The Journey Begins

February 6, 2008 - Well, rehearsals have started for Tobias and the Angel, and we all continue to be overwhelmed by the beauty and emotional power of this piece. David Walker sounds truly heavenly in the role of the angel and has also proven to be one of the nicest colleagues I have ever had the privilege of working with. It's also very nice to have Ken Gayle and John Dooley back lending their fabulous voices and wonderful acting to the roles of Tobias and Ashmodeus respectively. Indeed the entire cast sounds phenomenal and are all enjoying working not only with each other but with the talented dancers from Baltimore School for the Arts. We saw Tony Wilson's stunning choreography for the trees and angels last night: truly breathtaking.

And speaking of trees, I should continue the story of Tobias and the Angel that I left off a couple of posts ago. Over a jaunty accompaniment of percussion, strings, and accordion punctuated by long soaring wind lines, Tobias and the stranger from the marketplace set off on their journey to Ecbatana. The come to a grove of trees, and the stranger asks Tobias what he hears. Tobias hears nothing but through the inspired music of Dove, we hear the voice of the trees loving Lord Sky and receiving the salutation of Lord Sun. Long sustained organ chords and gently rippling wind and string figurations accompany the luscious harmonies of an SATB chorus. Although the stranger offers to stop and eat, Tobias says he doesn't need to, so the journey continues . . .

See you at the opera. - John Bowen