Oh My Memphis #2

After selling out our first Die Fledermuas here at Memphis Opera, we have only 100+ seats left for our last performance.

To come back "home" to Memphis and find so much incredible love and caring, one can only become a happy artist. Ms. Worra and I have found ourselves in many operas over the years. From Merry Widow, Carmen, to Carnegie and once again back into Die Fledermuas. It's my pleasure to say that she sings the crap out of Rosalinda, and is the friend from the past that has observed my many transformations. Real people make real colleagues.

I will always remember Caroline walking down the center isle of the bus during the SFO Western Opera Theatre Die Fledermaus tour with a make-shift Card-earned Crown. Woe to thee that might find her with a deck or two of cards and the word NERTS on her tongue. You have been warned. She shared an isle with me for nearly 30+ performances of Die Fledermaus. I'm lucky to sing with her again. She will beat you at cards. She might let you win.

Some great reviews:

Memphis Flyer

Commercial appeal

I know the audience will have a grand experience.

Photographer Sean Davis

Photographer Sean Davis

Pictures from Memphis!

We opened to a sold-out crowd tonight! Thank you Memphis. I'd love to share some pictures!

Welcome to TennesseeThe Peabody Ducks

Mr. Handy's Blues HallThis needs little descriptionSometimes jobs overlapA great night with the Memphis Roller Derby crew!One must stop at the Germantown CommissaryThe Germantown Performing Arts Complex on the first day.
The Clark Opera Memphis Center.Rosalinda, Eisenstein and Alfred (me).Frosh, Frank, Adele and SallyOne of the trains coming straight through town.A backstage pic taken during act two. Thank you Memphis

Oh My Memphis!!

I've been invited back to one of my "hometown" cities. Opera Memphis has invited me back to what was once my home.

I lived in Memphis for quite a few years while globe-trotting as a singer and opening a successful yoga studio, and it's amazing to go through the town while seeing my old haunts and connecting with friends that have been, until this month, geographically unavailable. The experience of being back is reminiscent to rereading a favorite book that has been on the shelf for years.

When Michael Ching was running Opera Memphis, he was commissioned by the University of Missouri (MU) to write Corps of Discovery, a beautiful Opera/Theatre piece based on the journey of Lewis and Clark that traveled to the Kennedy Center, Monticello, Constitution Hall and Carnegie Hall's Weil Recital Hall. Through this, Michael and I created a friendship that continues to this day. Through that relationship, my first professional La Bohème was created in the beautiful Clark Opera Memphis Center here in Memphis, Tennessee . The years after included Memphis performances of Corps of Discovery, The Merry Widow and John Hoomes beautiful Rigoletto which we remounted at Nashville Opera in 2010.Rigoletto at Opera Memphis and Nashville Opera

So here I am, back in a town in which I've owned a home, cultivated a circle of friends, built a business from nothing and turned a page on my life. I've only been in town for a few days, but I find myself walking through the local Whole Foods, or driving down the street expecting to see an old friend or past yoga client. This city holds some fine old ghosts in my mind, and I can't wait to see them all again.Our Fledermaus group is top notch. Caroline Worra (Rosalinda) and I have known each other for many years. We were both students at MU years ago and lost touch until reunited by San Francisco Opera's Merola Program and their Western Opera Theatre North American tour. What show did we perform? Die Fledermaus. To make the reunion even more cathartic... our Memphis conductor is the amazing Steven Osgood who was our musical leader through the entire North American San Francisco Opera tour.

While I'm just getting to know the rest of the cast, I assure you that Ned Canty, Opera Memphis' new General Director, has assembled a fantastic cast and chorus that sound fantastic.

I'll keep you posted, but being kinda home is weird, wonderful and comforting. I can't wait to see what we create and I'll keep you posted on the BBQ adventures as I come back home.

R

Boheme Live-Stream with OperaMission.org

Hi all!

I'll be joining OperaMission for their Assembly Required series. Please join us!!

• Cast members from — La Scala, the Met, the old New York City Opera, Teatro Colon, Glimmerglass, and all over

• Full orchestra, unrehearsed, assembled on the spot

• Hosted by — conductor Jennifer Peterson, directors Eric Einhorn (I), Jonathon Field (II, III), Marc Verzatt (IV), dramaturg Cori Ellison

• Audience encouraged to interact digitally

• Live videostreaming via Ustream

Act II – Sunday, August 21, 7-10pm

CAST: Roseanne Ackerley, Sharin Apostolou, Ryan MacPherson, Kenneth Overton, Michael Weyandt, Cory Clines, Ryan Allen

HOSTS: Jennifer Peterson, Jonathon Field, Cori Ellison

Act III – Tuesday, August 23, 7-10pm

CAST: Kerri Marcinko, Caroline Worra, Ryan MacPherson, James Bobick

HOSTS: Jennifer Peterson, Jonathon Field, Cori Ellison

Act IV – Sunday, August 28, 7-10pm

CAST: Kerri Marcinko, Caroline Worra, Ryan MacPherson, Gregory Gerbrandt, Michael Weyandt, Kevin Burdette

HOSTS: Jennifer Peterson, Marc Verzatt, Cori Ellison

Click to view the press release, the postcard, and the program.

From Verdi to Barber

Greetings from Vienna!

After a Sunday Matinee of La Traviata in Tampa I went straigt to the airport to head out for Vienna!

I'm excited to reprise a role that I performed back in 2007 at NYCO with Kathy Goeldner, Lauren Flannigin, Richard Stillwell and the great Rosalind Elias. This Friday might be the first time this opera has been performed here in Austia since the 50's! So what else could I say? Yes! Yes! The Ochestra and the chorus sound amazing. I feel very blessed already.

inside the ORF Studios

My cohorts for this adventure are the lovely Joyce Castel, Kathy Goeldner, Carlotta Larsson and Johannes Mannov. We're preforming at the Wiener Konzerthaus this Friday the 6th. There will also be a radio broadcast the next day! that link can be fould here: http://oe1.orf.at/programm/273971

Please come, or try to tune in to the broadcast! It is a fantastic powerful piece of music.