In the Clear to Jeer? When is Booing ok?

The New York Times offers an insightful history of booing at the opera and, in turn, questions whether this tradition transcends all of performance art:  Checkout Theater Talkback: Is It Fair to Jeer?

"Booing hit its stride in the 19th century, when opera was part circus, part blood sport. Staging conventions called for curtain calls after each act, and even the continuity-shattering practice of having singers bow following their arias. Booing, like cheering, was a passionate comment on star performers."

Rolando Villazon, Director of the only
production your Blogger-in-Chief
has ever booed.

I, your Blogger-in-Chief (BLOTUS), was "inspired" to boo at only one of the 80 or so productions I have seen - and many were indeed horrible.  This one, however, took the cake:  Rolando Villazon's directorial debut with Werther at the Lyon Opera House was so incoherent and lacking in sense that I jeered the famous tenor-turned-director when he stepped out for a bow.  


Although I was the only one with the courage (and conviction) to boo that night, I was vindicated in reading the review in Financial Times:  "What we get is a garish conceptual production – anti-realistic, anti-romantic, over-stylised – in which Schmidt and Johann are transformed into vulgar circus clowns and various characters spend time in a birdcage."

What do you think, Tempo-peeps?  Have you ever booed at an opera?  Leave your comments below!

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Opera singer Susanne Mentzer takes on America's Got Talent!

Mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer takes on America's Got Talent in a guest post for Huffpost Arts.

"When did operatic singing become something that needs to be souped-up or dumbed-down? Ok, not everyone has been exposed. I would like to add a little perspective on what it is like to make an operatic sound.

Let's just say, for starters, that one is born with this type of instrument. This is not enough. Opera singing is an athletic endeavor.

Just as an athlete is trained, we are trained in the technique of propelling a sound into a large space -- sometimes 3500-4000 seats. Many assume we are amplified. No mic. No net."

Read the full article at Huffington Post.


Be sure to also checkout Ms. Mentzer's athletic endeavor in action (a.k.a. mad vocal skills):

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Tempo to Super Spectacular!: To Opera with Love

Join your fellow Tempo members at Minnesota Fringe for Super Spectacular!:  To Opera with Love, a performance by The Donovan Ensemble.

When:  Thursday, August 11 · 8:30pm - 11:30pm


Where:  Augsburg Main Stage

2211 Riverside Ave

Minneapolis, MN


After the performance, Tempo members will gather for discussion and drinks at Moto-i with members of the Crescendo Project. (Moto-i is located at 2940 Lyndale Avenue.)

A has-been/never-was actor and his sidekick reinvent classic operas including "La Boheme", "Madama Butterfly" and "Carmen" by injecting Puccini, Guns N' Roses, Taylor Swift and more.


This 60 minute comedy just completed a hit run at the Kansas City Fringe Festival this July where it won "Best of the Fringe" and was called, “A very funny show,” by The Kansas City Star and, “a joyous romp that will have you smiling and singing long after you leave the theatre.”by KCMetropolis.org.


For more information, checkout Minnesota Fringe's website.

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10 Questions with Colton Michael Carothers

Meet Colton Michael Carothers, Tempo Board of Directors

Colton at La Scala in October 2010.

1. What’s your sign?

Virgo: “perfect is almost good enough.”

2. Favorite opera?
Very hard to pick. But these stand out as marvels: Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Puccini’s La fanciulla del West, Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer and Die Walküre, and Weinberg’s The Portrait.

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
I’m just starting out as a lawyer and am going to love it. Should I ever want to switch things up, I’ll try something simpler, like Ambassador to France, or General Director of the Metropolitan Opera or Opéra National de Paris. 

4. What is your favorite dessert? 

Coconut milk sticky rice with mango. Or macarons. Yumm… 

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?

Never stop. Period.

6. What is your favorite holiday? 

7. What was your first opera?
Verdi’s Attila in Rome.

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?
Have you seen The Last Unicorn? 

9. Are you a morning or night person?
I’m early to bed and late to rise; I’m at my prime during happy hour over cocktails (The Lawyer from Philadelphia at La Belle Vie, please). 

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?
Watching The Muppet Christmas Carol, over and over and over again…while opening presents.

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Money Ain’t a Thang: Save some Dough with YFO

OPERA America and many participating organizations are pleased to invite Tempo members to Young Friends of Opera! This North American initiative seeks to increase the opportunities for young professionals to see and hear opera. As a part of Young Friends of Opera (YFO), Tempo members enjoy special ticket offers, and have the opportunity to attend networking events in cities across the U.S. and Canada. To learn more and to view the various program offerings, go to operaamerica.org.

Admission/purchase restrictions are different with each participating organization, so please contact the company you are visiting prior to making your ticket purchases. Please remember that all ticket offers and discounts are available at the discretion of the participating company.

Participating companies include: 

The Atlanta Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Central City Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, The Dallas Opera, Edmonton Opera, El Paso Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Michigan Opera Theatre, Minnesota Opera, Mobile Opera, New York City Opera, Opera Carolina, Opera Cleveland, Opera Memphis, Opera San José, Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Palm Beach Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, The Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Virginia Opera, and Washington National Opera.

Be sure to check out the June 2011 Young Friends of Opera E-Newsletter:  June 2011 YFO E-Newsletter

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Like your Opera with a side of O negative?

Johannes Simon/Getty Images

Can’t get enough True Blood?  Go to the opera!  NPR has Five Operas that are truly Bloodier than True Blood.

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10 Questions with Carolina Lamas

Meet Carolina Lamas, Tempo Board of Directors 

1. What’s your sign?  

Sagittarius               

2. Favorite opera?  

Carmen

3. If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?   

I would love to be a singer, cosmetologist or personal trainer instead of a lawyer.

4. What is your favorite dessert?   

Bread pudding

5. If you had to describe yourself using three words, what would they be?  

Extroverted, Honest, Passionate

6. What is your favorite holiday?   

Christmas

7. What was your first opera?  

Either Carmen or Madame Butterfly

8. If they made a movie of your life, what would it be about and which actor would you want to play you?   

About self-discovery played by Mila Kunis

9. Are you a morning or night person? 

Either – just not an afternoon person

10. What’s your favorite thing to do in the winter?  

Ski.  I love winter.

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