Sarasota Day 3 - All Work and Some Play

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

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

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

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!

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)

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!

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...