Spring Gala to Benefit Young American Artists Program

Photo: Peyton LeaOur Spring Gala will be here before we know it. Didn’t March go by quickly? On April 27, Glimmerglass Opera will host its 2010 Gala at The Metropolitan Club in NYC, at which we will honor award-winning filmmaker James Ivory.

The evening is themed “Fireworks!” and will feature ”vocal pyrotechnics” by Anthony Roth Costanzo, the countertenor seen as Francis in Ivory’s film A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries (which we blogged about previously) and featured on the soundtrack of Ivory’s The City of Your Final Destination, set for theatrical release April 16. The evening will benefit our Young American Artists Program.

Here’s a quick nod to theatremania.com, which was the first site to publish today’s official announcement about the gala. Here’s the press release (PDF). The formal invitation may be viewed here (PDF).

Where Should I Be Now?

Josh using a baseball bat to point something out on the calendar

Josh using a baseball bat to point something out on the calendar

Don’t you sometimes wish you had your own personal assistant to tell you where to be and when? Well, we kind of have that during the summer at Glimmerglass Opera. We have a lot going on, and for all of it we have a schedule that tells everyone where to be and when.  A lot of work goes into preparing this schedule, or what we refer to as the master calendar. The master calendar is just that – the master of all schedules. If it’s not on the master calendar, chances are it’s not happening. Everything from off-site rehearsals to recitals, onstage rehearsals and the Guild Eat & Greet event is on this calendar. It’s the who, what, when, why and where of Glimmerglass Opera’s summer.

When creating this calendar, the staff needs to schedule rehearsals for all four shows, assuring they don’t schedule one person to be in two places at once. Coachings for the Young American Artists are also scheduled, along with each of their recitals. The schedule also considers meal times for the Young American Artists. Load-ins and load-outs of scenery and lighting focuses are included. It even provides the music staff with the schedule of who is doing which pre-opera talk.

From this master, the seasonal scheduling manager creates daily schedules: rehearsals, where, for how long, who’s in them, etc. These are posted around campus, sent out via e-mail and recorded onto our scheduling hotline. There is no excuse for not knowing where you are supposed to be during the summer.

Creating the master calendar is a harrowing, time-consuming project. The production and artistic departments are in the editing phases now.

A draft of the master calendar posted on the wall in the artistic department.

A draft of the master calendar posted on the wall in the artistic department.

Plotting 2010

Design Drawing for Tolomeo

Design Drawing for Tolomeo

When preparing for a production, the scenery designs go through many drafts. The design isn’t necessarily changing, but it is put into new formats appropriate for different parties. For example, Director of Production Abby recently received drawing designs from 2010 scenic designer Donald Eastman. These drawings will be sent in hard copy to our 2010 lighting designers, Robert Wierzel and Jeff Harris, and Bob, our technical director. The lighting designers will work on creating their lighting plots and figuring out whether there are any very specific lighting equipment needs. From these design drawings, Bob will figure out how we are going to build the 2010 scenery. He will later produce build drawings which will detail how to construct all the pieces, yet another step in the process. 

Abby prints the drawings on the plotter.

Abby prints the drawings on the plotter.

Design drawings for Tolomeo

Design drawings for Tolomeo

Francesca Zambello on WQXR Arts File

Francesca Zambello joined WQXR’s Arts File last week to discuss  her new position with Glimmerglass Opera. If you missed it, be sure to visit WQXR to hear Kerry Nolan discuss “the changing of the guard” with Zambello.

ArtsOtsego: County Arts Organizations Stick Together

June and I attended a quarterly ArtsOtsego meeting this morning at Orpheus Theatre’s Rowe House in Oneonta. Representatives from several arts organizations were in attendance, including those from Catskill Symphony Orchestra, Cooperstown Art Association, Catskill Choral Soceity, Oneonta Concert Association and Cherry Valley Artworks.

The group works to support, promote and nurture the arts in Otsego County. We hold professional development seminars (last meeting we had a session on marketing and public relations), and this forum makes it easier for the organizations to collaborate and partner on projects.

The organization normally receives funding from the county, which is distributed among member organizations via a specific formula. However, this past year the county had to make cuts to its budget across the board, including those funds that went to ArtsOtsego.

Now the group will be working to present an even more unified front to the county board with specifics as to how the arts contribute to tourism in this area.

I’m secretary of the group, so I’m off to transcribe my notes.

 

Francesca Zambello and Glimmerglass Opera

Francesca Zambello

Francesca Zambello

Francesca Zambello has been appointed General & Artistic Director of Glimmerglass Opera, commencing September 1.

Michael MacLeod will remain with us as General & Artistic Director through the 2010 Festival, which he planned. Ms. Zambello will plan the 2011 season.

Ms. Zambello directed Iphigénie en Tauride for Glimmerglass Opera in 1997. Another upstate New York tie – she graduated from Colgate University.

For her biography, visit Ms. Zambello’s website: http://www.francescazambello.com/

Trip to Utica

Tomorrow, June, Michael MacLeod and I are taking a day trip to Utica to visit Steve Merren, Vice President & General Manager at Nexstar Broadcasting. Michael will be interviewed regarding the 2010 Festival for future airing. I hope we don’t get lost.

Update: We did not get lost. My new Garmin assured this. Michael had a very good interview with WUTR’s Allyson Schmutter, which will likely air in June.