Dean Burry

Brementown in Bytown

2009-03-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

First off, it has been a very long time since I have updated the old blog. Almost a year since I returned from Sarasota. It has been a wonderfully busy year, high-lighted by the birth off our second daughter, Maeve Sophia, back in October.

Now that I'm back, though, I'll be updating more frequently to let you know about all the exciting project coming up. Right now, though, I'll mention the wonderful workshop we had for my latest opera for young people "The Brementown Musicians". Brementown was commissioned by Opera Lyra Ottawa and is being produced there in the Fall. OLO hasn't done much new work, but I have to say that their commitment to the workshop process has been first rate.

I spent 5 days in Ottawa from March 17-20 workshop the score of the opera which lead up to a public reading on the final day. There's something wonderful about the way this opera is coming together. It isn't always this easy. I guess the fact that the libretto was written in 8 hours sitting in a Tim Horton's in Gander Newfoundland (No, not eight hours straight, that would be a hellofalotof timbits...spread out over four days) but suffice to say it just rolled out of me.

The other neat thing about it, is that Bremen is a sister or shall I say "brother" piece to my other opera "The Brothers Grimm" as all the wicked owners of the animals are characters from Grimm. The two operas could be done in one evening as the casting is also the same.

Some pics above of my time in Ottawa. The performers at the reading were...

Mark Gough, donkey Valérie Arboit and Marion Newman, dog Christina Tannous, cat Michale Carty, rooster Christopher Mallory, the villains and Judy Ginsberg on the piano.

Roads Go Ever, Ever On...

2008-05-10T07:03:00.000-07:00

Roads go ever, ever on
over rock and under tree,
by caves where sun has never shone,
by streams that never find the sea;
Over snow by winter sown,
and through the merry flowers of June,
Over grass and over stone
and over mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever, ever on,
under cloud and under star
yet feet that wandering have gone
turn at last to home afar.
Eyes that fire and sword have seen
and horrors in the halls of stone
look at last on meadows green
and trees and hills they long have known.

from "The Hobbit"
J.R.R. Tolkien

Opening night was a stunning success. There was a huge buzz in the 1,100 strong audience and they seemed engaged in the show from the start. They really wanted to clap which was great (at first, I thought..AHHH! You can't hear the scene change music!!! But really...I'd rather they have the chance to express themselves. They even applauded when the dwarves climbed up in the trees (it was a good effect.)
I couldn't be more pleased with the way everything has turned out. It feels very good yo have a had such a great production sercve as my US premiere.
Back in 2004, when the Hobbit premiered at the Canadian Childrens Opera Chorus (and I must say, I have been thinking about Ann Cooper Gay and the wonderfully talented people that helped create this show)I wasn't suer when I would get to experience this opera again. That can be kind of depressing. I am happy to say, though that definate plans are underway for future productions here in the US, but also abroad. Last week, I received the go ahead to translated the opera into German for a 2009 European premiere in Hamburg, Germany. I've also had requests from France and Portugal, so I think the road will be going ever on for some time...
We have another show this afternoon, with Brooke playing Bilbo this time (Maria was last night). Both are excellent and bring different but equally wonderful things to the character. It's nice to be able to sit back and enjoy the show, but I just can't get over the annoying habit of mouthing all the words. I find myself doing it at various points in the show...really weird...it's like I'm Gollum or something. As long as I don't start refering to Maestro Inouye as "my precioussss" we'll be fine.
So roads do go ever on and it's time for this wanderer to turn, at last to home afar. I fly back to Toronto tomorrow and it'll be great to be back home. That being sad, I can't thank everyone enough here in Sarasota for the completely professional and thrilling job that they have done with my opera. It has always been my goal to push the boundaries of what children's opera is, and I think (like Bilbo and Gandlalf) that it has been a journey to remember.

Gil sila na lu govaded
May a star shine on the time of our meeting

Dean

Hobbit Video!

2008-05-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who have been checking in. Here's a video clip from the show so you can see for yourselves!

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/VIDEO01/805080900/Film Festival Video (all)/

Sarasota Hobbit Day 7 -The Big One

2008-05-09T08:14:00.001-07:00

I just went and sat in the empty theatre for a few moments. There is a magic found in that kind of space which has nothing to do with wizards or all-powerful rings. It's funny, but one of the most thrilling moments in seeing a piece of theatre is the few seconds between when the house lights go down and the curtains come up. We've all seen wonderful performances and we've all seen performances to which I wouldn't take a brain-dead slug, but in those few moments, anything is possible. It's like Christmas morning when you're sitting in front of the tree looking at the unopened presents. The excitement is palpable.
So tonight is opening night. Hurrah! It has been a busy week, but so great, as the composer, to be more involved. I so often get asked to sit at the back, but I feel I was really able to offer some assistance here. I love EVERY aspect of the theatre (ok, maybe not fund-raising...) and so sitting in on acting coachings, working with Barney and Fred on Gollum and being a part of the production meetings has been great.
I'll try and post some photos from the show tomorrow and that will be my last entry for Sarasota Opera. I head back to Toronto on Sunday and as much as I have loved my stay here, I can't wait to get home to my own beautiful Elf Maiden, Julia, my little hobbit Blythe and my two wargs Felix and Annie.
Here is a photo of the beautiful 1200 seat theatre (sold out for tonight, I might add!!!) and a shot of the unlit stage.

Sarasota Hobbit Day 6 Et Voila! Gollum!

2008-05-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

As you can see, Gollum turned out wonderfully and the difference in the Gollum scene at last night's rehearsal was astounding. Cammie, the young girl playing Gollum totally threw herself into the part. She a small gymnast so it always looked twisty and creepy, but last night, for the first time, it looked dangerous and intense. I was riveted. This is not an easy scene. Bacically, my opera is what you would call an "opera-within-an-opera" meaning the Elves of Rivendell are putting on a show which tells the story of Bilbo's quest. So in reality (the opera's reality) you would not just be a goblin, you would be an Elvish actor playing a goblin...got it? Gollum is meant to be a person playing a gollum puppet with marionette strings and several other elf charcters pulling the strings. The Puppet-Gollum doesn't even talk. Six other characters do the voice to show all the mixed up thoughts in Gollum's head.
As you can imagine, this can be a real challenge and there is sometimes a tendancy to say that young people can't do it. I disagree 100%. Young people are capable of STUNNING things on stage, the equal to any adult performer. Sometimes is might take a bit longer, but you can't sell young people short. Now we have seven young ladies who can do something they couldn't do before...who have ramped up their performing abilities for every other show they do in their lives. Watching them last night made me feel really good. (PS If you're one of those seven reading this--KEEP IT GOING, DON'T GET COMFORTABLE, IT COULD BE EVEN BETTER!!!)

By the way, I say this "traffic sign" backstage to remind people to stand back when others are exiting the stage. I got a kick out of it. Good advice for any hobbit on stage...or in Middle Earth!

Sarasota Hobbit - Day 5

2008-05-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

We're back in the theatre and had our second last dress rehearsal, now with the full orchestra, last night. There are many little details falling into place. You'd be amazed at how many notes come out of these run throughs. When you consider all the elements: lighting, costume, sets, orchestra, performers(80 of them at that), there's a lot of room for small things to go wrong.
We are working on using a microphone for the person singing Smaug, the dragon, to give a more "dragony" booming sound - even with a bit of echo. Sounded really good, though ther are still some things to work out. Evryday the dragon puppet has more splendour and last night it even spewed smoke from its mouth. COOL!
The dragon puppet was made many years ago by the set designer, Jeff, but the props manager Marlene (from Quebec!) is the one who is jazzing it up. She also made many great swords, spears, clubs and countless other props. You can see some of them above.
Barney is the head costume designer and you can see a rack of his spider costumes and the ornate shield of Thorin the Dwarf. This is a picture of Barney working on a new Gollum mask. Our Gollum is doing a great job, but there isn't enough time to do a big make-up job on her, so we're going to help the situation with a Gollum mask (her nose and mouth will be visible when completed) an a bald cap with string hair....ooooh, creepy...

Sarasota Day 4 -ITALIANA

2008-05-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

I actually started the day working on a project that I am writing for CBC radio. I have a little office her at the opera company and it has a baby grand piano, so after I picked up a large coffee at the local coffee shop, I settled down fora morning's work. It went very well. SO well in fact that after lunch I abandoned the piano and biked to the beach which is only around 15 minutes away. Hey - I am in Florida...

The big work of the day was an acting session with the people involved in the "Gollum" scene. My Gollum scene is a bit different as it is done as a puppet theatre with 6 elf maidens operating strings attached to a person playing a Gollum puppet. SOunds complicated, I know, but when it works, it is great. This is a challenging scene, however, and there isn't much music so the girls really need to rely on their acting skills. It's definately moving in the right direction, but they really have to let it all go and not worry about making their faces look hideously ugly. (HEAR THAT any students reading this....theatre...YOU HAVE TO LET GO, BE BIG and BECOME the character you are playing...)

After that we had the Italiana, which you can see in the picture above. A full reading of the opera with all the singers and the whole orchestra. It fely MASSIVE and was thrilling. This is really the largest forces I've ever had fo an opera of mine and it really feels like we are doing a big mainstage opera.

Anyway, it's Tuesday morning now and I'm here in the office to do some more writing. Tonight is the first Orchestral Dress rehearsal, so basically the full show with acting costumes. lights and sets on stage. I'll try to take some pictures of the props back stage. The swords other weapons and armour are all VERY cool!

Sarasota Day 3 - All Work and Some Play

2008-05-05T07:56:00.000-07:00

Well, as challenging as it can be to have a career as a composer, there are definately perks from time to time. I must say, I have been treated wonderfully everytime I've been here and yesterday was a thrill. I discovered the father of one of the children in the opera was a research biologist and was willing to fly my up the coast to Crystal River to swim with manatees. Anyone that knows me well, knows how much of an animal freak I am, so I was jumping up and down with excitement. He flew me in a small four-seat Cesna (first time in a small plane...slightly scary but thrilling)and I was able to swim alongside (and pat and scratch..they like that) a mother and calf. Increrdiably how tame and mellow these animals are. Amazing.

After that, we fly back to his place (literally, he lives in an "Aviation Community" and we taxied right off the runaway amnd down the road to his house. I was laughing.

He lives at the edge of Myacca State Park so the adventure continued. We drove in to the park for a walk and I came across this very smiley fellow. A 7-foot alligator sitting around 5 feet from where I was. Startled me at first (and couldn't stop laughing..again, anyone who knows me, knows I laugh alot...)He was rather menacing, but let me get close enough for this shot.

We ended the day with a sunset from a 70-foot observation tower. This is Buddy and his wife Maureen and daughter Katherine...who is an elf dancer in The Hobbit.

Today at 6 is what is called and "Italiana" the Germans call it a Sitsprobe. Basically it is a rehearsal of the whole opera with the orchestra and singers but just in a reheasal hall with no sets, costumes or actions. It will be the first chance to hear how the whole thing sounds.

Sarasota Hobbit Day 1-2

2008-05-03T15:31:00.001-07:00

Hello from Sarasota Florida! The flight down on Friday was great and I was immediately whisked off to an orchestral reading at the opera house. This was a new orchestration with a much larger orchestra, so I was a little nervous. I didn't need to be...they sounded fantastic and it was really magical to hear this music, written five years ago, with a large orchestra. Here' the conductor Lance and I discussing a few notes...

The show is looking great. We just finished two piano dress rehearsals and tomorrow is a day off. I'm hoping to go see some alligators or manatees...ther local wildlife. I'll take a picture! Stay tune on Monday for a post after the "Italiana" or read-through with singers and orchestra but no sets or costumes or acting...

NEW PHOTOS

2008-03-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

I've just had some new photos taken by the fantastic Toronto photographer Anand Maharaj. Here's a sample, more to come on the website in the future.

Isis in Edmonton

2008-01-15T20:08:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, "Isis and the Seven Scorpions" will receive its first production outside of the Canadian Opera Company. Over the past few years, I've come to value the 'second' production almost as much as the first. There's so much excitement wrapped up around the premiere that you sometimes lose track of the actual work. It is really the productions that follow that give a true sense if this is a piece to last.

The opera is being produced by Opera Nuova in Edmonton who have done two great productions of The Brothers Grimm in the last few years. If you want to check out their website, it is www.operanuova.ca. Check back later for photos from the production!

GRIMM Hits the Big 3-0-0!

2007-11-21T18:12:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, I was thrilled to attend the 300th performance of The Brothers Grimm. It was a part of the Canadian Opera Companies annual school tour (for which the opera was commissioned back in 1999). I believe this was the sixth time that the COC has taken the opera out, and the show was just as fresh as the premiere. Alison Grant did a wonderful job directing this outing. It's interesting to note that her mother's maiden name was Grimm and she is related to the famous brothers.

This Grimm played up some of the darker elements and I found the witch and Rumpelstiltskin deliciously creepy...the kids felt the same way.

The performance happened at Britannia Public School in Mississauga, Ontario at 1:45, Wednesday, November 21.

Pictured above are Michael Spassov, Justin Welsh, Andrew Stewart, Lisa DiMaria, Adam Luther, Melinda Delorme and Joanna Barrota. They seem to be having a great time on the tour (22 shows left) and made me feel really welcome.

On Richard Bradshaw (1944-2007)

2007-08-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

It has taken a few days to even process the fact that Richard is no longer with us. The moment I attempt to collect my thoughts the page is filled with so many clichés (that RB would suggest I consider trimming) that one would wonder if I was talking about a man or some mythical hero. I suppose anyone looking at his list of accomplishments would wonder the same thing. It is humbling to read the heartfelt words of the opera community and realise how many of us he really touched – how much of an influence he has had on Canadian artists and therefore (as he had every right to proudly proclaim) the opera world.
So what is the proper role in which to cast Richard Bradshaw? Caped Avenger? Unscrupulous Diplomat? Crafty Salesman? Flamboyant Gambler? Wizened Seer? Rogue? Scallywag? One word continues to return to me and has been echoed in the words of my colleagues – Father.
Richard was father to the Canadian opera family, including all the rights and responsibilities, blessings and blights of that title. Like a good father, Richard cared about the passionate, dedicated people around him. Like a good father, Richard could become a bear when one of his charges was being threatened. Like good children, we all, at one time or another, have rebelled and thought him unfair, unreasonable or obstinate. That is part of being a child. Richard considered and genuinely cared. Richard did what he thought was best whether it made us laugh or cry. That is part of being a dad.
In 1999, Richard commissioned my first professional opera, The Brothers Grimm, which has really made all the difference in my career. He was proud of the fact that Grimm would be receiving its 300th performance this fall. And oh, to make Papa proud – that was a high that could keep a composer out of an IT career for a year!
I’m happy that I more recently came to know more about the man that was Maestro Bradshaw (an important realization for children to have about their fathers). Following the dress rehearsal of Isis and the Seven Scorpions, we had a chance to talk a bit more casually. We talked about the new canoe he was given and how to execute a proper J-stroke. We talked about golf and the Canadian outdoors. We talked about the things furthest from most people’s minds when that shock of white hair and beaming smile popped up from the orchestra pit, and yet, all parts of the man. The Father. The Maestro.
I guess the father image is an important one for me right now. My own two-month-old daughter was asleep in my arms for the dress of Isis and Richard commented that “she seemed to like it”. He told me that I had a lot to look forward to that he was anticipating, with great gusto, a meal made by his own daughter that very evening. I remember something about a killer pie.
Richard was so much more than a father, but he sure made an awful lot of us feel honoured to be “part of the family”.

Dean Burry

EUROPEAN DEBUT!

2007-07-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

On June 29th, 2007, the Sarasota Youth Opera Chorus performed "Far Over the Misty Mountains" from The Hobbit at the Piazza dell Popolo in Montecatini Terme, Italy (in Tuscany). This performance was a part of an International Choral festival and marks my European debut. Now if I can just get MYSELF to Italy...

AMERICAN PREMIERE!!!

2007-05-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

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

2007-05-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2007-05-01T19:31:00.000-07:00

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.

The Brothers Grimm at Calgary Opera

2007-03-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

The Brothers Grimm is currently on tour with a wonderful new productions created by Calgary Opera. The production was directed by Rob Herriot with musical direction by Mel Kirby. Artists of Calgary Opera's Emerging Artists Program will be travelling around Southern Alberta until April 6, 2007.
I traveled to Calgary for the premiere on March 19th and was made to feel most welcome. The prime rib and service at the Calgary Tower restaurant were wonderful.

Isis at the Four Seasons

2007-03-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

Last June was the grand opening if The Four Season Centre for the Performing Arts, the new home of the Canadian Opera Company (www.coc.ca) It is Canada's first purpose-built opera house and as far as the acoustics and sightlines go, it is one of the best theatres in the world.

My opera Isis and the Seven Scorpions was performed as part of the Gala Celebrations during the public open house on the last weekend in June. It was a thrill to see so many people exposed to opera in Toronto.

The New Blog!

2007-03-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hi there, and welcome to the new blog. I do have a website at www.deanburry.com, but this seems to be a great way to keep anyone interested updated on my latest personal and professional info. I have been having a lot of performances of my operas lately and this is a great way to keep photos and reviews coming. So thanks for dropping by and look for things to come.