Category: 2011 Workshop

Hello Friends!

Here we are on Day 4 already!! I actually had to count it out, because after one day at a summer program, time loses all meaning, and it is impossible to tell what day of the week it is, let alone how long you’ve been there.

So staging is well underway. It’s been fun to get this process started. We’re all coming together with our indiviual roles learned, with our own ideas of characterization and styles of approach, and now we have to make them all mesh. It’s a great lesson in collaboration and being generous and open and receptive to all ideas.

It’s also really fun to work with other people, after being in solitary confinement in practice rooms. We finally get the chance to act with and react off of other people, instead of imagining situations. And that’s exciting! Other peples’s ideas inform my actions, and I (I hope) in turn, inspire my co-singers.

And finally, one of the most fun parts of being at a summer program is the recreational activities we get to do outside of rehearsal. Going out for coffee, beer, supper, or a movie with singers is always a fun time. Last night, a large crew of us met up to go see the new Harry Potter movie together. Poor Byung Yoon (one of our Taminos) was surrounded by mezzo-soprano Sarah Neiman and myself, and we both cried pretty hard. Nothing like bonding over shared tears!! I’m looking forward to all the get-togethers and shindigs yet to come, as well as getting to know my castmates, and the Hoffmann singers better.

O, and one last thing: Kayleigh pointed out that the costume sketches in the picture from my last post were by Victoria Bruer.

Until next time! ~Karianne

Alrighty! Hello, hello hello!

Ok, I apologize if the formatting ends up being weird when I publish this, I am totally flying by the seat of my pants here and will try to get things ironed out by my next blog.

It’s getting late so I am going to keep it short and sweet!

So here we are, 3 days into rehearsal and holy smokes! What a 3 days it has been! We finished out musical rehearsals and I am just completely in awe of the voices I get to sing with. It’s unreal and it is such an honour to get to work with these people. And while the singers are out of this world, we would be nothing without our phenomenal production team. And I promise I am not being bribed to say this. For real. But seriously, folks, these people are amazing. They are so good at what they do and I am inspired every minute I am working with them. Amazing. What more could a singer want than a supportive working environment and constant inspiration? Other than a post rehearsal beer, not much, I tell you.

Anyway, we have a big ole’ stagin’ day tomorrow so I had better get some shut eye. I sound like a cow boy. I’m sorry.

For your viewing pleasure, I have attached a photograph of the waltz rehearsal we had this evening, led by none other than the very talented Andrew Pelrine, tenor and choreographer, lifting mezzo-soprano Sarah Neiman.

Thanks for giving this a read! And again, I am not sure how the formatting is going to turn out this time, so my apologies if it’s all jumble-y.

I shall return with more Tales of Lane shortly.

Always,

Jessica Lane

Mezzo soprano Jessica Lane has volunteered to blog from the Hoffmann side of the Workshop. Jessica is from Ontario and is singing Nicklausse in the opera.

Welcome, Jessica!

Today is the start of staging as GaRRy, David and I begin blocking our respective operas — this is probably the most intense time for the directors 🙂 Wish us luck!

Nina

 

Welcome to HSOW 2011: from a singer’s perspective.

It feels like I’ve been in Halifax for a week, and it’s only Day 2 of the program. Already I’ve met a ton of great people, forgotten most of their names, and had some exciting rehearsals.

We started off the program yesterday with a group meeting. The circle of chairs continued to expand and grow, as more and more people poured into the room. There were over 45 of us in the room, including singers, musical directors and stage directors. It’s the largest group yet to be involved in HSOW, and we were all excited to be there.

We split off into two groups, as each opera discussed settings, character ideas, and plans for the shows. For Magic Flute, we’re doing a modern concept, and it was fascinating to hear people’s takes on their characters. Since the opera is completely double cast, it was especially interesting when two people playing the same character had differing ideas. The beauty of opera is that you are given a score, with words and music that need to inform your character, and yet the scope of different ways to play that character is vast. The Magic Flute must have been performed millions of times before, and yet we are coming together with fresh ideas, knowing we’ll be performing it in a way that’s never been done before, and will never truly be duplicated. Each individual involved will put his or her own stamp on it.

From then on, we’ve been in music rehearsals. We’ve been working through the score, singing through each scene. It’s been so thrilling to hear all the different voices, and see how much work people have already put in to this opera. We’re required to show up with our roles learned and memorized, the same way that you would be required to for a professional engagement. It’s also fun to sing with the different voices double cast. Every time I sing a duet or a trio, there are two different voices I might sing it with. It’s fun to wonder how we’ll be cast, but we won’t know until Friday evening.

And finally: costumes!! Costume sketches were posted on the first day, and they look gorgeous.

Tomorrow we start staging, and I can’t wait.

 

~Karianne

The 2011 Halifax Summer Opera Workshop starts tomorrow with the group meeting at 11 am followed by musical rehearsals for the rest of the day.

We just can’t wait to get started!

This year we’re going to have some guest bloggers join us on the site, including Karianne Pasma, a soprano from Ontario, who will be singing the role of Pamina in The Magic Flute.
Karianne will be writing about her experiences rehearsing and performing this great role!

I hope everyone’s travel to Halifax goes smoothly and safely, and I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow morning 🙂

Nina