Opening Night
Our opening night was last Saturday and it was everything that one hopes it will be.
I've heard some of our patrons say that they when the run of the opera is long (in this case 13 performances) they prefer to go to a later show, once the singers have settled in. They feel that it will be more polished. That is one way of looking at, but I think you also miss the electricity of an opening night performance. There is a certain extra energy exuded when one knows that it is the first time with a live audience. Also there is a risk that later in the run, performances can become a little stale.
In any case I think that both are valid experiences. Our Saturday night performance (La bohème) had the benefit of being well-rehearsed (we typically rehearse more than most regional companies) and yet there was an electricity. The audience repsonded in kind.
For me it was my first time in working on a production from the other side of the foolights. I have to admit (and believe I've said as much here) that it is a bittersweet experience. In this case, I covered Rodolfo and performed in the chorus of a previous production with this company. I miss that experience and frankly don't find my new one as fulfilling. On the other hand I do get a thrill in knowing that I'm helping to make an environment for other artists to thrive.
Some of my colleagues have congratulated me because many of our houses are all ready sold-out. But I think it was Puccini, the singers, a great conductor and production that did that. I just needed to help make sure that the right people knew it was happening. They did and continue to (tickets are selling well). Ultimately it is the quality of the performance that keeps them buying tickets. Nothing is easier to sell than a great product.
I've heard some of our patrons say that they when the run of the opera is long (in this case 13 performances) they prefer to go to a later show, once the singers have settled in. They feel that it will be more polished. That is one way of looking at, but I think you also miss the electricity of an opening night performance. There is a certain extra energy exuded when one knows that it is the first time with a live audience. Also there is a risk that later in the run, performances can become a little stale.
In any case I think that both are valid experiences. Our Saturday night performance (La bohème) had the benefit of being well-rehearsed (we typically rehearse more than most regional companies) and yet there was an electricity. The audience repsonded in kind.
For me it was my first time in working on a production from the other side of the foolights. I have to admit (and believe I've said as much here) that it is a bittersweet experience. In this case, I covered Rodolfo and performed in the chorus of a previous production with this company. I miss that experience and frankly don't find my new one as fulfilling. On the other hand I do get a thrill in knowing that I'm helping to make an environment for other artists to thrive.
Some of my colleagues have congratulated me because many of our houses are all ready sold-out. But I think it was Puccini, the singers, a great conductor and production that did that. I just needed to help make sure that the right people knew it was happening. They did and continue to (tickets are selling well). Ultimately it is the quality of the performance that keeps them buying tickets. Nothing is easier to sell than a great product.
posted by Rich Russell at
11:15 PM
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