The Guardian takes on "The Little Pavarotti"

Vittorio Grigolo is no doubt one of the hottest (and Hottest) singers on the international scene right now.  The Guardian chronicles his arrival at opera-stardom.

Vittorio Grigolo: 'Opera is just like boxing or Formula 1. It's dangerous."

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Last Call: Opera Tasting 2011: Pouring out from the Heavens

Photo from OT 2010

Like your Puccini with hints of smoky etherealness, bouquets of strawberry and oak, or aromas of earth and tobacco? Then come and taste your opera while enjoying lashings of wine at Opera Tasting 2011: Pouring out from the Heavens on Saturday, September 17, at Minnesota Opera Center.

What is Opera Tasting chair Megan Pelka most looking forward to?  "I'm definitely psyched for the season preview - while we all know what is being performed it will be fascinating to hear about the details of the production as well as costumes and scenery. And of course, performances from the Minnesota Opera Resident Artists. There are new singers this season and I'm looking forward to hearing their voices and getting to know them!"

A five course wine tasting courtesy of Solo Vino with delicious pairings from Toast Wine Bar & Café accompany your main dish - Minnesota Opera’s Resident Artists - as they swoon you, with a little Italian on the side. Indulge your taste buds on cadenzas, cabalettas, and arias by opera’s greatest composers as you preview Minnesota Opera’s 2011-2012 season. Wear decadent glam to fit in with our theme of Pouring out from the Heavens: Garden Party under the Stars.

Tickets are $50 for Tempo members; $75 for non-members.

Purchase your tickets by calling the Minnesota Opera Ticket Office at 612-333-6669.

Opera Tasting 2011 Sponsors

Food and Beverage Sponsors: Solo Vino, Toast Wine Bar and Café
Media sponsor: l’étoile and CityPages

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Sustain your Passion: Give to MN Opera

As do all young professionals, Tempo members and friends understand the importance of philanthropy.

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." ~Winston Churchill

Minnesota Opera is offering exclusive incentives for Tempo members who become sustaining donors to the Annual Fund.  Sustaining donors provide Minnesota Opera with a reliable revenue stream, which is vital to the company’s current and future success.  Donors receive exclusive benefits and behind-the-scenes experiences (visit mnopera.org/DonorBenefits for a current list of benefits).

Sign up online at mnopera.org/SustainingGiving or call 612-342-9569 to enroll by phone.  Join at the $5 a month level (or a $60 one-time gift) by Friday, September 16, and we will send you one Ordway drink/dessert voucher.  Sign up for $10 or more a month (or a $120+ one-time gift) and you will receive two Ordway drink/dessert vouchers.  These vouchers are in addition to the existing donor benefits, found at the link above. Every gift makes a difference.

Make your life by sustaining your passion.  Give to Minnesota Opera today.  Help continue the programs that make your life rich with music and art.

http://www.mnopera.org/SustainingGiving

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Reminder: Opera Tasting 2011: Pouring out from the Heavens

Opera Tasting 2011 Chair, Megan Pelka, and her date
at the 2010 Opera Tasting

Opera Tasting 2011: Pouring out from the Heavens is coming up on Saturday, September 17, at Minnesota Opera Center.

Opera Tasting Chair and Tempo board member, Megan Pelka describes the event:  "Dress in your best cocktail and be ready to pose for pictures! Solo Vino has been very generous and is providing delicious wine for the evening. Toast Wine Bar & Cafe will be serving up hors d'oeurves perfectly paired with the wines.This is a great opportunity to network with professionals and supporters of the Minnesota Opera."

Tickets are $50 for Tempo members; $75 for non-members.

Purchase your tickets by calling the Minnesota Opera Ticket Office at 612-333-6669.

Opera Tasting 2011 Sponsors

Food and Beverage Sponsors: Solo Vino, Toast Wine Bar and Café
Media sponsor: l’étoile and CityPages

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Save the Date: Opening Night of Così fan tutte + Cast Party

Bring your date (or two) for a little lover’s switcheroo following the opening night of Mozart’s masterpiece, Così fan tutte. Tempo members and their invitees simply show their opening-night tickets for access to this exclusive cast party.

The evening’s specialty cocktails, Mozartini and Love Potion #9, are guaranteed to wash away your inhibitions with fellow party-goers, the cast of Cosi. Sakura is your oyster, where our aphrodisiac-laden dessert selection melts in your mouth. Don’t miss this evening of formal folly: Black tie admired, but not required.

Join us at Sakura for Tempo's Opening Night Cast Party after Così fan tutte

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Win a Tempo Membership with Two Tickets to the entire MN Opera 2011-2012 Season

On Saturday, September 17, Tempo members and friends will attend Opera Tasting 2011: Pouring out from the Heavens. If YOU were to create your own “opera tasting,” what would it sound like?

In the comment section below, create your own season of 3-operas, listing who would direct each opera (John Waters? Hideo Nakata?) and a theme for the setting of each opera.  Be creative and feel free to list as much detail as you would like!

Ex. 1. Hideo Nakata directs La Traviata set in a Burmese brothel; 2. Jean-Pierre Jeunet directs Tristan und Isolde set in Cinderella's Castle in Disneyland Paris; and 3. John Waters directs The Girl of the Golden West set in a moon-colony. 

Get your friends to participate too! If we receive ten entries, we will draw one winner for a FREE Tempo membership with two opening night tickets for each opera in the 2011-2012 Minnesota Opera season.

Each individual may only enter once by creating their opera season in the comment section, below.  After you have commented, you must also email your answer with your contact information to tempo@mnopera.org. Only entries that are both commented on in the Tempo blog and emailed to Tempo will be eligible for the drawing.  Participants must be 21-39 years of age to enter.

The contest begins TODAY and will end on Monday, September 12, 2011. The winning entry will be randomly selected and presented at Opera Tasting on Saturday September 17. You need not attend Opera Tasting on September 17, 2011 in order to win.

Ready? Set? GO OPERA!

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Radio Broadcast: Das Rheingold from San Francisco Opera

Das Rheingold, photo from www.sfopera.com

Radio Broadcast: Das Rheingold, Sunday, September 4, 10pm CST/8pm PST.


Tune in to KDFC to hear Das Rheingold, the first installment in Wagner's epic masterpiece, The Ring of the Nibelung.


The broadcast features Mark Delavan, Stefan Margita, Gordon Hawkins, Elizabeth Bishop, Ronnita Miller, David Cangelosi, Andrea Silvestrelli, Daniel Sumegi, Brandon Jovanovich, Gerd Grochowski, Melissa Citro, Stacey Tappan, Lauren McNeese and Renée Tatum; conducted by Donald Runnicles.


The broadcast was recorded in summer 2011 as the first installment of San Francisco Opera's acclaimed presentation of The Ring of the Nibelung. The broadcast will be hosted by Dianne Nicolini.


Tune in to kdfc.com. For more information on San Francisco Opera radio broadcasts, visit sfopera.com/broadcast.

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How to Survive Your First Opera: A Guide

The auditorium of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York Photograph: Archive Holdings Inc./Getty Images

The Guardian.co.uk recently published a first-timer's guide to opera:  How to Survive your First Opera.

"Are you an opera virgin? We suggest how and where to make your own operatic debut. You can even go in jeans …"

Tempo is wild for first timers - we would love to introduce you to opera, the MN Opera community, and the fun that all young professionals have at Tempo!

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Suffering from a lack of opera?

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Get your tickets for Opera Tasting 2011: Pouring out from the Heavens!

Like your Puccini with hints of smoky etherealness, bouquets of strawberry and oak, or aromas of earth and tobacco? Then come and taste your opera while enjoying lashings of wine at Opera Tasting 2011: Pouring out from the Heavens on Saturday, September 17, at Minnesota Opera Center.

A five course wine tasting courtesy of Solo Vino with delicious pairings from Toast Wine Bar & Café accompany your main dish - Minnesota Opera’s Resident Artists - as they swoon you, with a little Italian on the side. Indulge your taste buds on cadenzas, cabalettas, and arias by opera’s greatest composers as you preview Minnesota Opera’s 2011-2012 season. Wear decadent glam to fit in with our theme of Pouring out from the Heavens: Garden Party under the Stars.


Tickets are $50 for Tempo members; $75 for non-members.

Purchase your tickets by calling the Minnesota Opera Ticket Office at 612-333-6669.

Opera Tasting 2011 Sponsors

Food and Beverage Sponsors: Solo Vino, Toast Wine Bar and Café
Media sponsor: l’étoile and CityPages

Read more...