OV Stimulus Redux

March 31, 2009 - So here's the part of the $25 Helps OV Thrive Drive that I was downplaying when I was encouraging the "can-do" "many small gifts make a difference" attitude among supporters and patrons of OV. This company can indeed "do it" and "many small gifts do indeed make a difference" but only if there's 100% (or darn close to it) buy-in/participation in such a fundraising campaign. 30% of supporters making a small gift will not raise sufficient funds. Nor can we go forward in a fiscally responsible way purely on the "intention" of supporters to pledge funds. The flip side of the coin to the "if we get this amount then we can go forward" is "if we don't get this amount, we can't go forward". Now is the time that I need to be making decisions based on real $$$ amounts. So if you were intending to make a donation, now is the time to do it particularly since (cue trumpet fanfare here) we are currently in a "challenge grant situation". That means that, due to the incredible generosity of a few major donors, every dollar we receive in donations between now and the closing show of Albert Herring (May 9th) will be matched dollar for dollar.

So. . . .click here to take decisive action on this information or if you'd prefer, call 410.547.7997 to make a phone pledge. And thank you in advance for your generosity and belief in the future of Opera Vivente.

John Bowen

Updates on Various Fronts

March 17, 2009 - The Coronation of Poppea closed this past Saturday with a completely sold out house. It was one of our most popular shows, and I already miss the wonderful group of performers who made it such a joy to work on. Next up is Britten's Albert Herring (May 1st thru 9th), a delightful comedy set in a small English village engaged in crowning a May King. Effervescent fun for the whole family. Click here to get a ticket.

On the audition front, my apologies to singers awaiting to hear our decisions about casting for next season. Budgeting has proven to be even more of an arcane science this year and so contracts have been unavoidably delayed. We're very close to sorting it all out though and singers will be notified very shortly. Thank you for your patience.

Finally, tickets are now on sale for our annual gala fundraiser, this year entitled When the Clock Strikes Twelve. It will take place on May 16th from 8-11pm at the beautiful Winans Mansion (1217 St. Paul Street) and will have a fairytale theme. Tickets are $100 and may be purchased by calling the box office at 410.547.7997. Everyone had a blast at last year's gala, so come celebrate and support OV.

Baltimore City Paper Review

March 11, 2009 - Here's another review of our production, this one from Bret McCabe of the Baltimore City Paper. There's still good availability for tomorrow night's show (student rushers take notice) and some availability for Saturday night's final performance (advance purchase recommended).

Baltimore Sun Review

March 10, 2009 - So the opening weekend of The Coronation of Poppea played to enthusiastic audiences and the remaining two performances are selling very well. Here's a link to Tim Smith's review in his blog Clef Notes. Just one note about the FTD Florist poses of Mercury. I didn't tell him to do them. He ad libbed them on opening night and was immediately chastised at first intermission. They were not present during the Sunday matinee. Everything else I'm happy to accept. Click here to get a ticket to see and hear the show for yourself.

Also, a reminder that the second installment in Opera Vivente's masterclass series is tonight at 7pm with counter-tenor Dan Bubeck. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door (811 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201). All are welcome.

Pictures from First Dress

March 4, 2009 - Here are some beautiful photos by Cory Weaver of our first dress rehearsal last night to whet you appetite.

Click here to see it "in the flesh".

Be the Stimulus You Want to See in the World

March 1, 2009 - We interrupt our regularly scheduled postings of behind the scenes video etc. for a brief manifesto. I promise to return to the other stuff immediately after this, but I need to get this off my chest.

Recently, there has been a lot of media attention on what part funding to the arts would play in the federal economic stimulus package. There has been great rejoicing over the fact that the arts survived the axe, and I certainly join in that rejoicing. However, one should be aware amidst the rejoicing that government funding has never represented more than a few percentage points in most arts organizations budgets AND many very worthy arts organizations (OV included) receive virtually no government funding. Couple that with the fact that arts funding, at least at the state level, can be cut with only the signature of the governor and one other officer of public works at any time once the budgetary year has begun and methinks that a case can be made for attempting to create a more direct revenue stream between patron and arts organization.

I can hear you saying, "Why, whatever does he mean?" and so I'll just talk about two recent phenomena that will help lead into my point.

Story #1: In December 2008, OV sent out an appeal letter simply stating that if everyone who had enjoyed our programming over the past year sent us $25, OV would be in the black and committed to returning next season with more great chamber opera. So many people wrote, emailed, Facebooked, phoned, etc. me to say how much they appreciated getting such a positive, "can-do" appeal in the midst of all the gloom and doom BUT only a small percentage actually got around to putting pen to checkbook or index finger to mouse to click on the donate button. To those of you who did respond to the call for action THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your generosity. It's because of you that we're even still here for me to make this blog post.

Story #2: My videos and blog posts relating to our upcoming production of The Coronation of Poppea have generated lots of buzz. People come up to me, or email me, or Facebook me telling me how much they are looking forward to this production, how beautiful everything looks/sounds etc. BUT have yet to actually purchase a ticket. According to my Facebook profile, 54 of my friends are attending, but a quick cross-check reveals that only about 5 of them actually have bought a ticket.

Artists are by nature creative people and incredibly adept at doing a lot with very little BUT even we can't survive on good intentions SO HERE'S MY MANIFESTO -

Don't think about buying a ticket, BUY A TICKET!

Don't intend to make a donation (and let me reiterate that ANY dollar amount is useful and appreciated), ACTUALLY MAKE A DONATION!

You'll be surprised at how "stimulated" you feel by actually, proactively supporting the arts. They repay your investment like virtually nothing else every time.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.