.edu/Mus-The/faculty/ostranpa.htm

What does “scandalous” mean? It makes as much sense as “promiscuous” or “sacrilegious.”

Posted on November 4, 2011 by mnopblog

Feature Fridays

Marcus Dilliard (lighting designer)

Of what previous work are you most proud?

: Marcus Dilliard (Lighting Designer)

Uncle Vanya, The History Plays, The Cherry Orchard, Resurrection Blues and M. Butterfly for The Guthrie Theater, Turandot for Minnesota Opera, The Cunning Little Vixen for Portland Opera, Tartuffe and The Miser for Theatre de la Jeune Lune.

With what show would you most like to be involved and why?

The Ring Cycle – because it’s The Ring Cycle. And The Tempest, when it’s time to close the book.

How long have you been working in opera?

30 years

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

Courage and imagination, a rare combination these days.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

My first thought was my wife and two daughters but assuming that they wouldn’t be too happy living on a deserted island, I’d have to say fishing tackle, matches and a lot of Tastycakes.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Frankenstein, a million years ago at the Guthrie. It took me forever to figure out the aesthetic, so every minute of tech rehearsal was self-inflicted torture.

How has music changed your life?

Music and light are different manifestations of the same emotions. Learning that gave me a way of communicating with the world.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous productions?

Just recently, sitting backstage during Act II of Cosi fan Tutte on opening night, watching the moonrise on the Magic Garden. Thanks to a programming glitch, the moonlight was bright red. That doesn’t happen in the movies.

What are your top three favorite operas?

Only three? OK, The Cunning Little Vixen, The Flying Dutchman and Dialogues of the Carmelites.

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

Yes, of course. “Beef stroganoff” hot dish.

Mark Stephen Campbell (librettist)

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Mark Stephen Campbell (librettist)

Ignore people who give you advice.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

I could come up with some highfalutin names but I have to say I draw the most inspiration from the people I’m currently working with. And in this case, the producers (notice I mention them fir$t), the director, the conductor, the cast (especially) are a constant source of inspiration.

Of what previous work are you most proud?

The best parts of Later the Same Evening, Bastianello, and Songs from an Unmade Bed.

How long have you been working in opera?

About 10 years. I started when I was 8.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

Oh, jeez. I dunno. Many reasons. But I think it helps that Minnesota Opera is in Minnesota, a state that demonstrates a very real understanding of the importance of art in our lives. If Minnesota Opera were in Wyoming that might not be the case.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

Right now, the rehearsal hall. I hope that will change, however, when Minnesota Opera allows me travel on my own.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

Hmmmmm. Well, let’s take this question in a different direction because you could bring ONE thing and it would get you off of the deserted island (like an amazing cell phone). Okay, I’ll just answer the question: a food source, a water source and Bill Burden’s sense of humor.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Maybe The Inspector. Humor can be difficult business.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

What does “scandalous” mean? It makes as much sense as “promiscuous” or “sacrilegious.”

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

I have not and eagerly await anyone’s invitation to ask me to partake of this delightful regional culinary specialty!

Tommy Glass (chorus)

What made you decide on a career in the arts?

Tommy Glass, Minnesota Opera Chorus

Well, I’m actually a student at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, and I’m majoring in Vocal Music Education and Vocal Performance, so I’m not quite to the career bit yet haha. However, music specifically is something I’ve always connected with and the feeling of performing well in front of an audience makes me feel alive.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

My favorite Twin Cities destination has got to be the Lakes area. Walking around Calhoun and Harriet or relaxing on a dock on Harriet has got to be one of the most beautiful and enjoyable things about the area. Sunsets over Harriet with the Minneapolis skyline in the background are to die for.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

I would bring my iPhone, my headphones, and my guitar. I could probably entertain myself endlessly that way.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Since I’ve only been in two operas, I’d say Silent Night is the toughest. I have a small part (French Soldier #2), and some of those rhythms are killer. When it all gets put together however, it’s pretty cool.

How has music changed your life?

I think it opened up an area of myself that I didn’t know existed. Being able to study music and perform it seriously gives way to raw emotion. Music can be as powerful as you want it to be, and in some of the performances I’ve done, there have been moments I wouldn’t trade for the world.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

Broadcast journalism. I have a lot of friends who are going into that field, and the work seems so interesting and important. Plus, I may be no Ron Burgundy, but I like to think I have a pretty decent anchorman voice .

What is your favorite thing about Minnesota?

Most definitely the colors season on Summit Avenue. Gotta be the prettiest stretch of the Twin Cities. Or Twins games in the summer. Target Field is the greatest stadium in all of professional sports.

Do you speak any languages besides English? What are they?

I’m minoring in German, so I’m learning that. I’ve also been to Mexico several times and took years of Spanish, so I can stumble through comprehending that.

One a scale of 1-10, 10 high, how foxy is James Valenti?

12. He’s a fox. And I’m straight and saying that.

Besides opera, do you have any other favorite genres of music? What are some of your favorite artists from that genre?

Though they’re at the exact opposite of the musical spectrum, AC/DC is one of my favorite bands of all time. I can do a pretty good Brian Johnson impression as well, and can duckwalk just like Angus Young. Beyond that, I listen to lots of music that’s on the Current. Bon Iver is definitely one of my favorites. Plus, he’s from Eau Claire, so that’s sort of within the Twin Cities area!

I managed to keep singing to Carmen all while wearing a barrel as a pant leg.

Posted on October 28, 2011 by mnopblog

Feature Friday

Steven Pomije (supernumerary)

Steven Pomije (supernumerary, left) at Lambda Literary Awards Ceremony with FLUX finalist and author James Klise (right).

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

A completely loaded Kindle Fire with 400 songs and 3,000 books, a comfortable armchair and a side table.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Supers do whatever we’re asked to do, and when we’re asked to hold upright an iron lantern for 40 minutes in one hand, well, that’s a bit challenging for even the most fit. LOL.

What is your favorite thing about Minnesota?

September. The air is crisp, the leaves begin turning, there is a smell in the air like red wine.

What are your top three favorite operas?

Puccini’s Tosca; Britten’s Peter Grimes; Delibes’ Lakme.

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

Does the traditional cassoulet from Languedoc count? I love one-pot meals, but hot dish really isn’t my thing.

How do you eat your eggs?

Poached on a toasted bagel with fried tomato.

What do you like to do when you aren’t busy creating great opera?

As I have a career outside of my involvement with the opera, any free time is premium time, and I spend it reading great novels, listening to music while scouring over scores, cooking, and bicycling.

Where do you get your news?

BBC, the Guardian, the Nation, Mother Jones, Facebook.

Name your top five favorite movies.

Moulin Rouge, Billy Elliot, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

On first impression, people think I’m trouble. Must be something about the look of me.

Andrew Wilkowske (Ponchel, baritone)

Where are you based when not performing?

Andrew Wilkowske (Ponchel, baritone)

My wife, daughter, and I live in St. Paul

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

If you think you would be happy doing something else, do it!!! If you are truly committed to doing this for a living, be persistent. Don’t give up. Over the years I’ve learned that a big part of being successful in this crazy business is just hanging in there.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

My wife Erika Taibl is the most creative and hard-working person I know. She is a constant source of inspiration for me. My daughter is the funniest person I’ve met, and I find myself constantly ripping off her gags on stage. Musically speaking, my biggest inspirations are Paul Simon, Eddie Van Halen, Bryn Terfel, Dimitri Hvorostovsky, Mozart, and Steve Reich. Lately I’ve been listening a lot to a band called The Hold Steady. The lead singer, Craig Finn, is a Twin Cities native and is a natural storyteller. The lyrics namecheck tons of Twin Cities landmarks like 1st Ave, The Quarry, and the Grain Belt Bridge.

Where do you feel you delivered your strongest performance?

Probably in The Grapes of Wrath right here at MN Opera. I got the chance to reprise that performance at Carnegie Hall last year- an experience I will never forget! Before our dress rehearsal at Carnegie, I just stood center stage and tried to take it all in. It felt like the scene in Hoosiers when Gene Hackman measures the basketball court at the state tournament to prove to his players that it is the same size as their home court. That night in the performance, after Noah’s death scene, the show literally stopped and the audience went nuts. It was the most spellbinding moment of my professional life.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

Staying healthy in Minnesota weather!!! Remembering that the whole point of singing is communication, not just making pretty noise.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

Kramarcyk’s for lunch, Muffaletta’s for dinner, and Como Park for everything else.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Probably Casanova’s Homecoming. I was the understudy for the lead role. It pushes the extremes of baritone vocal range, and it is incredibly challenging musically. It took me forever to just learn the notes. Then it took me forever to learn the rhythms. Then, to put them together, well forget it!

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

HAHAHA!!!! Being the father of a four-year-old doesn’t allow me to be too scandalous anymore. But find me a good babysitter and all bets are off!!!

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous performances that our audience might enjoy?

When I was in the chorus of Aida wayyyy back in 1998 there was one night when the backstage monitor got turned off and the entire chorus missed their first entrance. Seeing a herd of choristers sprinting down the stairwell in togas is something I’ll never forget.

Troy Cook (Father Palmer, baritone)

Where are you based when not performing?

Troy Cook (Father Palmer, baritone)

I live in Bucks County, PA.

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Keep an open mind…Always be willing to try new things. You never know what you might learn about yourself or your art.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

I would have to say as far as a baritone that I really look up to, that would be Thomas Allen. I find that he really has the complete package: A fantastic voice, real command of languages and is a fantastic actor. He also has an amazing ability to act with his voice, a quality I greatly admire.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

Performing in really large theaters with terrible acoustics.

What do you typically eat before a performance?

I usually eat something that won’t repeat on me like grilled chicken and veggies… Nothing too spicy, and I’ll eat several hours before show time. Sometimes I like an orange at intermission.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

Scandalous is not really a word that has been used to describe me, unless what you are referring to is taking a nude shower onstage. I guess some would consider that scandalous…

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

The Minnesota Opera is not afraid to do challenging repertoire and innovative productions of standard repertoire. They also have a nice mix in their casting of seasoned professionals and young singers on their way up. I was lucky enough to be chosen to sing the Count in Marriage of Figaro by Dale and Floyd right out of the Glimmerglass Opera Apprentice Program. They basically gave my first professional role.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous performances that our audience might enjoy?

Well this is an onstage moment, but still a good one. I was singing Escamillo at the Green Mountain Opera Festival in Vermont, and on opening night while singing the high note I was about to do an amazing dismount from a barrel to the floor when the top of the barrel gave way and my foot went through to the floor. Miraculously I didn’t miss a beat. I managed to keep singing to Carmen all while wearing a barrel as a pant leg. A chorister eventually helped me remove the barrel. The only way that I know what happened is that everyone told me during the intermission. I guess I went into auto-pilot. It was crazy!

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

I have had a “hot dish” before courtesy of a native Minnesotan and former MN opera RAP Andrew Gangestad. We had a Hot Dish party while singing together in the Berkshires. Pizza hot dish, tater tot hot dish, taco hot dish were a few of the offerings. I am also from KY, where we call hot dish casseroles. We had a casserole at about every meal… I think we kept Campbell’s soup in business.

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

My website is: www.troycookbaritone.com

It’s Rainin’ Men

Posted on October 21, 2011 by mnopblog

Feature Fridays

Ben Wager, the French General, (bass)

Ben Wager, the French General (bass)

Where are you based when not performing?

Philadelphia, PA

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Soak up all criticism and advice you can. When critiqued, always respond with “Yes, and…” rather than a “yes, BUT!”

Who are your biggest inspirations?

War vets. It keeps things in perspective.

Where do you feel you delivered your strongest performance?

At the Academy of Vocal Arts as Enrico in Anna Bolena.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

Keeping that little chaos-loving demon living in your brain on a leash! It may sound strange but every performer I know has some version of that voice in his/her head who just likes to cause trouble when you’re trying your hardest to focus and take things seriously.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

Positive attitude and an uncanny sense purpose and cohesion throughout the entire company.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia. It’s just musically very tricky: unusual harmonic shifts and rhythms.

How has music changed your life?

It has brought into contact with so many different types of people in countless places that I otherwise may not have. It’s made me say to myself on numerous occasions: I can’t believe I get to do this for a living.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

I was a Criminal Justice major in college, I planned to go into the U.S. Marshal’s service. But if I had to choose one, I’d be a studio bassist.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous performances that our audience might enjoy?

I’m probably one of the last people to sing with Salvatore Licitra who was a good enough colleague to escort me down off a horrendously steep rake during a performance of Andrea Chenier because the costume department accidentally switched my boots so the ones I had on didn’t grip the copper plated surface AT ALL.

Andrzej Goulding (video/projection designer)

Where are you based when not in traveling for work?

Andrzej Goudling (video/projection designer)

I am based in London, England.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

It’s just a rumour, I’m really quite tame.

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

Work hard, as talent will always win out over just being able to talk the talk.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

I worked (and still do) in set design when I left university and the designer I have worked with all those years has been the biggest influence on my theatre work. From a film point of view it would have to be Tim Burton and Ridley Scott as they both started as artists before moving into film which I can relate to.

With what show would you most like to be involved and why?

As a child I always wanted to make Lord of the Rings as a movie because of the love for creating worlds from scratch. But then along came Peter Jackson and the rest is now history. I did get a slight recompense however, as I ended up working on the musical version.

How do you eat your eggs?

I tend to like mine fried with a little knob of butter thrown in at the end to baste the topside.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing/producing?

The most challenging element is to find the time to fit all the ideas in. Video is very time consuming if done well, so part of it is knowing the limits of the show as with video you can within reason create anything you want.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

My wife and our two cats.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Probably this one simply because of it’s scale.

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

I have a website; www.agoulding.com.

**Michael Nyby, William Dale (baritone)**

Where are you based when not performing?

Michael Nyby, William Dale (baritone)

My wife and I just moved last month to Toronto from Vancouver.

What advice do you offer aspiring artists?

The most helpful thing I ever learned was how to accept disappointment from defeat or rejection.

Who are your biggest inspirations?

Mozart, Verdi, and Indiana Jones

Where do you feel you delivered your strongest performance?

In the shower every morning, but unfortunately I have not been able to attain to the same level of genius on the stage.

What tends to be the most challenging element of performing?

For me it’s usually the first entrance in a performance, but once I get past the initial nerves, it’s pretty smooth sailing.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

I have a running route through Boom Island Park, around Nicollet Island and over the Stone Arch Bridge. It’s gorgeous in the autumn.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

I would probably be working as a mechanic in a neighbourhood mountain bike store in Vancouver.

Are you really as scandalous as they say you are?

Yes. Absolutely. No question about it.

Are there any favorite backstage stories/moments you would like to share from this or previous performances that our audience might enjoy?

Yes, but decency prevents me from sharing in a public forum!

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

Yes, because I have attended Minnesota Opera’s famous Church Basement Luncheon. I’m not sure what was in it, but I remember it had French’s fried onions as the top layer.*

(*editorial note, Green Bean Casserole)

Sometimes we have other things besides bottled water in the Orchestra Pit.

Posted on October 14, 2011 by mnopblog

Feature Friday

Michele Frisch (flute, Minnesota Opera Orchestra)

What made you decide on a career in the arts?

My father was a baseball player and my mother was determined that her seven children would be exposed to music, dance, theatre and the visual arts. All the music lessons, youth orchestra, ballet, and museum art classes were her idea and my father faithfully drove us all to these countless lessons. I’m a professional flutist by default, however. I wanted to be the first girl to play in the Major Leagues long before I wanted to be a flutist.

How long have you been working with opera?

I auditioned for principal flute in 1984, and I had played second flute for three years prior to that. So, 27 yrs. as principal, 30 yrs altogether.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

I think that this Opera company covers a huge amount of territory with great skill. Every season offers standard, audience-loving favorites, the staple of the opera repertoire. But MN Opera has also successfully mounted many newly commissioned operas which have garnered considerable acclaim in the opera world, not to mention other contemporary operas which keep audience’s ears and tastes fresh. Also, MN Opera’s ongoing commitment to staging a Bel Canto offering every season is noteworthy in itself.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

My own backyard gives me peace, solitude, flora and fauna, and a place to unwind. In more ambitious moments: Valentine Lake in Arden Hills, the Arboretum, St. Croix Trail, Midway Stadium when the St. Paul Saints are playing.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

My Bible, my flute, and the Bach Partita in a minor.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

Anything J.S. Bach. Simplicity is elusive, but magical if briefly achieved. Gluck wrote: “I believe that my greatest efforts have been devoted to seeking a beautiful simplicity. I have avoided making displays of difficulty at the expense of clarity. Simplicity, truth, and naturalness are the great principles of beauty in all artistic manifestations.”

How has music changed your life?

I remember being 3 years old and sitting with my father, listening to the soundtrack LP of Mario Lanza as The Great Caruso. Music has always been a part of my life, so I can only try to imagine what it would be like without music: incomprehensible.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

I would write poetry, presumably with greater skill as a vocation than as an avocation. Even yet, in the reading and writing, it has brought me a great deal of pleasure.

Is there any “haute” backstage gossip you would like to share from this or previous performances?

The woodwind section has never, in my memory, completed the run of an opera without some offering of intermission chocolate from one of us. This is why tempos at the beginnings of certain Acts are often ambitiously lively…

What are your top three favorite operas?

Easy: Verdi’s La Traviata, because it is the first opera I ever heard, as a toddler; Bizet’s Carmen, because I met my husband, violinist Roger Frisch, while playing Carmen at Indiana University Music School, and Barber’s Vanessa, because of the divinely exquisite quintet in the Finale.

Amy Morris, flute

Amy Morris (flute, Minnesota Opera Orchestra)

What made you decide on a career in the arts?

You’ll have to ask my mom – she picked out the flute for me. Once that was done, it was a foregone conclusion (thanks, Mom!).

How long have you been working with opera?

I’ve played since 1997, and been a core member of the orchestra since the 2000 season.

What do you think makes Minnesota Opera unique from other companies?

The company has a vision of opera that pays homage to the great works of the past, while sponsoring works of the future. It does it seamlessly, as opposed to poking you in the ribs with its odd ends. It’s very much like architecture that melds old bricks and mortar with new design elements but creates one, beautiful whole.

What is your favorite Twin Cities destination?

My home in Richfield, where my nice neighborhood, back porch, garden and cats are.

If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would they be?

A boat, an oar and a GPS.

What has been the most challenging piece you have worked on and why?

For the opera, it has to be Der Rosenkavalier. It requires technical proficiency, musical passion, and exquisite ensemble playing. Pinocchio was probably the most technically challenging piece we (I) ever played, but that made it really fun.

How has music changed your life?

Music is my religion. It has the power to transform lives and the ability to be incredibly banal. The transforming moments make the banal ones sufferable.

If you had to choose a different field of work, what would you choose?

I would go out to Sonoma, CA and start pouring wine at one of the vineyards and hopefully learn the process of winemaking.

What is your favorite thing about Minnesota?

MSP flies non-stop to Amsterdam.

Is there any “haute” backstage gossip you would like to share from this or previous performances?

Sometimes we have other things besides bottled water in the orchestra pit.

What are your top three favorite operas?

Der Rosenkavalier. I love the rest equally.

Have you ever had hot dish, and if so what is your favorite variety?

Tater tot casserole (we call it casserole where I come from).

How do you eat your eggs?

Over easy.

Besides opera, do you have any other favorite genres of music? What are some of your favorite artists from that genre?

The Beatles, and I love Springsteen’s Seeger sessions with folk music.

Do you have Twitter, a Facebook page or website fans can follow?

all of the above. www.amy-morris.com; www.indande.com; and Facebook pages for Indande and The Prairie Song Project.

What do you like to do when you aren’t busy creating great opera?

Drink great wine, travel to great places, play great chamber music, hang out with great friends, play with my great cats.