Friday, April 10, 2015

Romeo and Juliette with Tacoma Opera

I used to love playing in the orchestra for the Tacoma Opera.  I remember playing trumpet, bringing scores, and learning a ton of music.  I was luck to have played Tosca, La Boheme, Falstaff, Magic Flute, Marriage of Figaro, and many other works...  I learned so much from this experience.  There are so many variables that have to come together to make teh production work:  costumes, acting, singing, orchestra.  And there are some crazy performance practices and traditions that sometimes defy what's written on the page!  I was really fortunate to have many of these opera experiences under the baton of Benton Hess - music director of the Eastman Opera Theater, at the Eastman School on music.

This weekend the Tacoma Opera will present it's third and final opera for this 2014-15 season - Gounod's Romeo and Juliette.  It is a classic, tragic love tale, told through the wonderful melodies of French composer, Charles Gounod.  I think what makes this so wonderful is how Gounod's melodies transport the familiar tale into something different from Shakespeare.  It is a special piece, and you should check it out.

Friday, April 10 at 7:30 PM
Sunday, April 12, at 2:00 PM
Both performances at the Pantages Theater.

More information:  http://www.tacomaopera.com/upcoming-events/Romeo-Juliette/

Here's a famous aria from the opera to entice your ears!