Young Boy Helps Clown
August 31, 2009
Pat Benatar and Big Wild Opera?
August 30, 2009
What’s the connection? OK, Big Wild Opera Fan, here goes …
Lady Benatar’s coolest album was entitled ‘Harden My Heart’. Around the same time, the group Quarterflash released a song with the same name. The chorus of the Quarterflash song is …
I’m gonna harden my heart
I’m gonna swallow my tears
I’m gonna turn and leave you
In AO’s 2nd Big Show of the season, Eugene Onegin, the first Russian opera produced in Alaska, this is what the beautiful character, Tatiana, does after getting the major ‘blow off’ from Eugene Onegin.
The opera ends with Eugene on his knees, filled with regret, begging and crying for Tatiana to love him again.
Sorry Eugene, you gave love a bad name and Tatiana got filled with the spirit of the legendary Lady of Rock, the spirit of Pat Benatar!
Alaska’s Coolest Weekly Magazine Delivers the Operatic 411!
August 29, 2009
Curious about AO’s first two shows of the new season? Check out this Bull’s-Eye description by Andi Powers of Alaska’s Coolest Weekly Mag, Anchorage Press.
“Even if you are not an opera fan you may have heard or seen references to Pagliacci (the word translates as “players” or “clowns”) without even realizing it. With music that’s featured in just about every classic mafia movie, Pagliacci is the only opera by Ruggero Leoncavallo that is still performed on stage. The opera tells the story of a jealous husband and his adulterous wife. Billie Holiday sang “I guess I’ll have to play Pagliacci and get myself a clown’s disguise” in her song “The Masquerade is Over.” And yes, the Smokey Robinson song “The Tears of a Clown” makes reference to the Italian opera, too.
And the allusions aren’t just limited the music world, either.
On an episode of the sitcom Seinfeld (aptly titled “The Opera”), Jerry and Elaine attend a performance of Pagliacci where their shared stalker “Crazy” Joe Davola disguises himself as the clown from the opera and tries to enact his revenge on them. The Simpsons aired an episode where the Simpson family goes to Italy, and ends up on stage in a Pagliacci show with Sideshow Bob, along with his wife and son, trying to kill the whole family as part of the act.
Pagliacci is being performed along with the Italian opera Sister Angelica, by master composer Giacomo Puccini (of La Boheme and Madama Butterfly fame). Sister Angelica is an opera in only one act. To make a long opera short, the story follows a nun who, upon hearing news of her illegitimate son’s death, commits suicide.
If you’d like to see murderous clowns and suicidal nuns, the pairing of these two operas will be perfect for you. Both operas sung in Italian with English subtitles. Times vary. Sat., November 7-Sun., November 15 at the Discovery Theatre (621 W. Sixth Ave.). For tickets visit www.centertix.net“
Anchorage Press … You Rock. And We Salute You!
Intern Spotlight: Leading Lady Shannon Healy
August 14, 2009
Shannon Healy is a Political Science major at Patrick Henry College, but she decided to take a break from politics while home for the summer and put her skills to work for Big Wild Alaskan Opera. From a young age she loved sewing and theater arts so the bulk of her internship was spent helping organize AO’s massive costume collection.
Having a rudimentary understanding of Russian, Shannon also worked to coordinate a partnership between AO and the Anchorage School District’s Russian Immersion program at Chugiak High School.
Shannon … You Rock. And We Salute You!
And They Rocked! Opera Fairbanks’ Tosca a Grand Gift to the American Circumpolar North
July 27, 2009
Cynthia Lawrence
Under the leadership of Executive Director, Cassandra Tilly, and Music Director, Gregory Buchalter, Opera Fairbanks delivered two stunning sold-out concert performances of Tosca (July 16 & 18). Gloria Allen marvelously directed a stellar cast including Cynthia Lawrence, Jason Stearns, Matthew Edwardsen, Morgan Reed, Thomas Gross, Spencer McAulifee and Scott Raneri. Additional kudos to the sonorous chorus and fabulous orchestra. Standing ovations and great praise justly earned!
Opera Fairbanks … you ROCKED! And we salute you.
Welcome Playfull Rogues and Wenches!
July 21, 2009
Rogue
(a man who is playfully mischievous: a scamp, a rascal)
Wench
(such a woman as would keep company with a rogue)
Rogues and Wenches are seven Alaskans intoxicated by the performing of bonny Irish or Scottish drinking, sailing, courting and dying songs. Their music explores the rich texture of interchange between the sexes, as described through the wit and wisdom of Irish, Scottish and English pub tradition.
Parental guidance is suggested!
When: July 22, Aug. 5, Aug. 19, 2009
Doors open at 8 p.m., curtain at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Alaska Wildberry Theater
Tickets: Available at CenterTix and Celtic Treasures.
Anchorage’s new Mid-Week Musical Meditation Series successfully lifts off with AO’s own Elizabeth Moran, soprano and manager of corporate relations and special events as the first performer. Rock on Lizzie!
The series includes classical and contemporary music and provides a brief escape for neighborhood residents, downtown office workers, tourists and music lovers. Guest artists are emerging and established opera singers living in Alaska. Attendees meet new friends and colleagues; enjoy beautiful music, inspirational talks and noontime networking Big Wild Alaskan style.
When: July 1- August 5, Wednesdays, 12:15-12:45pm.
Where: First United Methodist Church, 725 West 9th Ave., Anchorage
Tickets: Free Admission
Imagine this … Ice Road Truckin’ while blasting some major league rockin’ opera … we’re talking Pagliacci, Eugene Onegin, Sister Angelica, La Boheme, Madam Butterfly, Porgy and Bess … get the picture! Truly Big and Wild, and purely ALASKAN!!
Interested in becoming an Opry Lovin’ Ice Road Trucker? Click here to check out Carlile Transportation Systems and get the Ice Road Trucking 411.
Roll On!!!!!!!
What’s the connection?
Ok … here goes …
One of the highlights of AO’s upcoming season of Big Wild Opera is the incredible Russian opera, Eugene Onegin (music by Tchaikovsky, novel by Pushkin).
Onegin is a CLASSIC tale of LOVE and LOSS. When she loved him, he wasn’t interested. When he changed his mind, she had moved on.
If you listen to the great song I TOLD YOU SO by country music legend Randy Travis (pictured above), sung by American Idol star Carrie Underwood, you don’t need to know Russian or read any dang program notes. In 4 minutes you’ll know all about one of the greatest shows ever!
Click here to see and hear Carrie Underwood sing I TOLD YOU SO.
See you at the Big Wild Opera!
UAA Big Wild Opera Apprentices Lookin’ Hot!
May 21, 2009
Look out world, UAA (University of Alaska, Anchorage) Big Wild Opera Apprentices are looking FIERCE!
The Big Wild UAA Apprentices attended a “Dress for Success” seminar at the Anchorage Nordstrom to learn a few new things about looking great for auditions and interviews. Thank you to Nordstrom for the Big Wild generosity and support.
