Angel Blessings

February 29, 2008 - Well Tobias and the Angel opened last night to stunning effect and was greeted with a standing ovation. Many patrons at last night's performance have now purchased tickets to the remaining performances. I feel blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to work on this amazing piece with such a large group of talented, committed artists in the vocal, instrumental, dance, and design realms. Everyone of the over 75 individuals involved in this production has been a joy. I hope that those of you who have not yet purchased a ticket will do so before we sell out. This is truly a show not to be missed.

Finally, to the anonymous commenter who took offence at the mention of singers learning their music by ear in Tim Smith's preview article, I know for a fact that some members of all the choruses do in fact learn by ear. And I never intended this to be a derogatory statement. I don't really care how one learns their music, so long as they learn it well. And all the singers in this production whether amateur or professional have certainly done that. The glorious sounds of last night's performance are irrefutable proof of that.

See you at the opera! - John Bowen

The Angel Has Landed: Thoughts and Pics from the Piano Dress

February 27, 2008 - Hello all.

Really too swamped to do a proper post, but I'm so eager to share some of the excitement of last night's rehearsal that I just had to pop on and post a few pics with comments.

So first of all we have our makeup artists Monica Cooke and Jennifer Connell turning David Walker into an angel and John Dooley into a husband killing demon.

And here are some tantalizing shots from the show itself. Don't miss this life-altering piece.

See you at the opera,

John Bowen

The Most Beautiful Girl in Ecbatana

February 20, 2008 - Tobias and the stranger encounter Raguel's henchman who not only direct them to Ecbatana but tell them the story of Sara and her seven husbands who have all died on the wedding night. The stranger informs Tobias that he's to be her next husband. Raguel and Edna see Tobias approaching and immediately decide to marry Sara to Tobias in order to avoid paying Raguel's debt to Tobit. Over an agitated figure in the winds, accordion, and harp, Raguel sings to his ledger, realizing that he's "drowning in zeros" and that hey would have to give Tobit all of his money.

Luckily for the plan, Tobias falls instantly in love with Sara and, more importantly experiences the sort of extra-sensory hearing that the stranger has been encouraging during the journey. Over a lush accompaniment of strings, harp, flute, and clarinet, Tobias sings a rhapsodic narrative "Did you hear her? Did you hear her singing? And her eyes? Did you hear them? They were singing. The duet her breasts sang?" The stranger however has other concerns. Tobias and Sara are married. While the guests sing a raucous drinking song in the courtyard, Tobias and Sara enter the bedchamber and participate in a mysteriously erotic quartet with Ashmodeus and the stranger. Outside in the orchard, Raguel and his men dig a fresh grave in anticipation of Tobias' death. But Tobias has powers that even he is unaware of. . .

Tickets are flying out the door. Order yours today in order to not miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. - John Bowen

How to End the Life of a Carp

February 17, 2008 - Before I continue the story, check out Tim Smith's article in today's Baltimore Sun. This is the first of the press articles to appear regarding this production. Look for features in the Jewish Times and the Afro-American in the next week.

Tobias and the stranger encounter a river. Unable to hear the river's warning that "In depth is danger" (unison women's chorus over a rippling woodwind and harp accompaniment) Tobias falls into the river. As he struggles, he is attacked by a giant fish (children's voices over swirling scale passages throughout the orchestra). The stranger refuses to help Tobias, insisting that the fish is telling him how to defeat it ("My scales are hard, my teeth are sharp. A tug on its tail ends the life of a carp.") Finally, Tobias pulls the fish's tail, and it dies. Mysteriously, the stranger councils Tobias to cut out the fish's heart and gall and put them in his pocket. Tobias obeys. Next stop Ecbatana. . . See you at the opera! - John Bowen

The Sound of Silence: A Mountaintop Experience

February 13, 2008 - Tobias and the stranger arrive at the top of a mountain. Over widely spaced string harmonies, the stranger once again asks Tobias what he hears. Tobias says "Nothing", a word which is taken up by the echoing voice of the mountain (unison men's voices divided into three widely space groups). The stranger asks again, and Tobias says "I think I heard Nothing". "Which is what's at the top of a mountain. Stone. Air. We're there", responds the stranger. Tobias' inner hearing has begun to awaken eventhough he doesn't realize it. Although Tobias says he does not need to rest, the travelers pause for a bit in the great nothingness of the mountaintop.

Meanwhile in Ecbatana, Sara grieves and Ashmodeus lusts. In Nineveh, Anna accuses Tobit costing them the life of their son through his greed.

Next stop on the journey - a river which hides a perilous secret.

Tickets are going fast so get yours today! - John Bowen

David Walker in Action: Some Video Clips

February 9, 2008 - For those of you who have never experienced a countertenor's artistry, I've dug up some video clips of David Walker performing Handel, the usual repertoire for countertenors but by no means David's only repertoire. He is unique among countertenors for the large amount of contemporary work that he does. If I find some video of him doing Dove's Flight or Petitgirard's Elephant Man, I'll post those as well. In the meantime, enjoy.

As Ottone in Agrippina with Virginia Opera and as Goffredo in Rinaldo from the Prinzregententheater in Munich.

Tickets are selling fast. Don't miss your chance to see this wonderful artist in his Baltimore debut. See you at the opera. - John Bowen

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