Christmas with Kallen & Friends

This weekend Christmas with Kallen & Friends kicks off the Holiday season with a bang--a very nice, family-friendly bang.

The set list looks like:
What Child is This?
Coventry Carol
A Cradle in Bethlehem
Away in a Manger
In the Bleak Midwinter
Ave Maria
Still, Still, Still
Silent Night
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
O Magnum Mysterium
O Holy Night
...and that's just the first half!

Needless to say, if any of those are your favorites, come and find out who is singing them. Of course, soloist numero uno is soprano Kallen Esperian, who graces our stage again after her brilliant Tosca in 2008. Along with her are tenor Adam Diegel and Samford University's Joseph Hopkins, baritone; Opera maestro Joseph Mechavich, the Opera Birmingham Chamber Choir, and a few very talented Birmingham instrumentalists.

It should be a great show--tickets are going fast! Click here to follow a link to purchase.

Celebrate National Opera Week with Opera Birmingham

NATIONAL OPERA WEEK

National Opera Week is November 13-22, and Opera Birmingham would like to invite you to come celebrate with us! We have an exciting week of events planned- mark your calendars now and plan to join us as we celebrate National Opera Week.

Brown Bag Lunch and Conversation:

"My Favorite Opera and Why"

Opera Birmingham Staff with special guests Mildred Allen, soprano and Bill Bugg, bass-baritone

Friday, November 13 at 12:00 noon

Opera Birmingham, The Hills Opera Center

3601 Sixth Avenue South

Birmingham , AL 35222

Free Admission. Call 205.322.6737 to reserve

Soft drinks & desserts provided.

Open Rehearsal:

Opera Birmingham Chorus

Saturday, November 14 at 10:00 AM

Canterbury United Methodist Church, Choir Room

350 Overbrook Road

Mountain Brook, AL 35213

Come watch as the Opera Birmingham Chorus prepares for our January production of Aida. Free Admission.

Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin in HD

The Bolshoi Opera at L'Opera National de Paris

Sunday, November 15 at 1:00 PM

Vestavia Hills Rave Motion Pictures

1911 Kentucky Avenue

Vestavia Hills, AL 35216

$20 at the door

$21 at www.ravemotionpictures.com

The Singer's Audition

with John D. Jones

Monday, November 16 at 7:00 PM

Birmingham-Southern College

Hill Recital Hall

BSC students participate in mock auditions for the General Director.

Free Admission.

Birmingham City Council Meeting

"Star Spangled Banner"

Tuesday, November 17

Featuring the vocal talents of Daniel Seigel, baritone

Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor

Presented by Samford University OperaWorks

November 17, 19 & 21 at 7:30 PM

Samford University

Harrison Theater

800 Lakeshore Drive

Birmingham, AL 35229

$12 adult, $9 senior adult (55+), $6 student/child

To purchase tickets, please call 205.726,2853 or visit www.samford.edu/arts/tickets

Coffee & Conversation: Verdi

with Chorus Master Daniel Seigel

Wednesday, November 18 at 10:00 AM

Opera Birmingham Office

3601 Sixth Avenue South

Birmingham, AL 35222

Free Admission. Refreshments served. Call 205.327.6737 to reserve.

Opera Birmingham Guild Meeting

Thursday, November 19 at 10:30 AM

Come join the Guild! $35 annual dues. Refreshments served. Call 205.322.6737 for directions and more information.

Conversations & Cocktails: Mozart

with General Director, John D. Jones

Friday, November 20, 2009 at 4:30 PM

Opera Birmingham Office

3601 Sixth Avenue South

Birmingham, AL 35222

Free Admission. Refreshments served. Call 205.322.6737 to reserve.

On Sale, all shows!

Finally, Opera Birmingham's 2009-2010 Season is on sale! You can subscribe to the whole season, or just purchase single tickets online at www.operabirmingham.org.

This year promises to be a great year, with a lot going on. The Wright Center plays host to Aida and The Marriage of Figaro, and Brock Hall provides an intimate space for Veronica Chapman-Smith (last seen in Turandot) and tenor Zach Borichevsky in a duo recital titled From Broadway to La Boheme...plus a concert of Christmas favorites with soprano Kallen Esperian, featuring guest artists Adam Diegel and Joseph Hopkins.

You can view the cast lists, hear clips from the operas, and find out more about the Opera's season on the website.

Haven't explored the Opera Website yet?
There's a lot of information, including info about the Met Live in HD series, Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition, and even a Frequently Asked Question section if coming to the opera is raising a few questions in your head.

New office and new stage

The Opera is now in a new office! We're at 3601 Sixth Avenue South, 35222. Come visit us--especially once tickets for the next exciting season of opera go on sale on August 3!



Also, we're moving all operas and concerts to Samford University. The operas will be performed in the Leslie S. Wright Center, and our two fall concerts will be in Brock Recital Hall. Seating is limited for those Brock concerts, so get your tickets soon!
Check back after August 3 to get your tickets online at www.operabirmingham.org, or call us at (205) 322-OPERA.

Traviata Photos Online

Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that I have published an online photo journal for Opera Birmingham's Production of "La Traviata". Just go to the following address to check it out. More to come. Enjoy!

http://web.mac.com/wisetracy/iWeb/La%20Traviata/Sitzprobe.html

La Traviata Well Underway

Okay, I'll bite...looks like I'm the first to blog on Traviata. What pressure!

Yesterday, our Violetta, Susanna Phillips, did yeoman's work with 2 media intervies about the show. Listen to her interview on WBHM's "Tapestry" next Thursday night and look for an interview with her by Mike Huebner in the B'ham News. They're taking photos next week so we hope the article will appear on Sunday the 15th.

As someone told me - there are only two words to describe Susanna - world class. In every sense! We are so lucky to have her sing her first Violetta here (she's covered Mmes. Futral and Fleming at Lyric Opera of Chicago, but those ladies NEVER cancel!)

Christian Reinert is our terrific tenor - also making his role debut - and Louis Otey is that rare species in the opera world, a true Verdi baritone. Supporting cast and chorus are in fine form as well and Kathleen Clawson and Joe Mechavich are making the rehearsal process relaxed and easy. And our great stage manager, Cindy Knight, keeps everything moving smoothly. A big thanks to all!

Next week is much about polishing and tightening before moving into the theater the following week. Our principals are singing for our donors and Guild members in the coming days...if this doesn't sell tickets, nothing will! They are just incredible!

Encourage folks to buy tickets early - we expect a huge surge in the days leading up to the show as we had for Turandot. Added to the mix this time are all those great folks in Huntsville who'll be joining us to cheer on their favorite diva-daughter! Some prime sections are sold out for the Sunday performance already...so for best availability, join us on Friday night and get those tickets early at http://www.operabirmingham.org/!

See you at the opera - you'll LOVE it!
John

Production week, and Turandot's so close...

So the set is up, and the lighting is ready...and the singers and orchestra are all gearing up for the meat of production week.

Thought we'd give you a tiny glimpse of the set, which was built by Opera Birmingham in cooperation with Festival Opera in California.