Week One is done

The first week of staging rehearsals for the upcoming production of The Flying Dutchman is done. The whole show is staged. The chorus has been rocking the rehearsal hall and the principles are mind-blowing. This is going to be a show not to miss!

Rehearsals started with a musical sing through of the score on Saturday 6 March. After that, we jumped right into staging. The men's chorus took quite a beating on that first night... in fact, some even came in the next day with some small bruises. But, they did a great job and the opening scene looks great! Who ever said that opera was not a full contact sport?

All of the principles has been amazing to work with. I can not wait for you to hear them. Amazing artists, all of them!

The ladies chorus is sounding VERY good also! It is so nice to work with such a great group of people.

We just had Afternoon of Stars and now it is back into some staging rehearsals. Tonight we are working on a great scene with the Dutchman, Erik, and Senta! Should be a great nice of music and drama.

Get you tickets!

See you at the opera!

The Flying Dutchman is getting ready to dock

Hello Friends!

I have some very exciting news to share: the artists have assembled, the chorus is ready, production staff is prepared, and Larkins Music Center is buzzing. Mobile Opera's first Wagner opera The Flying Dutchman has started rehearsals.

I will post some pictures from the rehearsal hall soon. I want you to see the process of how a show like this put together.

I hope you have your tickets by now... if not, don't wait any longer. Mobile Opera's time is now... or in the words of the Dutchman himself - "Die Frist ist um"

See you at the opera!

Snow Day

Well... who would have ever thought we would have a "Snow Day" here in Mobile? Oh well... We are loving it. I am writing this blog from my office at home. My score for Dutchman sits open in front of me, Red Beans and Rice are cooking in the kitchen, and Stella, my puppy, is sleeping on the floor next to my feet.

So much is going on at Mobile Opera right now. We are getting ready for some Wager action, the 2010-2011 season is being cast, our Graphic Artist is working on the season brochure, and the chorus is busy learning Dutchman. On top of all of that, I am also working on the 2011-2012 season and looking forward even further. So much to do, so little time... thanks for the snow day!

See you at the opera! Happy Mardi Gras!

Sondheim and Wagner

Hello, friends!

Well... I know it has been a while since I have blogged! Sorry about that! So much going on here in the office. We just closed Sweeney Todd. It was a GREAT concert production. We had a sold-out house and recieved an instant standing ovation! What a nice way to end a fantastic evening! Now, on to something different: Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. As I write this, the score is sitting open on my desk. I feel the energy of the music jumping off the page... now, if it would only jump into my brain!!!!

The chorus begins rehearsals tonight. They are all very excited to start working on this music. The office is busy getting things ready for the artists to arrive on March 5th. So much going on and so much excitement to go along with it!

On top of all of that, we are working on getting the release of the 2010 - 2011 season ready! Hang on... it's going to be a good one!

Talk to you soon!

AA

Love & Lust

Well... the artists are in town. We have rehearsals for the rest of the week getting ready for the 2009-2010 opening night celebration.

Love & Lust is going to be an amazing production. The three soloists are amazing. The Mobile Opera chorus sounds GREAT... and the orchestra is going to rock. I could not be more proud.

I have been busy getting everything ready for the big weekend. Music for the orchestra, chorus rehearsals, Night of Song, Opera 101, and several radio spots. I LOVE MY JOB!

Hope to see you at the show this weekend. Please come up and say hello...

I will be posting every night this week to give you updates on the rehearsals.

Talk to you soon!

Mobile Opera Chorus

I am a firm believer in the following: an opera company is only as good as its core ensemble.

For the 2009 - 2010 season, Mobile Opera is very excited to show off our new chorus. Last Tuesday 45 ensemble members showed up for the kick off party and first rehearsal. Not only do we have a huge number of returning members, we are very happy to welcome several new members and several members from seasons past that took some time off and decided to come back.

The 2009 - 2010 season will be a busy one for the ensemble. Love & Lust, Messiah, Sweeney Todd, and The Flying Dutchman all have HUGE choruses. But, have no fear: the ensemble is in great hands this year. Dr. Laura Moore, director of choral studies at University of South Alabama, has joined Mobile Opera's music staff as chorus master. Welcome, Laura!

See you all at the performances!

Summertime and the office is busy...

So you think that after the curtain goes down on the show, nothing happens until you come to the next opera... right? WRONG!

There is so much that happens year round at Mobile Opera. When our 2008-2009 season closed in March, the office started work, immediately, on the 2009-2010 season. Don't get me wrong, we had already been working on it for about 6 months, but April started the huge push to get it up and running.

The ticket office has been busy processing all of the orders, grants are written and rewritten, education is working on programs, and marketing is in full swing. So much to do before you walk into the theater again in October.

For me, I have been busy getting all of the music ready for Love & Lust. With 19 music selections on the program, I have been spending a lot of time at the copy machine. Parts for the chorus, soloists and orchestra have to be ready to go months before the first rehearsal (October 17th).

Also- it is right now that I am working on the programing for the 2010-2011 season! What?? Yes. That is right. I must have all of the preliminary work done on my end for 2010-2011 before the October board of directors meeting. Budgets have to be figured out and in order to do that, I have to picks the shows, finds sets and costumes, cast (at least start looking), hire stage directors, lighting designers, stage managers, wigs and make-up, etc... All of this has to be done so I can put a dollar figure to it and then turn it in to the finance committee. But, more about that in a future blog!

So, stop on by the Mobile Opera office. I promise we will stop running around long enough to say Hi!

I know we will stop long enough to sell you some tickets!

Until the next blog... See you soon!