Opera Tampa offers open Aida rehearsals

Opera Tampa offers open Aida rehearsals

April 10, 12 and 15

These are FREE events

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TAMPA, Fla. — On April 10, 12 and 15, Opera Tampa will offer a limited number of people the rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of Aida, Giuseppe Verdi’s grandest of grand operas. A series of FREE open rehearsals is planned in the coming week.

Attendees will have the opportunity to get a “fly-on-the-wall” view of the company as they rehearse Verdi’s famous “Triumphal March” scenes from Act 2 of Aida, under the direction of Maestro Anton Coppola. The busy and energetic rehearsal will include principle singers, chorus members and dancers.

Reservations may be made by calling 813.222.6409. Space is strictly limited to 10 people at each rehearsal. Attendees are asked to arrive at the Straz Center Stage Door on MacInnes Place, 10 minutes before their reservation and should plan to stay for the duration of the rehearsal. Photography or recording of any kind are prohibited. The available time slots are as follows:

April 10	Tuesday	7 to 8:30 p.m.
April 10	Tuesday	8:30 to 10 p.m.
April 12	Thursday	7 to 8:30 p.m.
April 12	Thursday	8:30 to 10 p.m.
April 15	Sunday	2 to 3:30 p.m.
April 15	Sunday	3:30 to 5 p.m.

Aida will be presented in the Straz Center’s Carol Morsani Hall, Friday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 22, at 2 p.m., as part of the Opera Tampa season presented by Homes by Helen. The opera tells the story of Aida, princess of Ethiopia, captured and brought into slavery in Egypt. Radames, a high ranking military commander, is torn by his love for Aida and his duty to the Pharaoh, with tragic consequences for both. Regularly priced tickets for the performances of Opera Tampa’s Aida start at $29.50 and may be purchased by calling 813.229.STAR (7827) or 800.955.1045 outside Tampa Bay, in person at the Straz Center Ticket Office or online at www.strazcenter.org.

For more information about Opera Tampa and its upcoming events, please visit www.operatampa.org.

Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice.

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Aida is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Just Your Basic Opera Update

I haven’t been posting about the opera lately, because I was busy enjoying the opera. Opera Tampa kicked off the 2006-2007 Homes by Helen Opera Series last Friday with Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet. Now that the show has passed, I don’t feel so bad about shamelessly plugging the great reviews by The Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times.

For me personally, I took a date to the opera. He even wore a bow tie and looked a little bit like Daniel Craig after a glass of wine and some squinting. (Squinting to make him look older of course).

It was beautiful, it was romantic, it had swordfights, it had codpieces – it was a great night and you should have been there.

So there.

Okay on to other news in the opera…

This story could be bordering on tedious if it wasn’t getting downright ridiculous. Berlin Opera’s controversial on again/off again production of Mozart’s Indomeneo has kind of - lost its head. More specifically, the prop of Muhammed’s severed head. You know, the item that caused all the problems in the first place? Yep. They can’t find it. Sigh. Updates as they happen.

Famed director Franco Zeffirelli was cheered and showered with roses on the opening night of his new production of Verdi's Aida at La Scala on Thursday night, making his triumphant return after a 14-year absence from the opera house where he first made his mark. Not known for being humble, Zeffirelli claimed it is the best opera La Scala has ever seen. Wow. I’m sure it’s good, but please place this in the same file as John Lennon proclaiming the Beatles to be “More popular than Jesus now.”

Keep it in perspective Frank …

Best press I’ve seen so far on Aida? This BBC slide show – go to slide 7 and witness Donatella Versace make her mark as the best “old produce” La Scala has ever seen.

Yikes!

-Kari G.