Category Archives: Weekly Programming

What Fat Lady?

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I would like to take a moment of your time to be a bit less refined and admire opera for qualities rarely discussed.

When considering the average opera singer, most in the general public think of the classic scary woman, spear in hand, wearing a horned helmet and pigtails. Hopefully these will help put that image to rest.

Enjoy! (And you’re welcome.)

Composer Kevin Puts, winner of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Silent Night

Mezzo-soprano Roxana Constantinescu

Minnesota Opera production of Cos“i fan tutte, music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Denyce Graves, Mezzo-soprano

Bass-baritone Rodolfo Nieto

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Colin Dickau, Tempo Board of Directors

Visit Minnesota Opera’s blog every week for Tempo Tuesday

Previews, Pints, and Popera

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This will be a busy month for Tempo!

If you don’t know Tempo well, October would be a great month to get to know us. The two events happening this month are so different, I feel they really show off the multiple facets of Tempo.

You’ll see what I mean. Here is what Tempo has going on this month:

Opera on Tap: Tempo Style

This event has always been a favorite of mine. If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll know that now and then I think it’s nice to be able to go out and enjoy opera without the suit and tie. With events like Opera on Tap, you can see that Tempo gets that too. The event takes place at Honey, which, if you haven’t been there before, is kind of a sexy bar. The bar is below street level and I always feel like I’m walking into some place secretive when I’m there. Walk down the stairs and relax as opera singers sing opera favorites. Feel free to grace us all with your finest jeans and t-shirt. Enjoy your beer/cocktail, enjoy your friends, enjoy the music!

Thursday, October 18, 6pm – 9pm
Honey
205 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Boleyn: For Love, For Conquest (Anna Bolena Preview Event)

This is another event that I’ve been looking forward to. I’ve always loved learning about the Tudors and I was excited to see that Minnesota Opera is doing Anna Bolena. I’ll admit that deep down, I’ve always had a soft spot for juicy drama and scandal, so naturally, I’ve always been drawn to the story of Anne Boleyn. This event sounds fascinating to me. Here, you’re invited to join Tempo at Kieran’s Irish Pub, where there will be a panel discussion. Once there, Tempo will show you how this juicy true story made it from the pages of history to novels, to movies, and now, to the stage of the Minnesota Opera. This is a rare opportunity to take a peak inside the lives of royalty, and a rare opportunity to see how the creative minds of the Minnesota Opera work! John Birge from Classical MPR will be moderating a panel discussion that includes Professor John Watkins from the University of Minnesota, Director Kevin Newbury, and opera stars Keri Alkema (Anne) and David Portillo (Lord Percy).

Wednesday, October 24, 6pm – 9pm
Kieran’s Irish Pub  (Titanic Room)
601 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55403

Hope to see you guys there!

- Colin Dickau, Tempo Board of Directors

 Visit Minnesota Opera’s blog every week for Tempo Tuesday

Welcome Back, Jessica

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New York City costume designer Jessica Jahn revisits Minnesota Opera this season to join the creative team of Anna Bolena. Watch Brenda Harris sing a Bel Canto masterpiece as Queen Elizabeth in Minnesota Opera’s 2010 production of Roberto Devereux, wearing a stunning red gown designed by Jahn.

“Jessica Jahn evokes the Tudor period with a… striking red gown [which] gives no doubt of her sovereignty, “ raved Examiner.com, “[and] Elisabetta’s attire grows increasingly subdued over the course of work in reflection of her progressively fraught emotions and exposed humanity.”

Subscribe to Minnesota Opera’s Youtube channel for a closer look at ‘Anna Bolena’.

Minnesota Opera Votes No

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I feel anxious about casting my vote November 6th. I’m sure lots of people feel that way when considering the next American President. The vote this November, however, addresses something so personal to me that it leaves me feeling uneasy. In the past, I’ve felt removed from the many political issues that have come and gone; my family, for the most part, has never been greatly affected by any major political shifts, and this is the first time in my life that we will be voting on something so personal. It’s the strangest feeling. I think the best way to describe it, and perhaps why I feel so uneasy, is that it feels as if I’m voting on whether or not my love is valid. I wonder, if my love is not considered valid, or is somehow considered less than yours, what am I?

It’s taken me years to get here. I first told myself that was I gay when I was 9 years old, standing in my parents’ backyard. It scared the crap out of me. I spent a lot of time praying, asking what I did wrong, and wondering what I was supposed to learn from it all. To this day, the memories of those moments continue to make my heart ache and go out to all of those thousands and thousands of young gay boys and girls living these very same moments. I didn’t come out until my sophomore year of college. Nothing major happened in my life to make me come out; perhaps it was the fact that “nothing major” was happening. I became very good at hiding my feelings, and very good at pretending to be someone whom no one would suspect was gay. My sophomore year, I decided I wanted to experience life like everyone else did. I wanted to be in love with someone, and to know what it was like to feel that intertwined physical and emotional bond.

After I came out, it took me a few years to figure out exactly who I was. I still get emotional when I think about how many years I spent terrified to tell my family that I was gay, and then now, realizing the overflowing amounts of love they’ve shown me. I’ve taken one step further and found someone so amazing, I finally get what that love feels like! Our lives are great! We’ve moved in together. I spend my week trying to work my way up in the world, while he painstakingly finishes his PhD. I have an amazing set of parents, a sister and brother-in-law who have given me two nieces and a nephew who I absolutely love! I reflect upon all of this and smile, but there’s always a crack in the image. The whole world doesn’t see what I see, or what my family and friends see. I am capable of the same love as you. And my love is worth as much as your love.

I am beyond thrilled that Minnesota Opera has publicly supported the VOTE NO campaign, and from the bottom of my heart I would like to thank them! This November 6th, I will be VOTING NO, because in my mind, voting no is telling those gay boys and girls that they will grow up in a world where they feel just as valuable as any straight person, and that they deserve just as much as everyone else.  I very much hope that you will reach out to others and join me in voting no on November 6th.

- Colin Dickau, Tempo Board of Directors

 Visit Minnesota Opera’s blog every week for Tempo Tuesday 

Tempo’s Best Dressed

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Saturday, September 22, was the opening night for Minnesota Opera’s 50th anniversary season with the stunning production of Nabucco. To quote the Pioneer Press, “When a character slits someone’s throat within seconds of her initial entrance, you know you have a baddy on your hands, and Harris paints an Abigaille as explosive as the volcano erupting in one of Strassberger’s evocative backdrops.” Brenda Harris may have been a “baddy” on stage but it was beauty to our ears. Thank you to the cast, crew, and creative team of Nabucco; we could not think of a better way to kick-off a season.

With the opera season off to an explosive start, it was time to celebrate. Not only is Minnesota Opera celebrating 50 years, but Tempo is celebrating 10 years, which calls for a fabulous Opening Night party at Silver & Gold Soirée! As soon as my date and I stepped into the James J. Hill Library we were both captivated by the sights. From the decorations, champagne, the band and most of all, the guests, we knew it would be a great night! He leaned over me and said, “I’ve never seen so many well dressed people in one place!” I replied, “You’re at the opera, what do you expect?!”

My mission for the evening was to find and single out ‘the best dressed’. Sadly, this disqualified me from being a contender, but I graciously decided to give everyone else a chance and find those starlets and dashing men adorning the evening.

Tempo’s Best Dressed

Meg Waterman © 2012 ClarePix Photography

Meg Waterman time warped from the 1920s in her grandmother’s vintage dress. Not only was she head-to-toe glamorous, her graceful presence and confidence made her outfit shine even more than the sparkles on her dress! Best of all? Her smile!

Tom Theoblad © 2012 ClarePix Photography

Spotted by several ladies from across the room was Tom Theoblad or as I like to call him the “James Bond” of the Soirée. He made the standard tux look daring and dashing.

Kevin Beckey © 2012 ClarePix Photography

Jenna Wolf & Kelly Kuczkowski © 2012 T.Murray

To choose only one lady and gent was way too hard, so I decided to give a couple shout-outs. Honorable mentions include Kevin Beckey, Jenna Wolf and Kelly Kuczkowski. If you know anything about our Development Ladies, you know they always show up dressed to impress.

Ben Jones & Carrie Walker © 2012 ClarePix Photography

Finally, I can’t resist mentioning our current Tempo Board Chair, Ben Jones (him and I pictured to the right). Ben is always well dressed and deserves credit for setting the standard. Thanks Ben!

-Tempo Board Member, Carrie Walker

 

Beyond Doubt

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I had an interesting conversation with a friend a few days ago. We were discussing Minnesota Opera’s upcoming world premiere of Doubt. We were both excited about the future run because, in our minds, the opera addresses something relevant and deeply personal to many. Suddenly I wished there were more operas that touched on current events.

With a combination of music and theater, opera has this amazing ability to tap into carnal values, forcing us to recognize them–unrequited love, for instance, and the desire to possess. I am happy and proud to say that I have experienced how opera can make one internalize complex human relationships. Performances like The Grapes of Wrath, Silent Night, and even Madame Butterfly left me with a new perspective on culture, interpersonal relationships, and myself. As much as I love opera’s ability to do this, I sometimes wonder if the year in which the opera was published, or the era in which the opera takes place, can occasionally create sizable distance between the audience and the performance happening on stage.

I think it would be amazing to see how opera addresses current affairs. Watching how the opera approaches topics such as Wall Street, gay marriage, abortion, or the Bush Administration would fascinate me. I imagine an already heated and complex issue, complimented by the richness of opera, and find myself hungry to know the result. I love the vast display of beauty from various eras, and by no means do I intend to criticize a masterpiece. Seeing the richness and depth that opera adds to any classic story or moment in history, I am simply eager to see what it might bring the the dramas of our own time.

- Tempo Board Member Colin Dickau

Visit Minnesota Opera’s blog every week for Tempo Tuesday 

The Beat Goes On

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As you can imagine, the staff, board and performers are thrilled with the outcome of Saturday’s opening performance of Nabucco.

It’s so interesting to experience the bit of human nature that adds a now expected but never certain bit of performance “oompf.” The singers conjure up a bit more sound or someone on stage is seized for an extra second because of something their colleague did. Could have been a glance or an outstretched hand no one had discussed.

I’m in the fortunate position of knowing what they’ve rehearsed but then have to be ready for how we all live the performance in that moment. Very cool and almost inexplicable experience. There were definitely some of those performance moments on Saturday. Brenda Harris’ performance returned long applause mid-show. Everything stopped for that moment. Others normally entering as the aria ended tastefully started their arrival but froze when it was clear that the audience needed this moment – and Brenda deserved it.

It was a heck of night though, a very well done Gala dinner preceded the performance. A lovely dessert reception followed. It was great fun getting to know a whole new musical community. I was really proud of the whole company for simply hitting the ball out of the park to open the anniversary season. As I came into the office today for a New Works Initiative meeting there was lingering excitement from the box office folks as well as the production crew I met at various points through the Opera Center along with board members and administrative staff in attendance.

As my attention during the daytime focuses on our next production, Anna Bolena, I am also eagerly anticipating a trip back to the Phoenix Symphony to conduct the “Eight Seasons” of Vivaldi and Piazzolla with one of my favorite violinists, Karen Gomyo. Summer is breaking in Phoenix and I’ve happily noted temps below 100 predicted for next week. I have some favorite restaurants to get back to and a small list of southwest items to bring back.

After the symphony performance next Thursday, it’s off to Boulder for off-season Colorado Music Festival donor cultivation and staff meetings over the weekend. Although it can get busy, you’ll never hear me complain (well, I hope you’ll never hear me complain!). I am a very lucky guy and I count those blessings everyday.

- Minnesota Opera Music Director Michael Christie

Visit Minnesota Opera’s Blog every week for Monday Music with the Maestro.

Opera and Beer?

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When talking to those unfamiliar with opera, I’ve noticed that individuals new to the genre tend to sense this invisible wall between themselves and all things revolving around opera. Perhaps its just me, but I get the sense that many people assume that an average night at the opera consists of prancing around the city with your yuppy friends, spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars, while we all revel in the majesty of high art and grade A/high caliber/ snobbery.

Is this a typical opera night of some? For me, no; but for others, sure. I think part of the appeal of opera is that, not only is the music beautiful, but so too are the elements revolving around the opera. The admiration for the genre doesn’t stop with the music, but rather, it seeps into the fashion of the show’s attendees, lingers around the aroma of fine food and wine, and is complimented by the sophisticated talk of its patrons. In short, the opera scene can be sexy, sophisticated and certainly intimidating as all hell. These combined elements can result in an amazing evening, but in regards to opera outreach, it may, in some sense, come with a price.

When considering the average perception of opera by today’s person, I wonder if it might do opera a favor to, now and then, ditch the suit and tie, lose the evening gown, and simply allow the public to sit back and appreciate the genre with a cold beer. Tempo’s Opera On Tap (October 18, 2012) captures this idea. It’s casual, it’s relaxed, and you are more than welcome to grace us all with your finest jeans and t-shirt.

Don’t get me wrong; I love the wine, I love the food, and everyone looking their best. But for me, true opera outreach is about exposure and accessibility. With a public perception focused a bit more on everyday living, and a bit less on champagne and black ties; I wonder if the culture of opera should do the same.

- Tempo Board Member Colin Dickau

Bringing the Pieces Together

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I admit freely that I am an aviation nut. Not only am I pilot but I am fascinated by the history that has connected our world via the air we breathe.

When it comes to these final days before opening night on Saturday, I am reminded of the enormous aviation hangars where massive unpainted aircraft fuselages are centrally perched off the floor with other components being joined from all sides before the hangar door opens to reveal a shiny, smooth vehicle that beautifully hides the cumulative hours of work, coordination and inspiration.

So goes opera this week as the Minnesota Opera moves its artistic and production operations from our spectacular Opera Center in Minneapolis to our performance home, the Ordway in St. Paul.

Monday night the cast and chorus meets the orchestra for the first time. In a rehearsal space down the hallway from the simultaneously occurring lighting and scenery work onstage tempos are tried and refined, balances are considered and trust is built.

We will start from the top and work through each of the four acts to see how the initial musical ideas of the past three weeks mix with the movement of fifty-five musicians of the Minnesota Opera orchestra.  Sometimes tempi that felt a little brisk with piano alone feel a bit different with plush strings contributing a bit of cushion but keeping the necessary momentum. Sometimes little corners that were easy to turn between a singer and pianist reveal themselves to be impractical with so many people participating. But more often than not the orchestra feeds off the drama and direction of the voice, and singers are buoyed by the mass of sound and instrumental color accompanying them.

Tuesday evening costumes, wigs and makeup are revealed onstage for the first time and the company begins to orient to the slightly larger on and off stage space. It will also be an important opportunity to see the twenty-one grand hand-painted scenery drops and working with those images. The orchestra is not required for this nor the Wednesday afternoon rehearsal sessions as these hours are occupied with moving people into the best areas for lighting or coordinating entrances around the enormous number of people the opera requires onstage.

With hopes that most of the logistics are worked out the orchestra convenes in the pit Wednesday evening and we truly bring all the pieces together. Thursday evening is our last crack at it with the opportunity to stop if absolutely necessary.

Then, the hangar door opens Saturday revealing a project that is polished and proud.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone backstage in areas like costumes and wigs, props, the scenery and paint shop and our administrative and artistic teams for allowing us to take a bow on your behalf.

- Minnesota Opera Music Director Michael Christie

 

Visit Minnesota Opera’s Blog every week for Monday Music with the Maestro.