Wednesday was the first day of
rehearsals for Arizona Opera's Orfeo ed Euridice. For me, the
first rehearsal day for a show feels similar to the first day of
school. Some faces might be familiar, and perhaps I may have even worked
with some of the artists in the past; but it is the "getting to know"
you stage of the process. Can you imagine having a first day of school
every month or two?! Strangely enough, it is one of the reasons I love my
job.
We started the day by "running
the music," which meant that the three principal characters (Orfeo,
Euridice, and yours truly) sat down with our conductor and a pianist to sing
through the entire opera. It was a working session, so we stopped and
started often, settling on tempi, figuring out transitions from scene to scene,
and getting to know each others' voices, styles, and personalities. Orfeo
ed Euridice also has a lot of recitative (speech-like singing), so we had
plenty to discuss regarding the flow of those sections. Emotions can run
high at times, and there was some heated debate about the interpretation of
certain moments. But it is natural, and inspiring to me, when people come
to the table with opinions and ideas. After all, everyone involved has
been studying this opera for weeks, months, and even years before walking into
the door for the first rehearsal!
Another one of the reasons that I
dedicated my life to opera, though, is the collaborative effort it
requires. All of the people involved (the ones you see on stage as well
as all the folks who are toiling away behind the scenes) come together to
create an experience that will, hopefully, move each audience member who
witnesses a performance. And Orfeo ed Euridice is about a reality
that every single person will experience at some point in his or her life: the
death of someone you love.
Next up, getting up from the chairs
and "staging" the show… — Rebecca Sjöwall (Amore)
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