Seasons Greetings from Bradley Vernatter

 

A Note from Bradley Vernatter

Each year as we gather with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season, I am reminded of the extraordinary people I am privileged to meet through my work at Boston Lyric Opera. This year I was able to make new, lasting connections through our educational partnership programs and our work in our Fort Point Arts Neighborhood. 

In the fall, we launched the Opera Innovators Series, a new educational and artist development partnership with Boston Conservatory at Berklee voice and opera programs. This partnership fulfills our Company goals and unlocks incredible opportunities for the next generation of opera artists - BLO's Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artists and PCP students. 

I saw that come to life last week with soprano Karen Slack's terrific master class presentation. Seeing her support these young singers in their artistic development was a treat. Up next for the series, I can't wait to welcome BLO Artistic Advisor Nina Yoshida Nelson and Anne Bogart, visionary director of BLO's 2019 The Handmaid's Tale, whose work you will see again for our upcoming production of Bluebeard's Castle/Four Songs.

Pictured from left to right: Brett Hodgdon, Pianist (BCB Faculty; BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist Alumnus), 

Julia Janowski, Mezzo-Soprano (BCB '24), Fred C. VanNess Jr., Tenor (Jane & Steven Emerging Artist),

Kayla Kovaks, Soprano (BCB '24), Laura Santamaria-Mendez, Soprano (BCB '23), Karen Slack, Soprano,

Jamila Drecker-Waxman, Soprano (BCB '23)

Our programming in the Fort Point Arts Neighborhood has also brought new relationships, like the many artists and operagoers I met at the Fort Point Open Studios in the fall. When BLO relocated to Midway Artist Studios, we joined an established group of creative people who have made this rapidly growing area friendly and affordable for artists. Good things happen in places where the arts thrive. I see that here, and it inspires me to continue working with our partners to make arts and cultural spaces that strengthen our community.

Of course, my most rewarding connection is with you, our audiences, and the champions of BLO. I am so thankful for the support we receive, and so are the many artists we work with each year. Thank you for being a vital part of making opera and contributing to a strong arts community in Boston.

From all of us at Boston Lyric Opera, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a very Happy New Year.

Wish warm wishes-and gratitude,

Brad

Bradley Vernatter

Stanford Calderwood General Director & Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile of Rossini's original score

We've certainly had Rossini on the brain recently and our Music Director David Angus was perusing this facsimile of Rossini's original score. Take a look!

ROSSINIANA #26

HAPPY OPENING NIGHT, ROSSINI!

... and so we come to the end of our tour through the wacky world of Rossini ... now check him out LIVE at the Shubert Theatre ... and you'll see on stage a pretty big version of the portrait above as the Grand Maestro himself quizzically looks out over his witty and melodious masterpiece.

 ... and since we've seen and heard a number of manic and crazed versions of Rossini in the past weeks I thought we might end on a quieter note.

ROSSINIANA #25

I guess it was inevitable ... you really couldn't in the end celebrate Rossini without the inclusion at least one iteration of this (in)famous duet (to say nothing of two). And just to complete the Rossinian game playing it probably isn't by Rossini  after all.

        

        

But hold on ... we're almost at the end ... BARBER opens tomorrow.

Announcing the 2012/13 Season!

Check out our 2012/13 Season! 

ROSSINIANA #20

Gourmet Rossini--a fine slice of echt Italian ham with a side order of tasty pickled herring followed by (and hoping this metaphor doesn't totally collapse under the strain) a nice piece of  NY cheesecake.

Pavarotti

 

Jussi Bjoerling

 

     

John Raitt

ROSSINIANA #19

I don't know ... I just kind of liked these guys ... they were having fun ...
and they seem to be from Boston ... 

ROSSINIANA #18

Some REALLY SERIOUS opera singers (Hotter sang Wagnerian heavies such as Wotan and the Flying Dutchman ... Warren was famous for malevolent operatic villains such as Iago and Scarpia) getting in touch with their inner Rossianian ham. (I think Warren ... here at least ... even looks a little like Rossini).

ROSSINIANA #17

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSSINI 

... why does the fact that your birthday falls on a Leap Year seem so appropriate and fitting? You are probably the MOST FAMOUS Leap Year guy ever (the only other contenders I could dig up were an odd group--Dinah Shore, Jimmy Dorsey, Michele Morgan, Balthus and the coloratura soprano Reri Grist-- incidentally she sang a mean Rosina in her day). 

Well, here's a special serenade delivered by one of the few remaining descendants of that turkey you so tragically dumped into Lake Como many years ago (for those of you to whom this is  a puzzling reference look back at ROSSINIANA #2). BLO wishes you many happy returns and hopes to see you at the BARBER opening in a few days.

ROSSINIANA #16

David Angus ... watch out!

ROSSINIANA #15

hey ... man ... REAL cool ...

ROSSINIANA #14

hey ... man ... cool ...

ROSSINIANA #13

"I know of no more admirable occupation than eating"

                                       Rossini

"Caruso can have his spaghetti with chicken livers, Nellie Melba her toast and peaches. When it comes to Rossini it's all truffles, foie gras and Madeira sauce. Tournedos Rossini, perhaps the most famous of the dishes identified with him, consists of a filet mignon sauteed in butter, then placed on a crouton, also sauteed in butter. This assembly is topped with foie gras and truffles and anointed with a rich Madeira sauce. This recipe was one that Rossini is reputedly said to have suggested to the chef at the Cafe Anglais, the Le Cirque of the Second Empire. The name supposedly came about like this: the maitre d'hotel prepared this dish at tableside but with his back to the other customers so that they would not witness its excesses ... thus the French phrase--"tourner le dos"--became tournedos."

                                        Florence Fabricant (New York Times food editor) 

"We are unwell. It is from eating too much. The Maestro and I live to eat ... I am the fat woman who is occupied from morning to evening in digesting.

                                        Olympe (Rossini's wife writing to a friend)

"Appetite is for the stomach what love is for the heart ... The stomach is the conductor who rules the grand orchestra of our passion ... Eating, loving, singing, and digesting are, in truth, the four acts of the comic opera known as life."

                                         Rossini

Classic Tournedos Rossini

ROSSINIANA #12

OK, now it's the LOOK that's a bit bizarre but ... what singing! Rossini in his grandest opera mode (plus a little visit with one of the famous divas).

ROSSINIANA #11

... and speaking of bizarre ...

 

ROSSINIANA #10

A famously bizarre cartoon by Tex Avery from 1952. After its release, it was sometimes censored--the Chinese and black face bits edited out. But it was also selected in 1993  for preservation in the Library of Congress's National Film registry as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." Apologies for the poor visual quality of this clip ... but you get the idea.

ROSSINIANA #9

One piano--six hands

ROSSINIANA #8

Sir Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame) visited Rossini one morning. When he entered the house, Rossini was feverishly working on a piece of music. Sullivan asked, "Why, what is that?" Rossini answered him most seriously, "It's my dog's birthday and I write a little piece for him each year."

ROSSINIANA #7

Figaro on ice

ROSSINIANA #6

This may, in the end, be the most famous performance of Figaro ever.