tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630356600537382212.post2093462493928664382..comments2024-03-26T04:25:27.186-07:00Comments on Seattle Opera Blog: Let’s Hear From You!Seattle Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04003665787231048819noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630356600537382212.post-73913603533474159802009-04-05T21:27:00.000-07:002009-04-05T21:27:00.000-07:00I would just like to say that the show was great. ...I would just like to say that the show was great. I was actually in the show, playing on of the Children's Chorus Members. Peaseblossom, to be exact. The set was Fantastic, and I love the music. I'm already a little teary here because the show's over...it was so fun. <BR/><BR/>In short, I loved being in it and I hope everybody else loved watching it.Staffan H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630356600537382212.post-65533588173523555942009-04-05T21:08:00.000-07:002009-04-05T21:08:00.000-07:00When, many months ago, I first heard that this yea...When, many months ago, I first heard that this year’s Young Artists Program was going to be A Midsummer Night's Dream my initial thought was, I must admit, "How are they going to do the Children's Chorus?”. I still remember the YAP doing, very successfully I thought, the second act of La Boheme without a crowd so I assumed that this would be a stripped down Dream – but how do you cut down an opera with a large cast and no truly minor characters? I was therefore extremely happy, and surprised, when at the first rehearsal I realized that his would be a fully staged version of the Dream with a full cast including the chorus of fairies.<BR/><BR/>I must state upfront that I was put off Britten at a young and tender age and it has taken me a long time to open up to him again … but after The Turn of the Screw and Billy Budd I was ready for more and the YAP have far exceeded my expectations. We had an incredible cast, I feel almost reluctant to name names, but in my mind Anthony Roth Costanzo and Emily Hindrichs stood out: their singing (as Oberon and Tytania) was beautiful and ethereal while always staying controlled. I also enjoyed Elizabeth Pojanowski as Hermia and I can’t ignore the great character singing of Alex Mansoori as Flute/Thisbe. But to be completely honest I don’t think there was weak link in the whole cast. I also think that the concept (and the set) worked very well – having come up through a very British education the distinction between the different levels in the school was completely recognizable to me.<BR/><BR/>Regrets: yes I have a few. I would have liked a “fuller” orchestra – the playing by the Auburn Symphony was excellent but I thought it sounded at bit thin in places. The “English” accent of Puke wandered all over the Sceptred Isle and was, to be honest, a bit of a distraction (it was interesting that the only people I heard complain about this where themselves British and/or Irish).<BR/><BR/>Why do I enjoy the YAP so much? Maybe it is the venue? Maybe it is the enthusiasm of the cast? Maybe it is the fact that I can walk to the performances? I don’t know for sure … but I can say that I enjoy these performances more than some main stage performances. I am missing it already … roll on next year!Jonathan Caveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13151822597886217577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630356600537382212.post-84472694081551566292009-04-05T19:28:00.000-07:002009-04-05T19:28:00.000-07:00I really liked the performance in general: I poste...I really liked the performance in general: I <A HREF="http://community.livejournal.com/seattle_opera/15647.html" REL="nofollow">posted my review on my blog</A>.<BR/><BR/>I regret that I haven't been to any Young Artist Program peformances before now.Geoduckhttp://community.livejournal.com/seattle_opera/noreply@blogger.com