Oct 5, 2018
OK, not sure who all will see this, but if anyone in the area is interested in free tickets (two) for tomorrow night’s season opener for the Pittsburgh Opera/Madame Butterfly (8pm showing), send me a message. The seats are decent.
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OK, not sure who all will see this, but if anyone in the area is interested in free tickets (two) for tomorrow night’s season opener for the Pittsburgh Opera/Madame Butterfly (8pm showing), send me a message. The seats are decent.
(via Story of Negro Leagues Baseball Star Josh Gibson Premieres This April in Opera "The Summer King")
How Pittsburgh Opera Education Program Isn't Just Another Field Trip
How Pittsburgh Opera Education Program Isn’t Just Another Field Trip
The $100 workshop fee teaches educators how the opera addresses all 15 PA (Pennsylvania) academic standards. I personally attended the student matinee performance called ‘The Elixir of Love’ just to see for myself the engagement the children would have with the arts. I arrived early, just in time to see the school buses drop off dozens of students. They were greeted by Ph.D. Pittsburgh Oprah…
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Things to do in Pittsburgh this Weekend (1-19 through 1-21)
Get your weekend plans on, Pittsburgh! Photo Cred @DaveDicelloPhotography
Photo by Dave DiCello Photography As always, there’s lots to do in Pittsburgh this weekend. Whether you want to make your own kombucha tea at Tupelo Honey Teas or head to the Pittsburgh Yoga Expo. Whatever you choose to do we hope you make it a Pittsburgh Beautiful day! Friday Jan. 19th Make Your Own Kombucha at Tupelo Honey Teas Head to Tupelo’s Millvale shop to learn how to make Kombucha…
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Preview: The Rake’s Progress
Pittsburgh Opera has got our attention. While they may be closing out their 77th season they’re doing it with a rock n’ roll frame of mind.
The Rake’s Progress is what we are talking about.
Financially ruined from the failed bread machine, Tom’s possessions are put up for auction by Sellem (Keith Jameson). David Bachman Photography
Originally ‘The Rake’s Progress’ took the form of eight paintings that English artist William Hogarth created in the 1730’s. They were then engraved and widely distributed.
Their luring content tells the story of young, rich heir Tom Rakewell and the turbulent life he creates for himself in 18th Century London. It goes a bit something like sex, overindulgence, gambling, and insanity. This type of story never gets old!
Nick Shadow (David Pittsinger) convincing Tom Rakewell (Alek Shrader) to marry bearded lady Baba the Turk. David Bachman Photography
Hogarth’s ‘The Rake’s Progress’ were so commonly plagiarized that he lobbied for the Copyright Act of 1735 to protect writers an artists. These were like the Ikea prints of their day; consider that.
Then like many great works do they inspired another form of art. Igor Stravinsky wrote the tales into an opera after seeing them on display at a Chicago exhibition. And the libretto was written by prominent English poet W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman.
The opera premiered in 1951 and toured throughout Europe before arriving at the Metropolitan Opera a few years later. However this particular production offers a special treat for its viewers.
Mother Goose (Laurel Semerdjian) and the ‘employees’ in her brothel await Tom Rakewell. David Bachman Photography
The production on stage in Pittsburgh is the David Hockney version. Yes, the artist who will show off six decades of his work at the upcoming Tate retrospective.
But what does this have to do with you? Well, the famous artist is the designer behind all of the set, props, wigs and costumes and word is they’re quite sensational.
Imagine experiencing the beauty of the opera combined with jaw-dropping details created by one of the most famous living artists.
“I’m not going to be ignored” Baba the Turk (Jill Grove) in a newlywed spat with Tom Rakewell (Alek Shrader). David Bachman Photography
Interestingly David Hockney had worked on his own version of ‘The Rake’s Progress’ in 1961. New Yorkers and their lifestyle inspired Hockney, a country boy who moved to the big city. This resulted in 16 semi-autobiographical prints.
The engravings come alive as the singers set off the stage. This is Hockney’s intention. He pays homage to the works by using black cross hatching and only incorporating red, blue and green - the only colors that were available to printers during Hogarth’s time.
Soul intact but now gone mad, Tom Rakewell (Alek Shrader) waits for Venus to visit him in the Bedlam insane asylum. David Bachman Photography
“It’s still just words and music and images coming together. And so long as the words and images work with the music, the eye and ear come together in the most remarkable way. You create something really extraordinary.” David Hockney
Tickets are here! Join us this Friday or Saturday and read up on the next season too!
Lisette Oropesa has found new definition for running a marathon. 'It's a lot like singing an opera,' says the soprano, who is starring in Pittsburgh ...
Wow! Lisette is one tough cookie! I can’t believe she ran the marathon after opening night!
The ending of Nico Muhly's "Dark Sisters" taps you on the shoulder before it punches you in the gut. The main character Eliza -- one of the opera's five sister-wives who belong to a polygamist sect -- is about to depart from her family's compound in the American Southwest. "Only lonely me," she sings, as she prepares to leave the familiar realm she inhabits for the unknown world beyond, following the The rocky stage had formed a literal split between Eliza and her family, who had just sung a divine chorale in harmony with the orchestra. "Let's see," Eliza hesitantly croons. The instruments intone a haunting chord that doesn't resolve. It is an end but not a resolution, and it almost -- almost -- leaves one wondering whether her doubt might not be unfounded. So concludes Pittsburgh Opera's stirring "Dark Sisters," on run at the CAPA Theater.
At Saturday night's opening performance of Pittsburgh Opera's 75th anniversary season, the company showed it is better to give than to receive, offering a spectacular performance of Verdi's "Aida" more than fitting for the celebratory occasion.