Center City Opera Theater

Tickets On Sale for LOVE/HATE

maestro — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 04:59:40 +0000

Don’t miss the music and libretto workshop for the new opera LOVE/HATE with music by Jack Perla, and libretto by Rob Bailis. Stage Direction by Albert Innaurato. For tickets click here!

“Paul’s Case” selected as “Best in Classical Music in 2009″ by Inquirer’s David Patrick Stearns

maestro — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:01:35 +0000

David Patrick Stearns at the Philadelphia Inquirer selected the first full workshop of the opera Paul’s Case for his classical music ten best list for 2009. Stearns praised its “solid dramatic timing, compassionate characterizations, and huge potential.” The opera by Gregory Spears based on a story by Willa Cather was presented in September by the Center City Opera Theater in our ConNEXTions: Next Generation of Opera initiative during the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The work is currently in development at American Opera Projects, having originated during AOP’s 2007-08 season of Composers & the Voice. For more information and to follow the work’s development go to www.operaprojects.org.

ConNEXTions 2009 ends a success!

maestro — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:47:07 +0000

Well, the weeks of preparation and hard work paid off with some very intriguing nights of opera. It is hard to imagine the joy of seeing an opera that you have worked to create over several years finally come alive onstage with an audience that is appreciative. We are proud of what we accomplished and proud of our singers and designers and all the people backstage that makes a show run. Four operas in three weeks is a very ambitious feat, and we succeeded. We want to thank those audience members who came to the shows, and we hope you will come back later this season to our other events and operas.

Hope to see you all at our next GET TO KNOW US event in November!

Technical work at the theater underway.

maestro — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:34:19 +0000

It has been a busy morning and afternoon at the St. Stephen’s Theater (home of the Lantern Theater Co.) with my team of theater technictions making their magic. It has been a day of hanging and focusing lights, dealing with theatrical softgoods (cycs, scrims, blackouts), and the projection system which is a key element of Darkling. Now the hard part — writing the many lighting cues for the shows with the directors. We are in the middle of cues for show 2 of 4! We expect to be at the theater until nearly midnight! Then tomorrow dress rehearsals begin! It is a very exciting process.

Rehearsal Underway for Darkling, Paul’s Case, The Great Blondin

maestro — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:08:12 +0000

We wasted no time after the successful Saturday night performance in Princeton of The Always Present Present. Sunday afternoon the first music rehearsals for Darkling were held in New York City at the home of American Opera Projects. Darkling is being presented with the support of AOP, who developed the show and presented its world premiere in 2007. Then came Monday and music rehearsal began in Philadelphia for Paul’s Case and The Great Blondin. Hard to believe that it is now the end of Wednesday rehearsals and Paul’s Case & Darkling have begun staging! The orchestra for Darkling also rehearsal tonight. This is such a fast process, but it is only possible with a talented team of designers, directors, singers, coaches and stage management!

Successful debut of The Always Present Present

maestro — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:58:29 +0000

The Always Present Present enjoyed the first performance of its world premiere run at Princeton University in the Matthews Studio on Saturday night. With a full house, the show was very successful. Great energy. Great Show~! I think this show will have a long successful life and a great chamber work.

The Dancers and String Players Arrive…

maestro — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:20:26 +0000

It is amazing the color and nuance when you add the string players into the orchestra. The color we are finding with the two great singers Jason Switzer and Darlene Kelsey is amazing. Glenn Fischbach (cellist) and Jennifer K. Lee (violinist) joins our amazing pianist and coach Jody Schum for the most solid sounding piano trio we have ever enjoyed with this piece from the earliest workshop days. The afternoon’s rehearsal really was remarkable. Our director Farin Loeb is working remarkably quickly and efficiently, having completely sketched out the entire opera. Then, when the dancers began creating on their choreography this evening it was so exciting. I really can’t wait for tomorrow’s rehearsal when finally all artistic pieces come together. We are just a day away from adding the lighting and projections, which will complete this piece. Don’t miss the Princeton University performance at 185 Nassau on Saturday night… August 29… or one of the three performances during the Philly Fringe in September!

The first rehearsal of The Always Present Present…

maestro — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:24:59 +0000

Tonight was our first musical rehearsal of Peter Westergaard’s The Always Present Present, with a libretto by Renée Weiss, based on the book of poetry which she wrote with her husband Ted as a 60th Wedding Anniversary to each other. The book also includes many of the letters he wrote during their courtship in 1939 and 1940. It was exciting to hear sung what is now the final version of this operatic multi-media work which was first commissioned by the Center City Opera Theater is 2007, and went through a series of workshops and public readings in 2008. I am grateful for the advice given by Rhoda Levine, who served as the dramatic advisor, and the audience members. Tonight’s rehearsals went very well, and I look forward to incorporating the dialogue tomorrow, and the piano trio and dancers on Wednesday!