AMERICAN PREMIERE!!!

The Sarasota Youth Opera performed a concert on April 21, 2007, which included Far Over The Misty Mountains from The Hobbit (see my website to listen to this chorus). This, ladies and gentlemen, marks my American premiere and I can't think of a nicer bunch of people to do it than the folks in Sarasota. Thanks so much.

The Hobbit in Sarasota

Well, it's official - Sarasota Opera in Florida will produce a brand new production of The Hobbit in May 2008. The Hobbit was commissioned by the Canadian Children's Opera Chorus in Toronto in 2004, but the rights were immediately locked up due to the Toronto mega-musical "The Lord of the Rings". Karl Hesser at Sarasota and myself remained commited, though, and in the fall of 2006, Tolkien Enterprises granted us permission. Not only that, the opera company has commissioned an orchestration for the work so in many ways it will feel like a premiere all over again.
I'll really looking forward to heading down to Florida on a few occasions and being more involved in the production.

Grimm hits 250!!!

Well, the Calgary tour of Grimm wrapped up on April 6 and from all accounts it was a tremendous success. I hear that it went over particularly well in parts of rural Alberta where they had previously had no exposure to opera. That's what I like to hear. There is a vast audience for this art form and I applaud Calgary Opera for taking to them. Calgary Opera's 8th show was Grimm's 250th! Very exciting, and with productions coming up in Saskatoon, Toronto and Ottawa, the numbers will keep climbing.
I'd like to make special mention of Mel Kirby (music director) and Rob Herriot (director) who did such a wonderful job with the Calgary production.