Back to home base

Where did the time in Houston go? It seems like I was posting from the first Das Rheingold rehearsals just the other day. But the dress rehearsal was last night, and I am back in Austin for a few weeks of teaching. Houston, we have a problem – there are almost … Continue Reading →

Toi X3, DC

In bocca al lupo, merde, Hals- und Beinbruch, and all possible superstitious wishes to the stellar artists of Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz program. Tonight they sing their Showcase at the Kennedy Center. And they don’t need good luck with their skills. I’m just offering it out of fondness. With y’all … Continue Reading →

The Rang Sackle

I’m settling in for a normal few weeks of teaching at UT: Italian classes, La bohème preparation, individual lessons. And also reviewing the score of Wagner’s Das Rheingold for my next project, the first installment of the Ring Cycle at the Houston Grand Opera. The company is tackling this seminal work for the … Continue Reading →

God that’s good

Dress rehearsal of Sweeney Todd! Everybody acquitted themselves well; now it’s time for an audience. Our small theater is being used ingeniously – chorus in the house, chorus in the balcony, murdered choristers descending into the orchestra pit. What a week it’s been, rehearsals every night and now performances Friday … Continue Reading →

Great week in DC

I’m winding up another wonderful week with the artists of the Domingo-Cafritz program at Washington National Opera. It’s a busy time at the house. While we worked on everything from Rosenkavalier to Traviata to Nozze di Figaro to Magic Flute (in a cool new English adaptation by Kelley Rourke, who’s … Continue Reading →