Talk To Us

Tell us what you think. Wolf Trap Opera Company's 2006 patron survey is now online. Our administrative intern developed the questionnaire, and she'll be compiling results and filing a report as part of an internship project for her Music and Public Policy major.

Click here to open the survey. Your comments may find your way back to us via email (wtoc@wolftrap.org), fax (703-255-1896) or snail mail (WTOC - Opera Survey, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna VA 22182).

Over The Hump!

Tomorrow is Hump Day! Seven weeks down, seven to go...

The Independence Day weekend is always tough. Maybe it's because we're at our busiest part of the summer - four projects in various stages of rehearsal at once. Or maybe we're just cranky because it seems everyone else is having cookouts at the beach. I think our low point was in 2003 when we resigned ourself to the fact that the orchestra music for Dardanus was simply not going to materialize in time, and literally started manufacturing all of the parts ourselves.

Care and Feeding of the Professional Voice

Otolaryngologist Jack Williams and voice therapist Susan Miller visited us on Thursday to offer an informative, fascinating, entertaining, occasionally sobering seminar on taking care of the singer's most precious possession. I learned quite a few things, and I've been working with singers for decades. With Jack and Susan's permission we made a video of the presentation, and the plan is to make portions of it available on the internet. Exactly how and when is still TBD, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's autumn before we have time to deal with it. But stay tuned.

Left-overs

When soliciting aria choices for last weekend's donor concert, I sent out an email to all of our singers. I received four replies almost immediately. And they were all from tenors. Prompt, responsive, thoughtful… TENORS! Who knew? (One of the mezzos reminded me that they were probably just all racing one another to claim their favorite arias.)

A few weeks ago I planned an early-Monday-morning run to an unnamed big-box warehouse store to pick up food for a company picnic. Our Orpheus stage managers volunteered to accompany me. (Shopping!! Woo-hoo!!) But, as luck would have it, we learned late the night before that the chorus had to be notified early on Monday about additional costume fittings. We walked into the store, and they immediately opened their cell phones and pulled out their clipboards. Only stage managers.... As I was capturing the moment, a large intimidating store manager threatened to confiscate my camera, for (who knew??) taking photos is verboten in his store. Maybe I looked like a spy for Sam's Club...

Ariel and Sponge Bob in the Library...

Rehearsals in full swing for Instant Opera! Performances this week at Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods. Field trip last night to the Comedy Spot in Arlington. Much more in my next post.