By: Jennifer Colgan Paul is a widowed artist who is grieving the death of his wife, Marie. Even the city he lives in—Bruges—haunts him. Life is turned upside down when Paul meets the bright and passionate Marietta, the mirror...
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By: Suzanne Whitney Christopher Mattaliano has worn many hats throughout his career—from stage director, to educator, to artistic director for opera companies and music festivals, to a member of Opera America’s Board of Directors. Throughout all aspects of his...
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By: Jennifer Colgan Some of the best-known opera arias have made their way into movies, commercials, video games, and more, hundreds of years after the composer set their pen to paper. Have you ever wondered what causes some opera...
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By: Angelica DiIorio Neither snow nor rain nor heat has kept Scenic Supervisor Mike Griebl from ensuring the sets of Rigoletto are ready for opening night. In a career spanning more than twenty years, Mr. Griebl has supervised the...
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By: Angelica DiIorio and Bethany Wood Art and literature can be very provocative. The arts can challenge people to look at the world around them in new ways and ask questions. While this very trait is what makes art...
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By: Betsy Schwarm Many performing arts fans are familiar with the tales of Victor Hugo (1802 – 1885). From Les Miserables to The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Le roi s’amuse (The King’s Diversions), the stories are well-known. If...
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By: Jennifer Colgan People often say, “revenge is sweet.” There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the bad guy get his just desserts. Opera is full of satisfying revenge stories, from Elektra’s bloody retribution against her father’s murderers to...
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By: Angelica DiIorio Rigoletto is one of composer Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpieces. He was Italian, if you couldn’t tell by the name. Rigoletto is performed in Italian and set in Mantua, Italy—a city between Milan and Venice. While Italian is...
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By: Greg Carpenter, The Ellie Caulkins General & Artistic Director Many people ask me how I put together each season, and often they assume I just present a season of my favorite operas. Likewise, I frequently get asked what my...
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By: Bethany Wood The modern American librettist Mark Campbell likens the role of an opera librettist to an architect. A librettist uses words to create the foundation and structure upon which the composer creates a masterpiece. Campbell says, “A...
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