Opera Birmingham in the News!

Production week is here and the media is abuzz with news of the upcoming "Magic Flute!" Check out the Birmingham News article (linked) below, and mark your calendar to tune in to Fox 6 "Good Day Alabama" this upcoming Wednesday, March 13th, beginning at 6 am for an exclusive Opera Birmingham interview! This is going to be a "Flute" you'll never forget!

http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2013/03/opera_birmingham_channeling_th.html?utm_source=Magic+Flute+Fri+3%2F8&utm_campaign=Magic+Flute+3-8-13&utm_medium=email

Jan Cornelius on ABC 33/40's Talk of Alabama!

We are thrilled to have had Jan Cornelius, our Pamina in the upcoming "Magic Flute," represent Opera Birmingham on ABC 33/40's Talk of Alabama this week!
Check out her interview below. Thanks, Jan!

http://www.abc3340.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8554088

Making Magic in Birmingham

Had a few minutes this morning and decided there was no better way to spend it than blogging!  To say it's been an eventful first week back in Birmingham would be an understatement.  After arriving from Philadelphia the first day of rehearsals, I unfortunately totalled my rental car that very same rainy night.  Those confusing one-way streets in downtown B-ham are NO joke!  It was a pretty severe wreck, but thankfully, no one was seriously injured.  Other than a sore neck and some shaken nerves, the process here has gone off with out a hitch.  Everyone here has been VERY accommodating and understanding, and I couldn't be more thankful for all the love and support I've received these past few days.

The show must go on though, as they say, and it certainly has.  We are onto to Act 2 today and I'm pretty sure with our director Marc Astafan's efficiency, we'll be done staging the opera in a total of 5 days.  I like this approach very much.  Get the animal on it's feet, and then teach it to walk!  It really allows the actors to develop the material we've been given.  And in all honestly, it's nice to know that you've tackled the entirety of the piece so early on.

I'm very excited to be back in Birmingham after last year's Carmen.  I always have a blast here.  The people, the food, the Southern hospitality.. makes a Texan gal feel right at home!  Tomorrow is Birmingham Opera's Annual Gala and I couldn't be more excited to sing, eat, and frolic with friends and patrons!  Hope to see you there for what I'm sure with be a MAGICAL night!

What a great first week of rehearsals we've had for THE MAGIC FLUTE here in Birmingham!  The cast is terrific and we've staged the entire first Act in three days.  Having a swell time here making my Opera Birmingham debut directing this production.  More soon!   -Marc