Dallas Opera Teacher Professional Development

Every opera season the Dallas Opera hosts a Teacher Professional Development night. The Opera's Education Department provides teachers with material to prepare students for upcoming performances. 

The go over where in history the opera was composed along with influence and contemporaries at the time the music was composed.  There is a history of the story,  characters, and opera art-form prior to the program. 

The class include a tour of the beautiful Winspear Opera House. For the 2017-2018 season we took students to the fall performance of Samson and Dalila and next week we are taking a group of student to The Ring of Polykrates.  

I really enjoy the music history presented and the tie in to student teaching materials.  

I will incline my ear to a proverb;

    I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

Psalm 49:4

Samson and Dalila Opera

Tonight we kicked off the Dallas Opera 2017-2018 season with Samson and Dalila.  It is the Biblical tale of the Nazarite judge for Israel and his down fall at the hands of the Philistine woman. 

In this telling, Dalila is friendly with the Philistine leaders, the enemies of the Hebrews. High Priest of Dagon is a Philistine who plots with Dalila the overthrow of Samson. Abimelech, Governor of Gaza is a Philistine whom Samson kills in Act 1. Leading to the Philistines desire to be rid of Samson. 

The lead portraying Samson is one of our favorite baritones who recently portrayed Tristan in Tristan und Isolde.  Dalila was played by  Grammy-award winning mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina, making her debut at the Dallas Opera. 

The big finale at the Temple of Dagon brought down the house, literally, with the coolest special effects I've seen at the opera!  

Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me.
Please, God, strengthen me just once more"  Judges 16:28

Dallas Opera's Moby Dick

We took off tonight with great friends to find out if Captain Ahab will ever get vengeance on the white whale for the loss of his leg.  We joined our PEACH homeschool friends for the Dallas Opera's classic tale of the ultimate challenge of man versus beast.  This performance was visually stunning as the adventure set sail on the high seas. 

I've never been a big fan of the projection sets versus the big elaborate hand crafted sets, but tonight they won me over.  The set was amazing, the projections were just incredible.  There were amazing including acrobatics with performers suspended and swimming through the depths. 

Not only was the play visually stunning, but the singing was even more phenomenal!  By far this was one of the best performances and it was even sweeter to share it with good friends! 

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? Job 7:12

It's A Musical!

Tonight the Dallas Opera put on the first musical in its history in grand style.  Show Boat featured a 51-piece orchestra, 37 named roles, 43 chorus members, 27 boxes of hats, a 40-foot container of props and enough costumes to fill half of a 53-foot semi-trailer truck!

Jon and I took the girls along with Hannah and Mikayla to the extravagant production.  Show Boat began on  Broadway stage in 1927.  Playwright and lyricist Oscar Hammerstien (later of “Rogers and”) convinced Florenz Ziegfield to let him produce the show in the 1920s taken from the best selling novel by Edna Ferber. 

The show is probably best known for songs like Ol’ Man River, which was FABULOUS!  Some of the songs were adapted to operatic songs, but others kept the Broadway musical style.  

Great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. Matthew 13:2

Becoming Santa Claus Opera

When it comes to holiday performances, dance has The Nutcracker, theater has A Christmas Carol, and classical music has Handel’s Messiah. Today we’re checking out operas newest addition, composer Mark Adamo’s Becoming Santa Claus. With the family watching the world premiere at the Dallas Opera with a live simulcast to the  Lincoln Center in New York!

Becoming Santa Claus  is set in the Elven kingdom where spoiled Prince Claus will celebrate his 13th birthday with the party.  However, a bright star has signaled a momentous birth. Claus decides to dazzle this newborn with an assortment of the very latest toys before discovering that love is the most treasured gift of all.

The story doesn't go into the religious significance of the child's birth but is that 'presence' is preferred to presents.  It was cleverly done with elaborate, fanciful costumes and magnificent set designs! 

Please accept the present that was brought to you,
for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.”
Genesis 33:11

Great Scott at The Dallas Opera

The Dallas Opera was host to the world premier of Great Scott, an American Opera.  It is the tale of opera star Arden Scott returning to her hometown to save the struggling company that launched her career. The acts fade in and out of the back stage antics and the opera performance.  On stage is the opening night performance of the long-lost opera she discovered and falls on the same night as the home team’s first National Championship game (Go, Grizzlies!). The fate of the company hangs in the balance as Arden discovers that greatness is truly a matter of heart.

What is missing from the general description of this opera is that like many things the dialog has been dumbed down; the sets are simplistic and the costuming was more people of Wal-Mart.  The humor of the show relied on profanity, sexual innuendos and included the back side of a man urinating on stage.  

What is frustrating is the music was fantastic; and the talent of the voices was second to none! Given the story line, there was no need for over the top costuming; the music was strong enough to carry the audiences attention without flying a mans naked butt back and forth above the stage.  (He was supposed to be a Greek-god messenger). 

Anyway, the blog is here to keep family and friends up on our adventures so, Frankie and I took in the performance this afternoon. It was enjoyable to hang out with my girl.  And just like people have different taste in movies and music, today's performance was not to my taste.  I feel confident that Christian home schooling families was not the target audience for this opera. For the record, Tosca = fabulous, Bastien and Bastienne = Very clever, and Great Scott = amazing music!  

They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying,
 “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” Acts 8:10

Bastien and Bastienne (aka. the Sheep Opera)

If you are a homeschooling parent in the Dallas area you must know about the Dallas Opera's Educational Program, it is outstanding.  They offer programming for all ages from Opera Boot Camp for the very young, student performances for elementary age and dress rehearsals for high school age. 

The Dallas Opera and Fort Worth Opera were two of the first performing arts programs I found when we moved to the Dallas area.  I had never been to an opera and wasn't sure it was something I would enjoy.  In a world of green screens and overtly high tech (non)reality entertaining the opera is still one of the purest forms of entertainment.  

It has all the classical elements, a stage with creative and ingenious backdrops and I love to see the clever take on costuming.  And of course, the music!  The symphony of a live orchestra and some of the most amazing voices ever.  Even having sung a Capella all my life in worship, there are incredible 'musical things' these talented performers can do with their voice that leave me in awe. 

Today was the matinee performance of one of Mozart's earliest works, written at age 12, Bastien and Bastienne.  It is a comedic one-act opera that tells the tale of a young shepherdess, Bastienne and her boyfriend, Bastien. Bastienne believe her love has fallen for a wealthy girl from the big city.  Distressed she runs into Colas, the town magician who has a few ideas of his own on how to reunite the young couple.  This opera is usually performed in German but because this is targeted for a young audience it was performed in English.

After the performance we got a behind the scenes look of how they break down the scenery.  They pulled back all the curtains to reveal the set of Tosca which is currently running.  The youth in the audience were fascinated as they changed the configuration of the giant retractable chandelier from it's ordinary arrangement to a festive Christmas tree. 

I am fairly confident I was a set designer or costumer in a previous life.  I look at all the artistic talent and think, 'oh, that's cool.  I could that!' But I'm not sure what we would do with giant hay bales and a shepherdess costume! 

Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes

    that have come up from the washing,

all of which bear twins,

    and not one among them has lost its young.

Song of Solomon 4:2

The Dallas Opera's Tosca

I'm a big fan of the opera and the symphony.  I am a self-proclaimed joyful noise with a great appreciation for those who can make beautiful music.  I've continued to coordinate trips to the opera for our PEACH home school group.  This years big performance for the Dallas Opera is Tosca.

It's Puccini's melodrama about a diva, a sadistic police chief and an idealistic artist.  It's set in Rome in the early 1800's.  This opera has all the elements I love; drama, suspense, love; all set against majestic backdrops with brilliant costuming.  

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles
 and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your
 inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God’s sight. I Peter 3:3-4

Dallas Opera's Iolanta

Tonight was another great student performance at the Dallas Opera.  We took a couple of Abigail’s friends Brianna and Emilie with us to see Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta. It’s the story of a blind princess who gains her sight only because she is motivated to seek a cure out of dedication to her new love.  Finally an opera with cheery finale; no stabbings, cliff jumpings, poisoning, just hugs and kisses.  

This was another one of the techno performances with stage projections instead of the elaborate stage designs. ICK!  Not a fan!  I love the singing and the majesty of the opera, and it was enjoyable, but my personal preference is the big elaborate sets and costumes.  The girls really seemed to have a good time in the fancy setting and Jon and Caleb patiently sat through to keep mom happy!

the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.

Psalm 146:8

Dallas Opera's Barber of Seville

Tonight we enjoyed a glorious performance of Rossini's lighthearted tale of romance and false identity, Barber of Seville!   This was the first opera the kids attended in 2006 when the Dallas Opera performed it at Fair Park!  

Even though the opera is in Italian, the humor is funny in any language!   Everyone will recognize the music, think  Bugs Bunny's Rabbit of Seville, "Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!"!   The libretto has been re-done numerous times in pop culture parodies. 

The only opera that holds a candle to this is the Marriage of Figaro, which will be performed next season!! 

For tonight's student performance we brought 60 PEACH home schooled student, all whom loved the show!! Even having seen it before, tonight was a fresh look, amazing and delightful!!! There is a reason this opera has stood the test of time!  If you ever get the chance, THIS is the opera to see, and the Dallas Opera is the place to see it! 

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with shouts of joy Psalm 126:2

The Dallas Opera's Die Tote Stadt

Fun pics last night from the German opera, Die Tote Stadt. It was billed as, "Before Hitchcock filmed Vertigo, Korngold created Die tote Stadt, the tale of one man’s dark obsession with the woman he loved and lost."  The production used state-of-the-art projections along with elaborate staging. 

It was an excellent production with a healthy dose of creepy, in an entertaining way of course!  Die Tote Stadt or Dead City is the story of sad man who has built a shrine to his dead wife.  

One day he sees a  lady who looks like his dead wife.  The lead fantasizes a relationship with the lady as she evolves into his wife and he eventually kills her!  But it is all in his mind. 

It was a great performance the music was amazing!  

“Thus says the Lord God: On that day,
 thoughts will come into your mind,
 and you will devise an evil scheme.

Ezekiel 38:10

Dallas Opera's Carmen

I am sure that there are some opera officiants who could write a prolific review of the Dallas Opera's Carmen.  As a mom, with children at home who loves the performing arts my review is fairly simple.  I love the majesty of the theater, the grandiose stage design and magnificent costuming, and Carmen has those wonderful attributes!  The stage for the three acts is amazing, I would love a back stage tour to see how these elaborate pieces were built! 

Carmen is the fabulous Spanish tale of a gypsy vixen who ensnares a once honorable Don Jose leading to his demise and ultimately her death.  This story was set to music by Georges Bizet into a masterpiece.  Bizet did not live to see the success of his wonderful work.

'But it's an opera,' you say, 'how was the singing?' you ask.  It was no less than spectacular! Every time we go to the opera I am surprised at how much of the music we already know but didn't realize the origin was an opera.  Tonight we heard the Toreador song from Gilligan's Island when Polonius (Skipper) sings advise to Laertes (Mary Ann).   The kids recognized the Toreador song from Beethoven's Wig, so in the elevator on the way we were all singing various lyrics.

We were joined tonight with several of our home school and church friends which always makes an event more enjoyable.  

Let God be true, and every human being a liar.

Romans 3:4

Turandot at the Dallas Opera

 

Tonight we traveled to Beijing, China, or maybe we traveled to the Dallas Opera's premier of Giacomo Puccini's Turandot.    It is the story of a barbarian prince traveling to Beijing, where he is reunited with his long-lost father and a faithful servant before taking on his greatest challenge — answering three riddles to win the hand of Princess Turandot, although failure will cost him his life!

 

The barbarian prince faces questions of family loyalty, faithfulness to duty, and honesty to oneself.  The prince gives up the love of the faithful family friend for the desire of the lovely Princess Turandot.  The faithful family friend gives up her life to not betray the barbarian prince.  Jon's advice to Caleb, 'don't throw away a lovely friendship for something newer and shinier.'  Jon's advice to the girls, 'don't give up your life for the sake of a stupid boy that can't appreciate who you are.'

 

The show was lovely, the sets, the orchestra, the costumes, everything was wonderful!

Greater love has no one than this:
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

Bon Appétit! with Julia Child



Today's adventures took us to the Dallas Farmers Market Demonstration Kitchen for Dallas Opera's Family performance of Bon Appetit! 

 

Susan Nicely tours the country portraying Julia Child, the eccentric French Chef.  A local reviewer wrote, “With Susan Nicely’s lovely mezzo-soprano, precise diction and sharp acting, Nicely plays Julia Child with a devilish twinkle making this highly amusing short opera a delight.”

 

In the performance she sings her way through a mock TV taping of Julia Child's television show demonstrating how to make a Bittersweet Chocolate Cake.  The program even include the recipe!  Way too many steps for this A.D.D. mom!   In prep for today's field trip we did Netflix a Julia Child episode, the movie Julie and Julia, and the kid's favorite, Dan Aykroyd's Saturday Night Live Skit as Julia, you know purely research!

 

Of course we met up with other homeschooling families,  I include a picture of Frankie holding up our PEACH sign outside the Dallas Farmers Market.  Every field trip we attend, Sissy is out front with the sign and a smile to greet our friends!  

 

Inspired by the creative cooking, we then headed over to the Farmer's Market and picked out lots of fresh fruits and veggies.  Tell me honestly, doesn't that make you hungry looking at all those yummy foods!  And to prove the apple (or orange) doesn't fall far from the tree, Abigail and I had the same idea while sampling the fresh oranges!






 

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

Job 8:21

Dallas Opera Family Concert

 

This afternoon I coordinated an outing for our home school families to a family opera at the Winspear Opera House. Dallas Operas Family Concert featured arias and overtures from The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro,and Carmen. The Dallas Opera's orchestra was led by Maestro Anthony Barrese, and joined by a Mezzo-Soprano and lead Baritone. Before the concert there were crafts and activities for kids. The activities were really geared towards Elementary age children, but the concert itself was for more Middle School age children. I was hoping for the performance with images from Gilligan's Island with Skipper singing Hamlet to the music from the Marriage of Figaro, or cartoon videos from Bugs Bunny etc. But I'm sure there are copy write laws etc.

 

From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
and the work of their hands brings them reward.

Proverbs 12:14

Dallas Opera: Aida

Tonight kicked off the 2012-2013 Dallas Opera season with Aida   It is set in Ancient Egypt, with a captive Ethiopian princess, Aida,  torn between her love for the Egyptian commander Radames and her loyalty to her own father and country. The lovers must fend off the schemes of a fiercely jealous Egyptian princess and decide whether true love trumps honor and duty.  I think Caleb was hoping for a few more battle scenes, but the girls enjoyed the beautiful costumes.

 

Although I'm certainly not a opera aficionado, I do love live theater and appreciate the skills it takes to perform, the voices, the creativity in the costumes, the beautiful sets and the lovely symphonic orchestra.   Live theater beats any TV or movie screen.  No matter how advanced 3D technology becomes it can't compare to a night at the theater.  I love how there is no instrument that can begin to duplicate what the human voice can do, and the myriad of talents God has placed in people. 

 

But be sure to fear the LORD and serve
him faithfully with all your heart;
consider what great things he has done for you.

I Samuel 12:24

Dallas Opera's the Magic Flute

Frankie, Abigail & Caleb at the Winspear

Pamina being rescued by Papageno

Tamino playing the flute



The Dallas Opera closes their with Mozart’s last opera, which premiered two months before he died, The Magic Flute.



the Queen of the Night!
Amazing vocals!

It is an absolutely WONDERFUL production.  If you haven't been to the opera before, or haven't shared the opera with your children, start here!  Pamina, the kidnapped daughter of the Queen of the Night.  Tamino is the love-struck prince who is compelled by the Queen to rescue her daughter from the allegedly evil new-age high priest.  The Queen of the Night has two arias and are the most difficult of the soprano repertoire.  She makes a run thru the Queen's trademark vocal runs seem effortless! 
.



Papogeno

The role of Papageno, the buffoonish, down-to-earth bird catcher of the Queen, requires its performer to ham it up, big time. One of the most beloved scenes in The Magic Flute is the duet between Papageno and his bride, Papagena.  The scene is finished off with mini Papogenos & Papagenas running around in matching outfit, and a couple of Dallas Cowboy jerseys.

.
The sets are among the most beautiful I have seen. The music is delightful, the performers are top-notch, and the stage production is exquisite. You will walk out of the theater with a smile on your face!  In preparation for this opera, the Dallas Opera puts out educational material, we also viewed The Magic Flute (produced in 1975, which paled in comparison to Dallas' presentation) and finally the Smurfs and the Magic Flute!

Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who

hears the sound of the flute and all kinds of music

must fall down and worship the image of gold,
Daniel 3:10

La Traviata at the Dallas Opera

Jon & Lisa

Violetta & Alfredo



Abs & Amelia

Caleb & David



The Dallas Opera’s latest production, La Traviata, held it’s student performance tonight at the  Winspear Opera House.  It is their rendition of Giuseppe Verdi’s tragic opera.

La Traviata (which translates roughly to “The Fallen Woman”), Violetta, a socialite suffering from tuberculosis who has taken a variety of wealthy lovers, eventually falls for the heroic, but poorer Alfredo Germont.

They live happily together on a country estate until Alfredo’s father  asks Violetta to leave so that Alfredo’s siblings are more desirable for marriage. She has brought shame to the family.

Violetta leaves so that Alfredo can have a better life and goes to a party with her old friends. Alfredo arrives and, in a flash of anger, embarrasses her in front of the entire party. Six months later, in her apartment in Paris, Violetta lies dying from tuberculosis. Alfredo and his father arrive to beg for forgiveness, and she dies in Alfredo’s arms.

All of the set is reminiscent of Victorian decadence, with elaborate gilded furniture. Costumes are also beautifully complex, particularly during the party scene, in which several of the chorus members break the staid, Victorian mold with exotic Eastern and African party attire.

La Traviata is everything you go to the opera for: the costumes, the stage design, the orchestra, the incredible voices and the tragedy of it all.

the men themselves consort with harlots

and sacrifice with shrine prostitutes—

a people without understanding will come to ruin!
Hosea 4:14

The Lighthouse

I am a big fan of live theater.  One of our first dates was to symphony in Tulsa.  There are very few live productions that I don't recommend, but here is one!   The Dallas Opera and the Dallas Theater Center opened the Lighthouse at the AT&T Performing Arts Center's Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre.  It was a date night for Jon & I to get out of the house, alone.

The theatre itself is very industrial, lots of cement, open pipes, very modern, not my style, but I can appreciate that it was very chic. 

The opera is based on a true story, the three protagonists of The Lighthouse have been locked up in the small isolated space for months and their relief crew is long overdue.  The three are suspected to be victims of foul play, and the opera centers around the investigation.

The story was suspenseful, well played, magnificent voices, phenomenal orchestra, so what's not to like right?  Most operas even if there is an 'indisgression' it is down played in the polite society setting!  This production took a vulgar turn that ruined the experience for me.  One of those moments that added nothing to the story just cheap bathroom humor, very disappointing!   

I'm sure it was performed in the smaller setting to appeal to a select group, but I think in the future we'll stick to the more mainstream Opera House production!

Dallas Opera - Tristan & Isolde

Lisa & Jon



The 3 kids

My girls



Tonight we  took in Dallas Opera's performance of Tristan & Isolde.  This is one of my favorite tales.  It is thought to be the inspiration to Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet.  It's the classic tale of star crossed lovers.  Variations of this story differ, but it is always a tragedy!

The four hour plus opera is one of the most challenging operas to perform, because the leads in the play are 'on' for almost the entire four hours. There aren't many vocalist with those chops!  The vocals in tonight's performance were outstanding! 



This is THE opera I have waited to see since it was announced to be in the 2011-2012 line-up!  With that said, what could go wrong?   I walked away feeling cheated!  There was NO set!  REALLY!  It was a let down!  Being an artist, I truly appreciate the elaborate set designs and the creativity of artist who bring you into the story with the props and design, and there was NONE!  They used giant projections that shown from the top of the theater onto the background and stage.  The projections were usually gray scale to add to the tragedy of the story.  But it was almost a separate movie running in the background.  Many critics are  hailing this a technical, cutting edge, blah, blah, blah wonderfulness.  This live theater goer didn't agree. I was left feeling that if there are less than a dozen players in this opera, they could have  spent something on scenery.  Also, knowing that this is a tale of not only two fated lovers, but two countries at war, I was disappointed that this did not feel  grand.

The music to this opera takes a marathon symphony with an amazing conductor.   The symphony was phenomenal!  Down right crazy good!!!

Now, my second complaint,  the costumes were horrendous! Picture with me, Tristan and Isolde donned medieval wear, while King Marke wore a WWI German costume.  Tristan's army also looked WWIish, even carrying guns instead of the sword that Tristan carried.  In an interview it was stated the goal was that the opera should 'transend multiple time periods.'  But it came off looking like at $25-$200 a ticket they still couldn't afford sets, or costumes!



Little Momma

All in all , it was an enjoyable family night.  Any night at live theater is always fun, and we were joined by friends from church, which made it even more special.  I hope that this won't be the future in operas!  

Oh, on this post I am actually in front of the camera, and yes, Abigail is almost as tall as me.  Frankie and I are in flats, and Abigail is wearing boots with a heel.  My kids have started calling me 'Little Momma.'  

from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Psalms 22:10