I realize that I have not posted in the last 10 days or so. There has been lots going on, unfortunately none of it good. Karen, the artistic director of the opera had a house fire on Feb 21 that left her without a habitable home and lucky to be alive. Her son Christian, who went to the third floor to rescue his mother, and Karen were plucked off the roof by the Philadelphia Fire Department. The fire was started by a neighbor’s chimney and did considerable damage to the house. Fortunately, there is insurance that will replace belongings and reconstruct the house. So all in all things could be worse.
Karen had decided to cancel the Philadelphia premier of Romeo e Guiletta in June because of a lack of funding to support it. The fire, I think made her glad that she had made that decision because now she is focused on getting her personal life back in order and some international events she is committed to.
At the end of March, the opera company will perform an original musical that Karen has written, Wild Things Whirligig, at the Rosenbach Musuem in Philadelphia. It is a musical that celebrate the stories of the children’s’ illustrator Maurice Sendak. In June the company is trying to organize several fund raising events to support Romeo e Guiletta’s production in Philadelphia next year. Details to follow
In July, the opera company will present a concert version (no orchestra, no costumes) of the new opera Iago at the Niagara International Chamber Music Festival in Ontario, Canada.
In August, the company will give a full performance of Iago in Citta della Pieve, in Italy during the 175th anniversary of the 175th anniversary of Teatro degli Avvaloranti.
So, it is not clear what useful part I can play in any of this. What the company really needs are some grants to support production locally of some of the work they have developed. So, I will look with Karen at funding sources and sharpen up my writing skills. Going forward, I am confident there will be meaningful work, so stay tuned.
