oboeinsight

We had our final Opera San José performance yesterday. The Puccini double bill was great fun, and mostly a no-stress run for principal oboe. It was a fun way to end the season.

BUT … (you knew I had to do that, right?) … it did end up having one tiny bit of stress for yours truly. Prior to the last few shows a dear friend and colleague told me he really loved hearing me play one part of Gianni Schicchi: while the family is reading the will I have two little ditties. After each the family reacts to the sad news that they are out of the will. The solos are typical “pattymusic” really, and I loved playing them. But once he told me he liked them I then was fearful. I didn’t worry about blowing the solos, but I worried that now I wouldn’t play them the way he liked them. Just how crazy can I be, eh?

This was a fun year at the opera. I only wish more people would attend. I think the group is a real treasure, and I think San José doesn’t know what they have here with these young singers.

I’m looking forward to next season, but first there is the Irene Dalis Vocal Competition. I’m hoping to get there, although I’m not sure what this Saturday will bring yet. I’ve been twice and it’s a real treat to hear the amazing voices.

If you are interested in next season you can download the brochure!

Don’t forget: this is the final day of Cinequest and Idomeneo is showing at the California Theatre!

Info here

Distressing to read:

He expects the company’s $4 million operating budget will have to be cut to about $3.5 million. Asked whether the company can afford to keep giving eight performances of each of its productions, he said, “I seriously doubt that that will be possible” in the years ahead. “We’re going to be looking at all the dimes we spend.”

Sigh.

Scary paragraph for those of us who work there.

The article is about Larry Hancock taking over as the head of OSJ.

Support the arts, friends! We need you all.

One of our lead sopranos in Opera San José is this absolutely incredibly musician! What a joy it is to hear her sing. Really.

Just some snippets …

(sorry about the ad at the start)

We have our first rehearsal soon. So how about some music? This is Irene Dalis, singing “Condotta, ell’era in ceppi” according to the YouTube info. Cool!

I just landed at a page that gives the rep for Opera San José‘s next season. I had known about three of the four, but Hansel and Gretel was a surprise. We’ve not done that opera for eons. (I just checked and it was last done in the 1985/86 season.)

General Director Irene Dalis announced today the repertoire for the company’s 30th season to begin Saturday, September 7, 2013 with Verdi’s masterwork Falstaff, conducted by Opera San José’s founding music director and principal conductor, David Rohrbaugh. In November, Opera San José will present Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, a family classic to welcome the holiday season. Acclaimed stage director Brad Dalton returns in 2014 to direct Puccini’s bittersweet Madama Butterfly. The season will culminate with Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

“For our 30th anniversary we will celebrate Verdi’s 200th birthday, present a wonderful holiday opera, bring back to the stage a most beloved Italian opera, and showcase one of the world’s favorite seducers. The best of opera repertoire and a fairytale classic!” said General Director Irene Dalis. “As always, we select operas that are suited to the artists in our resident company, and these operas are a perfect fit.”

The 2013-14 season features the principal artists from Opera San José’s resident company: Melody King (soprano), Cecilia Violetta López (soprano), Nicole Birkland (mezzo-soprano), Tori Grayum (mezzo-soprano), James Callon (tenor), Evan Brummel (baritone), and Matthew Anchel (bass). Former resident, Scott Beardan (baritone), returns as a guest artist to open the season as Falstaff.
All performances will be held at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street in downtown San José. Subscriptions for Opera San José’s 2013-14 season go on sale February 11, 2013, starting at $120.00 for all four productions.
Subscriptions are available at the Opera San José Box Office or by phone at (408) 437-4450. Single tickets will go on sale August 5, 2013, priced from $50.00 to $110.00.

I read it here

We’ve now had two performances. Have you gone yet?

(And a week here, by the way, is ten days. News to me, but there you go!)

Opera San José joins opera organizations nationwide to celebrate National Opera
Week (October 26 – November 4), coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization
for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts.
As part of the week-long celebration, Opera San José will launch the company’s one-act touring opera,
Bill Goats Gruff on Thursday, November 1
st
at 4 pm at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in
downtown San José. John Davies’ Billy Goats Gruff tells the classic fairytale of the three billy goats with
a contemporary twist, as it tackles the issue of bullying and promotes the power of kindness and
tolerance. The engaging performance is set to recognizable melodies from some of opera’s most
beloved composers, including Mozart, Rossini and Donizetti.

Read the whole pdf