Opera Vivente

Opening Night Receives Standing Ovation

2008-05-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

May 10, 2008 - Just a quick post to say that last night's opening of Granite State Opera's Cosi fan tutte at the Music Hall in Portsmouth couldn't have gone better and received a thunderous standing ovation from the audience. Kudos to all the wonderful hardworking people at Granite State Opera who made this production so rewarding to work on. There's still one more performance to catch at the Capitol Center in Concord tomorrow at 2pm so if you're in the area and want to give Mom a great afternoon of opera check it out.

See you at the opera! - John Bowen

Final Dress as a Birthday Present

2008-05-07T11:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-01T05:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-08T04:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-04-05T04:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

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

They Liked Us, They Really Liked Us

2008-03-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

March 4, 2008 - Well Tobias and the Angel is over, but those of use who had the privilege and pleasure of performing it are still in a euphoric bubble brought on by the audiences' overwhelming ovations, the critics' compliments (check out Charles Downey's review on Ionarts), and particularly by the composer's vociferous approval of the production. Jonathan Dove was present at both the Saturday and Sunday performances, and he was very, very pleased with our take on this stunning work. Opera Vivente honored him at a reception after the final performance. I'll be posting some pics from the event shortly. - John Bowen

First Two Shows a Great Success

2008-03-01T09:47:00.000-08:00

March 1, 2008 - Just a quick note to say that the first two performances of Tobias and the Angel have been a great success. Check out Tim Smith's review in today's Baltimore Sun. There are a few tickets left for this evening and even fewer for tomorrow's matinee so don't wait; order now.

See you at the opera! - John Bowen

Angel Blessings

2008-02-29T06:31:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-27T12:18:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-20T15:59:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-17T05:49:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-09T06:42:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-06T08:45:00.000-08:00

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

What OV's Angel is Doing Now

2008-01-29T07:03:00.000-08:00

January 29, 2008 - For those of you who might want to know more about David Walker and his artistry, here is a review of his current performances of another Jonathan Dove opera called Flight at Pittsburgh Opera. The critics are wild about him and Dove's work so don't miss your opportunity to hear both right here in Baltimore. Call or go online for tickets now. - John Bowen

In Their Own Words: BBC4 Interview with Jonathan Dove and the cast

2008-01-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

January 25, 2008 - Wow! So my ongoing search for promotional materials unearthed this BBC4 interview from 2004 with Jonathan Dove and cast of one of the UK productions. Absolutely fascinating and compelling. Follow the link above, scroll down about half-way on the page and then click on Listen Again. And don't miss out on your opportunity to hear this phenomenal work for the first time on this side of the Atlantic. Order your tickets today! - John Bowen

The Thoughts of Others: Reviews of Previous Tobias performances

2008-01-24T07:51:00.000-08:00

January 24, 2008 - As part of my preparations for media coverage of the evermore anticipated North American premiere, I've been culling the web for information about the UK productions. Here are a few links that I found very interesting:

From Seen and Heard International (a European equivalent to our area's Ionarts) there's a review of the world premiere.

MusicOMH.com provides a review of the 2006 production which opened the newly renovated Young Vic Theatre.

And finally a brief article from Musical Pointers that talks about the show in the context of Dove's other operatic works.

Intrigued? Order your tickets today for this truly unique experience. See you at the opera - John Bowen

An Absolute Genius - Pirates Preview in the Sun

2008-01-23T09:16:00.001-08:00

January 23, 2008 - Just a quick post to hook you all up with a preview article by Mary Johnson of the Anne Arundel section of the sun. As to the comment about me, I'll let the audience decide, but thanks Doug. See you at D'Oylyland. - John Bowen

Pirates and Angels and Blogs, Oh My!

2008-01-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2008 - Well, my friends, sorry I haven't posted in the past few days, but the rigors of the productions that I'm involved in currently have had to take pride of place over keeping my faithful blog readers informed. Of course, so few of you comment, I can only assume that you are faithful readers, so consider this a word of encouragement to comment. Anyway, today begins production week for Opera AACC's The Pirates of Penzance and unfortunately, production week is where the difference between professional and community companies really shows. Both groups might have talented performers, but community groups rarely have the technical infrastructure that professional groups have so many of the singers have been drafted into scene painting, prop gathering, stage crewing and the like and are consequently pretty exhausted. Thank God they have a dark night on Thursday to rest up for opening night. All in all though, it's turned out to be a very funny show filled with a lot of shtick and scenery chewing so if you're looking for a night of not terribly profound but really enjoyable entertainment this is the show for you.

On the Tobias and the Angel front, preparations are really starting to get down to the nitty-gritty part, e.g. the Fish dancers will enter from underneath the stage right platform, Ashmodeus' costume will be form-fitting and in deep purples, vermilions, and oranges, the percussionist needs at least 15 square feet to set up her battery of instruments, etc. Things are also ramping up in the publicity department with board members and volunteers actively engaged in setting up radio interviews, pitching preview stories to the press, and figuring out the logistics of trans-Atlantic telephone interviews. I continue to be astounded at the amazing sense of communal effort that this piece brings out. Tickets are going fast, so order now!

Well, that's it for now. I have to go decide whether Major-General Stanley's daughters will wear bunny slippers or open-toe mules with red maribou for their sleepwear look. See you at the opera! - John Bowen