Staff picks: Asian American quarantine comforts with Gabrielle Nomura Gainor

Gabrielle and daughter Mika. 

Gabrielle Nomura Gainor is the Communications & Community Engagement Manager at Seattle Opera. A former journalist, she's written many company blog posts, lobby displays, and even created a BuzzFeed series with operas retold by cats! In addition to showing opera's more playful side, Gabrielle is passionate about representation for People of Color in the arts. She's helped Seattle Opera to build more meaningful relationships with the Asian Pacific Islander community during Madame Butterfly and An American Dream. This lover of pop culture, intersectional feminism, and Beyoncé is proud to share some of the wonderful things getting her through the global pandemic. 

TO READ:
Chanel Miller's book Know My Name: A Memoir 

Many of you may have first known Chanel Miller through the name Emily Doe. I remember questioning my choice to read a book that deals with assault during an already challenging time. But when I started listening to Miller's book—narrated by the author herself on Audible—I felt embarrassed for having approached Know My Name as simply a "victim's narrative." With courage, resilience, and so much ferocity, Miller's reclamation of her own experience, including her growing-up years, is an engrossing and inspiring piece of literary art. The book is a reminder to all, but particularly to victims, women, and even People of Color, that we are multidimensional beings with the right to tell our own stories. Know My Name might just be the fire you need to get you through this tough time.    

La bohème: How a Movement Got its Name

Adolfo Hohenstein's 1895 poster for Puccini's La Bohème. Public domain.

By T.J. Callahan 

Though the global pandemic forced us to cancel our May La bohème at McCaw Hall, we continue to celebrate the opera’s legacy as one of our art form's most treasured works. This series of blog posts explores the historical context and modern relevance of Puccini’s enduring classic.

BOHEMIAN: AN ETYMOLOGY
“Bohemianism” is an evocative term that today calls to mind images of artists like Puccini’s Rodolfo and Marcello, living for their art in a Parisian garret. Countless painters, poets, and other artists have taken up the bohemian lifestyle, and its romantic perception has inspired dozens of stories, including La bohème. But the story behind the “bohemian” label is fascinating all on its own—and one that spans hundreds of years.

The Drunken Tenor: Quarantini Edition

Robert McPherson (The Drunken Tenor). Photo courtesy of Robert McPherson. 

Come sip on opera with The Drunken Tenor: Quarantini Edition. A Grammy-winning singer and regular at Metropolitan Opera, Robert McPherson delivers comedy and top-notch singing in an online recital. Tune in at 7 p.m. PST, June 12. You can watch one of three places: Seattle Opera's Facebook, YouTube, or website. 

What happens when the world’s most irresponsible tenor performs the world’s most beautiful music? Find out on June 12 during The Drunken Tenor: Quarantini Edition! In this special online concert, Robert McPherson reprises his hilarious act (described as “Jack Black meets Pavarotti”) on Seattle Opera’s Facebook, YouTube, and website. Also featuring the talents of pianist David McDade and soprano Jennifer Bromagen, the concert will be available online for two weeks after its post date.

“If you’re white collar or no-collar, artisan or non-partisan, a workaholic or a 9-to-5-er—this show has something for you,” says McPherson, who will perform “The Flower Song” from Carmen, “Sempre Libera” from La traviata, a new translation of a Schubert song, operatic treatments of pop, and an attempt at crossover. “Don’t worry; no composers were harmed in the making of this evening!”

STAFF PICKS: In the Garden with Hong Chhuor

Photo Credit: Jonathan Vanderweit © 

Hong Chhuor is our Associate Director of Development. He first experienced opera in high school, while attending a Seattle Opera production of La bohème. In college, Hong pursued an internship under Perry Lorenzo in the company's education department. One of his favorite memories from that time was running the supertitles for the Young Artist Program production of… La bohème!

Hong loves growing edible and ornamental plants, and is passionate about tending to his backyard chickens. A silver lining to this challenging time has meant getting to spend more time in the garden, eating vegetables as soon as they're ready, or putting flowers in vases to enjoy inside. See below for tips, resources, and a recipe—happy gardening and eating!

• - Mid-May is an exciting time of year for gardeners in our region because it is when we usually start planting hot-season crops like tomatoes, basil, corn and squash—but our springs can be unpredictable, so you have to pay attention to your young plants if you want them to thrive. If you’re just getting started with growing food or are new to edible gardening in the Pacific Northwest, Tilth Alliance’s Maritime Northwest Garden Guide is indispensable.

A Center for opera—and for fighting COVID-19

Left: Susan Davis, Costume Director; photo by Alan Alabastro. In the Seattle Opera Costume Shop, Shanna Sincell, Laura Girardot, and Kate Hartman have assisted with the 100 Million Masks challenge.  

While the global pandemic has shuttered much of Seattle as we know it, a few people have still been hard at work in the Opera Center this spring. Rather than an opera destined for the McCaw Hall stage, these Seattle Opera staff members created masks to protect against COVID-19.

“Amid the stress that all of us are feeling, I am so glad that the opera could contribute in this tangible way,” said Seattle Opera Costume Director Susan Davis, who supervised an operation for Providence St. Joseph out of the Costume Shop. In less than four weeks—and working at least 6 feet away from one another—Davis’s team members produced 10,877 masks.

During the global pandemic, demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) has created a severe shortage across the world. While waiting for regular distribution channels to ramp up, Providence created the 100 Million Masks challenge to help in the interim.

OPERAWISE: Operetta

In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Operetta is a delightful kind of entertainment resembling opera, but different; whereas in opera the music tells the story, in operetta the music decorates a story which is usually little more than a joke—a story that nobody could possibly take seriously. Operetta developed, in the late nineteenth century, just as opera began taking itself perhaps too seriously. Operettas from traditions in Paris (Orphée aux enfers), London (The Pirates of Penzance), Vienna (Die Fledermaus) and New York City (Rose-Marie) typify the genre. And although many operettas remained popular for decades, the golden era of creating operetta turned to silver, then iron and finally steel as the twentieth century turned its energy toward making movies and wars.

Musical examples on the podcast include:

• •Can-Can from Orphée aux enfers, orchestra of l’Opéra National de Lyon conducted by Mark Minkowski (EMI 1997)
• •Entrance of Public Opinion, from Orphée aux enfers, Ewa Podles and orchestra of l’Opéra National de Lyon conducted by Mark Minkowski (EMI 1997)
• •Duet from Orphée aux enfers, Natalie Dessay, Laurent Naouri and orchestra of l’Opéra National de Lyon conducted by Mark Minkowski (EMI 1997)
• •Galop Infernal from Orphée aux enfers soloists and orchestra of l’Opéra National de Lyon conducted by Mark Minkowski (EMI 1997)
• •Pirate King’s Song from The Pirates of Penzance, James Milligan, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, and Pro Arte Orchestra conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent (EMI 1961)
• •“A British Tar” from H.M.S. Pinafore , soloists, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus, and Pro Arte Orchestra conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent (EMI 1961)
• •Nightmare Song from Iolanthe, George Baker and Pro Arte Orchestra conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent (EMI 1961)
• •Merry Widow Waltz from Die lustige Witwe, Felicity Lott, Thomas Hampson, and London Philharmonic conducted by Franz Welser-Möst (EMI Classics)
• •Waltz from Die Fledermaus; Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan (Decca 1960)
• •“In Feuerstrom der Reben” from Die Fledermaus; Waldemar Kmentt, Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan (Decca 1960)
• •Mounties’ Song from Rose-Marie, Nelson Eddy with chorus and orchestra conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret from “Oscar Hammerstein—the Legacy” (Pearl)
• •Indian Love Call from Rose-Marie, Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy with orchestra conducted by Nathaniel Shilkret from “Oscar Hammerstein—the Legacy” (Pearl)
• •“O, what a beautiful mornin’” from Oklahoma sung by Gordon MacRae (original 1955 film soundtrack album)

That's it for now, in terms of genres of traditional operas!

STAFF PICKS: Improvisational Comedy with Erica McIntyre

Photo Credit: Jonathan Vanderweit © 

Erica McIntyre is the Development Operations Manager at Seattle Opera. You may recognize her from McCaw Hall when she greeted you as a Hall Ambassador or from the Allen Room Donor Lounge.

Outside of her workday, Erica performs improv comedy as a Pro Player at CSz Seattle, produces and performs in the monthly comedy show Ten Percent Luck at Northwest Film Forum, and teaches and coaches improv comedy. She also tells horrible jokes to her cat, boyfriend, and whoever is stuck as the checker for her groceries.

Here’s some of Erica's favorite comedy picks to share with you this week:

• - CSz Seattle is still doing live, virtual improv comedy shows! Be sure to check them out to get to watch a live improv show on Zoom and laugh at home during this time. The shows features improv comedy played as a sport—and yes—there is a winner and a loser.
• 
  
• - This is my favorite laugh-out loud podcast of all time. The first time I listened to it I cried I laughed so hard! This American Life shares the story of arguably the worst production of Peter Pan to ever hit the stage.
• 
  
• - My second favorite humorous story from a podcast was when David Sedaris was featured on This American Life sharing about living in France while not having a full grasp of the language. It gave me serious flashbacks of learning I was saying ‘Bless You’ instead of ‘Pardon Me’ in Italy for months every time I bumped into someone before a kind stranger intervened during my impromptu train blessings.
• 
  
• - John Mulaney will always be my favorite stand-up comedian, and his Netflix special The Comeback Kid is a consistent mood booster.
• 
  
• - I also loved Ellen Degenres’ Nexflix Special and there’s a special treat about it—it was filmed at Benaroya Hall!
• 
  
• - One of my favorite treasures of comedy is watching individuals who just naturally have a great sense of humor. I’m a big fan of Amy Sedaris, and watching her apartment tour is something else! I love the decorating tip of keeping a pair of toddler shoes to put out in any messy rooms and blaming the mess on a toddler who just isn’t there that moment.
• 
  
• - Practicing your own comedy while staying home to no audience? Don’t worry! Here’s a video of an attentive audience member for 10 minutes that you can tell any joke to heckle-free (from my lovely high school alma mater)! I’ve been practicing my opera one-liners at home to wow in Zoom meetings and so far they’re too hot to Handel.

Seattle Opera launches ‘Songs of Summer’

From left: Angel Blue, Jamie Barton, and John Moore. Photos by Michelle Dudley, Faye Fox, and Sunny Martini.  

For Seattle Opera, the show must go on—online, that is! This summer, Jamie Barton, Angel Blue, John Moore and others will perform in a brand-new recital series available on social media and Seattle Opera's website. 

Not even a global pandemic can shut down the power of music. In the face of COVID-19, Seattle Opera and other arts groups are finding creative new ways to perform. This week, Seattle Opera announced its new recital series, Songs of Summer, which will bring beloved singers to a new stage—your phone, tablet, or computer screen. Beginning weekly on May 28, recitals will be available to stream on Seattle Opera’s website, Facebook, and YouTube.

“Opera companies need to be flexible, adaptive and of course very creative if we’re going to get through this uncertain time,” said General Director Christina Scheppelmann. “At some point we will return to McCaw Hall. In the meantime, opera can still bring us joy, comfort, and touching moments of humanity—even though we cannot be together to enjoy these moments.”

The concert series kicks off on May 28 with international star Angel Blue, who performs a mix of opera and spirituals in a 30-minute program with pianist Jay Rozendaal. Many will recognize Blue from the viral HiHo Kids video, “Kids Meet an Opera Singer.” Prior to the cancellation of Seattle Opera’s May La bohème, the American soprano had been scheduled to sing Mimì.

OPERAWISE: Singspiel

Seattle Opera · OPERAWISE: SINGSPIEL

In this series of podcasts, Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean gives listeners a taste of nine different types of traditional opera. Singspiel (that’s German for SongPlay) mixes songs, dialogues, choruses, and marvelous orchestral writing with fun and fantasy for a lowbrow, family friendly art form—the ancestor of today’s Star Wars movies. Mozart’s ever-popular Magic Flute is the perfect introduction to Singspiel, as well as one of the most beloved operas ever written. Another wonderful Singspiel, Weber’s Der Freischütz, demonstrates the power of this form to send a wonderfully creepy chill down your spine.

Musical examples on the podcast include:

• •Celebratory chorus from Hans Heiling, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Ewald Körner (Marco Polo 1992)
• •“Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja” from Die Zauberflöte; John Moore and Seattle Opera orchestra conducted by Julia Jones, 2017
• •Hunters’ Chorus from Der Freischütz; Seattle Opera chorus and orchestra conducted by Gerard Schwarz, 1999
• •Melodrama from Fidelio, Jane Eaglen and Kevin Langan, Seattle Opera orchestra conducted by Gerard Schwarz, 2003
• •A line of Papageno’s from Die Zauberflöte, John Moore and Seattle Opera orchestra conducted by Julia Jones, 2017
• •Act 1 Finale from Die Zauberflöte, Andrew Stenson and Seattle Opera orchestra conducted by Julia Jones, 2017
• •Act 2 Finale from Die Zauberflöte , Seattle Opera orchestra conducted by Julia Jones, 2017
• •“Der Hölle Rache” from Die Zauberflöte, Christina Poulitsi and Seattle Opera orchestra conducted by Julia Jones, 2017
• •“O Isis” Chorus from Die Zauberflöte Seattle Opera chorus and orchestra conducted by Julia Jones, 2017
• •Opening duet from Fidelio, Lucia Popp, Adolf Dallapozza, and Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein (Deutsche Gramophon, 1978)
• •“O namenlose Freude” from Fidelio, Gundula Janowitz, René Kollo, and Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein (Deutsche Gramophon, 1978)
• •Cat duet from Der Stein der Weisen, Jane Giering-De Haan, Kevin Deas, and Boston Baroque conducted by Martin Pearlman (Telarc, 1999)
• •Wolf’s Glen Scene from Der Freischütz, Harry Peters, Gabor Andrasy, and the chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera conducted by Gerard Schwarz, 1999
• •Overture from Der fliegende Holländer, orchestra of Seattle Opera conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing, 2016
• •Dance of the Apprentices from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg , forces of the Bavarian State Opera conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch (EMI Classics, 1993)

Stay tuned for one more podcast introducing another kind of opera next week!

Lessons in 'Adulting' from Puccini’s La bohème

Seattle Opera marketing image for La bohème. Philip Newton photo. Tinashe and Brennin Hunt in RENT Live on Fox

By Naomi André

In this post, I write from my own perspective—a college professor—who teaches students the same age as the young artists from La bohème. An important lesson my students teach me is that times have changed: No matter how much I think I understand (or remember) from my own path in life, I am constantly bumping into how the transition from student to professional is very different than when I graduated.

Whether set in the 1830s Parisian Latin Quarter, the recent past, or in the present, Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème (1896) never stops teaching us about what it means to grow up. This opera occupies an uncanny position in the repertoire: while fitting within the norms of its time, the work also broke new ground. Today, bohème hits close to home for a new reason. Rather than tuberculosis—a key element in Puccini’s opera—we are living in the time of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.