Pictured are shots from my rehearsal this week for my debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on this coming Valentines Day. The production is entitled ‘My Family Valentine,’ and is a performance reaching out to families and the younger generations, in an attempt to heighten interest in classical music. This is accomplished by presenting well known and loved symphonic works, including pieces by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Strauss, and more. To tie these beautiful works together there is an adaptation of the love story between Papagano and Papagana from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. I play Papagano in this production, and Soprano Allison Mion is my Papagana. We have been hard at work to put this production together, but this was the first rehearsal of the preparation process in which we were able to work in the Atlanta Symphony Hall. (Located in Woodruff Arts Center) [http://www.atlantasymphony.org/] It was also our first opportunity to work with Joseph Young, the director of the program and the assistant conductor/ youth orchestra music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. (http://www.josephfyoung.com/) This program is one of the first in an exciting amalgamation between the ASO and the Alliance Theater, and it is a very exciting process seeing these great companies coming together. (http://alliancetheatre.org/) All of the production cast could not be more excited about this program, and we hope to see you all there! Tickets are still available and can be found at the link provided below!
http://www.atlantasymphony.org/ConcertsAndTickets/Calendar/2014-2015/My-Family-Valentine.aspx
I also did a recording session with pianist extraordinaire Grant Jones and production expert Daniel Solberg of DSol productions (http://danielsolberg.com/) last night. I did several arias from my operatic repertoire, and I can’t wait to see how they turned out. Video and audio will be posted soon, keep your eyes and ears open!
