AVA Artists Here, There, and Everywhere!

Minnie, Get Your Gun

Giacomo Puccini's operas are warhorses in the opera world. "Tosca," and "Madama Butterfly" are in the repertory of practically every company, "Turandot" seems to be getting more popular with time and "La bohème" is inarguably the most-performed and best-loved opera of all time. But the composer's LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST, while recognized as a masterpiece, is not performed nearly as often. In the 2010-2011 season the Metropolitan Opera hauled out it's 1991 production for the opera's centennial but doesn't appear to be bringing it back in the near future.

Why is FANCIULLA so disregarded? Possibly because there aren't the showstopper arias that abound in Puccini's other operas but more likely it is because the title role requires a voice that is lush and strong but more lyrical than his other towering creation, Turandot.  And Nashville Opera has found just the gal to do this character justice. Othalie Graham (2004),who has made Turandot one of her signature portrayals will be making her role debut as Minnie on April 12 and 14. Reading Othalie's Facebook postings it's obvious that she's having a ball getting into this character which I personally feel is a more nuanced and developed human being than the Chinese ice princess. So hoist a shot glass (or more appropriately an espresso) to AVA's golden girl!

And for the rest of the season

The 2011 - 12 opera season is in its second half so let's take a look at where AVA alumni and Resident Artists will be singing.

2009 graduate Ben Wager sings Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor at Minnesota Opera in early March.

 

Keith Miller (2006) will be taking a break from his Metropolitan Opera duties to sing the role of Riolobo in Florencia en el Amazonas at Opera Colorado in March.

  

Todd Thomas  (1987) takes the title role in Rigoletto at Pensacola Opera
on March 9 and 11.

 

 

 On March 4 and 10, Dana Beth Miller (2003) willbe at Arizona Opera
singing Amneris in Aida. 

 

 

Richard Troxell (1992) is at Portland Opera for the Philip Glass opera Galileo Galilei from March 30 through April 7. He sings the dual roles of the elder Galileo and the Speaker.

 

 

It's a brand new year

Happy New Year to all!

2012 gets off to a great start with news from Othalie Graham (2004) and Corinne Winters (2011).

Othalie reports that she has been awarded the Olga Forrai Foundation  Grant which is given "to provide support for the training, education and career development of exceptionally large dramatic voices in the fields of opera and conductors of classical music."

Coming up  in April for Othalie is the role of Minnie in Puccini's "La Fanciulla del West" at Nashville Opera. And stay tuned for further news about the beauty with the big voice.

 

 

 

A graduate of AVA's most recent class, Corinne has been named Musical America's New Artist of the Month.  She will be appearing at Florida Grand Opera as Lisette in Puccini's "La Rondine" in from January 21 through February 4. Future plans for Corinne include Michaela in "Carmen" at Opera Theater of Saint Louis in May and  June.

 

 

 

Re-introducing myself...

When Denise Stuart, AVA's Director of PR and Marketing, asked me to write my introduction for this blog I was anticipating a new chapter in my relationship with AVA. Not too long after however, my mother took a fall which precipitated a physical and mental decline that ended in her death in early autumn.

This past summer and fall were difficult times for me but I believe deeply in the healing balm of music. The joys of watching and listening as the Resident Artists of AVA mature and blossom reminds me that life goes on and how much the world needs the beauty they bring to it. I miss my mother very much but I am thankful for her introducing me to the bliss that is opera. And I will smile through my tears whenever I hear Jan Peerce sing “The Bluebird of Happiness.”

*My mom Sylvia (right) and her younger sister Gert in 1964.