Final Dress as a Birthday Present

May 7, 2008 - So tonight is final dress rehearsal for Granite State Opera's Cosi fan tutte. Since it's also my birthday (a day I'm proud to share with Tchaikovsky and Brahms) I'm hoping for a smooth, relatively stress-free run of the show. And after the marathon day we put in yesterday, I have every confidence that it will be. Everyone seems to be rising to the challenges of this masterpiece and I was really excited to see all the elements come together at last night's piano tech rehearsal. Special kudos to Quentin Stockwell for his absolutely stunning lighting.

Many thanks to all my friends who have contacted me via mail, email, or phone with birthday blessings and especial thanks and love to my partner Bill who not only called and sent a funny e-card but sent me a dozen beautiful yellow roses. I don't care if the experts say this isn't the sort of thing that should be in a blog. It's my birthday and I'll blog what I want to, blog what I want to. . .Okay just to in some way tie this into opera, how about a trivia question: Post comments regarding any operas in which birthdays figure prominently. There's no prize or anything, so you'll have to just be one of those people for whom a lot of trivial knowledge is its own reward.

See you at the opera! - John Bowen

Finales and Beginnings

May 1, 2008 - Today is the beginning of my favorite month (it contains my birthday for one thing) and so it's great to be able to report that at this point I have a) finished staging Cosi fan tutte up here in NH and b) finished and sent out the translation for Apollo and Dafne (have fun Lisa and Ryan). During the staging of the Act II finale last night I was once again momentarily stunned by Mozart and da Ponte's ability to reveal some of the most heart-wrenching and vulnerable aspects of the human condition in the midst of what has up to that point been light-hearted and comic. No wonder these operas are still such fixtures in the repertoire.

Back in Baltimore, the gala committee is shifting into high gear for OV11. This is shaping up to be a fantastic event which promises to keep the "fun" in "fundraiser". Show your support for OV and get a ticket today (410.547.7997). Although our office is temporarily closed, messages are being checked every day and so both tickets for the gala and 2008-2009 subscriptions may be purchased during this time.

Now it's time to start translating Lord Giovanni.

See you at the opera. - John Bowen

Act I Is Done: Act II To Do

April 27, 2008 - Greetings from lovely NH! Actually today NH is grey and rainy but the past week has been glorious so I really can't complain. The crappy weather just provides added incentive to stay in my hotel room and finish translating Handel's Apollo and Dafne for our upcoming performances at Artscape this July. (BTW, the Handel will feature Ryan de Ryke and Lisa Eden both of whom wowed our audiences a week ago in Orpheus in the Underworld. I know Ryan's pop-infused, drunken minuet is indelibly burned in my memory). Anyway, I've finished staging Act I of Cosi and the first three scenes of Act II and am once again struck by the exraordinary structure of this opera. Act I is full of some of the most intricate and brilliant ensemble work in the operatic repertoire. It fizzes along and is filled with uproarious humor. Act II on the other hand is a sequence of extraordinary arias interrupted by an occasional short ensemble and reveals the very real human heart that beats at the center of this not entirely comic piece. I relish really digging into the second act and bringing the cast to an even deeper more nuanced interpretation of their roles.

On another front, I would like to personally encourage the readers of this blog to comment or ask questions. I had hoped that my Memories and Wishes post would bring about a tide of favorite memories or maybe some goals that our audience would like to see OV achieve in its next 10 years but so far only the indefatigable Clayton Koonce has commented. Surely there's more than one reader of this blog? Anyway, it's certainly much more inspiring for me to write the blog as a dialog shaped at least in part by its readers rather than in a vacuum. So come on cyber buddies, let me know what you're thinking and as always -

See you at the opera! - John Bowen

Greetings from Granite State

April 23, 2008 - Just a quick post to say that rehearsals are going very well here in New Hampshire. My Cosi cast is really wonderful, and I'm enjoying working with them immensely. I am, however, still engaged in things for OV: translating Handel's Apollo and Dafne for Artscape (almost finished with that and looking forward to getting started on translating Lord Giovanni), coordinating details for the OV11 gala (if you haven't already gotten a ticket, you should because it's going to be an awesome party - or partay as Eurydice would say), and finalizing the last few cast members' contracts for next season (you can now buy subscriptions online to our "naughty boys" season featuring Mozart's Lord Giovanni, Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea, and Britten's Albert Herring). So I'm actually my usual busy self, just in a different state.

See you at an opera somewhere. - John Bowen

Memories and Wishes

April 19, 2008 - Tonight is the final performance of our 10th anniversary season. It has been an amazing year filled with many wonderful moments from the eery incantation scene at the end of Alcina's second act to the sublimity of the final hymn in Tobias and the Angel to the utter whackiness of the hip-hop cancan in Orpheus in the Underworld. As this blog posts, arrangements are already well under way for the inaugural season of our second decade. At this gateway, I invite our supporters to share a favorite moment from the first ten years of OV and/or a wish for the next ten years. And I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the fantastic people (singers, designers, dancers, crew, volunteers, board members, donors, subscribers, etc.) who have gotten us this far. We truly couldn't have done it without each and everyone of you.

See you at the opera! - John Bowen

PS. If you're in need of one more OV fix before the 2008-2009 season begins, join us for our fun and funky fundraiser OV11 on May 17th from 8-11.

First Trip to Hell a Huge Success

April 13, 2008 - Opening night was a smash hit. Completely sold out, enthusiastic crowd, dynamite performances all around. Truly it couldn't have been better. Today's matinee has only four tickets left so, if you can only come today, get there as soon as the doors open (2pm). Here's a couple shots to whet your appetite. And don't forget there are performances on Thursday and Saturday at 7:30pm that are rapidly selling out. Evidently Hades is the hot ticket this week. See you at the opera. - John Bowen

TV Appearance for Orpheus: How Appropriate

April 8, 2008 - Just a quick note to alert all our fans that MPT's Artworks This Week program will feature a snippet of our production of Orpheus in the Undeworld and an interview with me tomorrow night (April 9th) starting at 7:30pm. Check it out. It shows the end of the show with everyone looking totally fierce and dancing up a storm. I give it three snaps and a runway turn.

Also, opening night is almost sold out, so if you're planning on going that night don't wait to get tickets at the door. Call or go online.

Peace out - John Bowen

TVs and Cables and Mics, Oh My!

April 5, 2008 - Our current production of Orpheus in the Underworld draws on imagery from the wild and whacky world of television, particularly so-called Reality TV. One of the things that I love about Reality TV (yes, I admit it - My name is John and I'm a TVaholic) is that it is far more surreal, over-the-top, and "operatic" than scripted television could ever hope to be. Consequently, it has proven to be a fertile design inspiration for an opera that includes a dead wife leaving a message for her husband that she is dead, a revolt of the gods due to lack of dietary variety, and a woman making love to a man disguised as a giant fly. Yes, this is all happening on the OV stage, NOT on FoxTV or VH1. The other byproduct of this design concept however is that OV has ventured into a technology realm more commonly associated with commercial/popular entertainment. Yesterday was spent ganging 9 TVs together and cabling them to a video amplifier (sometimes by way of a video converter), hanging lycos and fresnels (two different types of lighting instruments), and setting up a portable PA system for the "commercials" and "pop music tributes". Thom Bumblauskas, our set designer said (as I was testing out the PA system): "You know, I think a strange unease just rippled through the cosmic operatic ether." Well, I think Thom might be overstating the case a bit, but suffice it to say, I'm pretty sure you will see things in this production that you haven't seen before in an opera. All part of the extraordinary journey that has been OV's tenth season. Tickets are rapidly disappearing (particularly for the first weekend) so don't wait. Order today.

See you at the opera! - John Bowen

Get Your Pop Culture Fix

April 2, 2008 - Well, we finished staging Orpheus in the Underworld last night and so now we enter into the final polishing phase. I must say there is something for everyone in this show. Well something for everyone who is interested in pop culture. We have a naughty televangelist, a bi-curious midshipman, a hip-hop messenger of the gods, a feisty hottie, a totally fierce club kid with walk for days, a suave pan-sexual playboy. . . .well the list just goes on and on. Last night, one of the many highlights was watching Tony Wilson bring all these disparate characters into a fabulous hip-hop version of the (in)famous can-can. I don't want to spoil the surprise but some of the dance steps were communicated something like this: "Now ladies, at this point, we're going to open, and close, and open, and close, and wash the windows, wash the windows. Gentlemen, now snake it, and hitch-hike, then ride the pony, and lasso something." Intrigued? Get your tickets now and get ready for a wild and crazy time. - John Bowen

Back to Blogging

March 19, 2008 - First of all my apologies for the rather long hiatus in posts. Life got very hectic immediately following the close of Tobias and the Angel, and since blogging has not yet become a part of my "daily ritual", the item that slipped off the radar was unfortunately the blog. Life is still incredibly hectic, but I wanted to do at least a brief post to let our faithful readers (I know you're out there eventhough you rarely comment) know what's been going on at OV.

1) Orpheus in the Underworld - Opening night is hurtling towards us like an oncoming train but things are pretty much where they need to be at this moment. Chorus rehearsals began last week and principal music rehearsals begin on Monday. This cast is chockfull of talented, energetic, funny people so it's going to be a real treat working on this zany show with them. It truly is the most outlandish, over-the-top thing we've ever done so be prepared for a dizzingly uproarious night of theatre. The set is being constructed as I type this, but the search for some free TVs and satellite dishes (all of which will be returned to the donors after the show) continues so if you've got a spare one lying around let me know.

2) The 2008-2009 season - We held our second round of auditions on March 7th and 8th, and I'm thrilled to report that between the two rounds of auditions and the return of some treasured past artists, OV is going to have three of the strongest casts in its history. Once I have definite contracts offered and accepted for all roles, I'll blog a bit more about the specifics. Also, my apologies to singers who were told that all casting decisions would be finalized by March 17th. Chalk it up to the best laid plans of mice and men.

3) OV11 Gala - Preparations have also kicked into high gear for our celebratory gala/fundraiser: OV11. We're throwing a fabulous party on May 17th to celebrate OV's first decade and usher in the next. It will be lots of fun and a great way for our supporters to contribute useful funding to the organization so as you plan your Spring social calendar be sure to pencil OV in on May 17th.

4) Artscape - OV has once again been asked to participate in Artscape. Having given audiences Leonard Bernstein's 20th century masterpiece Trouble in Tahiti last year, this year we're presenting two short but glorious baroque pieces complete with period instrument orchestra: Monteclair's Pyramus and Thisbe and Handel's Apollo and Dafne. At the moment, I'm engaged in translating the Monteclair while also keeping all the abovementioned balls in the air. Oh well, I guess that's why they pay me the big bucks.

Anyway, that's a brief overview of what's been going on at Cathedral and Read. I heartily encourage you to take in any or all of the offerings that are coming up. It was great to see so many new faces at Tobias and the Angel, and we hope that you all will become long-term friends of OV. See you at the opera! - John Bowen