Glimmerglass Festival Blog

Intern Insights

Emmet Sellars — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:29:48 +0000

I was born in the Year 1632, in the City of York, of a good family….wait…no that’s the wrong start. Sorry. Hello there. My name is Emmet, and I am one of the Carpentry/Rigging Interns for The Glimmerglass Festival in beautiful Cooperstown, New York for the 2013 summer season. Since I’m writing this now, you can surmise that I was not born in 1632, otherwise, I would be some kind of immortal who just revealed his secret. Or Robinson Crusoe (Bear with me; I’m into theater, and I’m going to have a flair for the dramatic and a streak of absurdity). But I digress. Over the course of the next few months, I will be keeping this blog of some of the behind-the-scenes activities that we do here to prepare for the performances, specifically of the departments I am involved with — Carpentry (building/repairing sets) and Rigging (hanging scenery or curtains from the theater ceiling). Now, I will be explaining many of these things as simply as possible because, let’s be honest, I’m an intern and learning much of this for the first time myself. And let’s be completely honest, I may be wrong from time to time. If that happens, someone reach through the computer and give me an earful so I get it right next time. So with no further ado and absolutely no gilding the lily, let’s get educated together!

Shipbuilding on stage

Brittany Lesavoy — Fri, 17 May 2013 17:16:25 +0000

We got our first glimpses of the set for our original production of Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, directed by Francesca Zambello. Here, crew members are working on assembling the floor for the production on stage. It’s starting to resemble the deck of a sailing ship – perhaps that of the Dutchman! Meanwhile, boxes of silk and huge spools of rope arrived in the production department, as the crew prepared to raise the rigging.

Fun fact: this production will use nearly .5 miles of rope.

The ship sets sail on Opening Night, July 6, and runs through August 24.
Get your tickets today.

Tra la! It’s May!

Brittany Lesavoy — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:49:27 +0000

It’s always fun arriving on our campus at about 1 p.m. in the spring. Everyone has left their respective buildings — costume shop, scene shop or administration building — to enjoy the sunshine during lunchtime. It really can be like summer camp around here.

Quick Q&A: James Lowe

Brittany Lesavoy — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:42:01 +0000

A native of Batavia, New York, who calls New York City home, James Lowe is a leading conductor of opera and musical theater. Lowe is currently conducting Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Oklahoma!, and he recently served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Anything Goes, starting Sutton Foster and Joel Grey, for which he was nominated for a Grammy Award. This past season he made conducting debuts with Utah Opera with Of Mice and Men, as well as the Jacksonville Symphony.

This summer, Lowe conducts our new production of Camelot, directed by Gary Griffin and starring Nathan Gunn as Lancelot, David Pittsinger as King Arthur and Andriana Chuchman as Guenevere.

Here is our Quick Q&A with James Lowe:

Why do you think a piece like Camelot still speaks to us today?

The idealistic goals of King Arthur’s round table are as important today as ever. Every time I see Camelot I am moved that, amidst all of the chaos and divisiveness that has sprung from the crumbling of Arthur’s dreams, he begins to hope again. There is still a horrific amount of war, violence and hatred in our world, but this piece celebrates idealism and reminds us that each generation must pass on the dreams of peace and honor to the next. And the colorful score is still as fresh as it was 50 years ago.

Do you have a favorite moment in the score?

“Before I Gaze At You Again” is as intimate and tender a song as anything Loewe wrote. But I think my favorite moment is the final scene between Arthur, Pellinore, and the young boy Tom. The timing of Arthur’s final speech with the orchestral underscoring and offstage chorus is very tricky to execute, but is incredibly powerful when it all comes together. This was Lerner and Loewe working together at their finest.

For our readers to get to know you a little better:

Any pre-show rituals?

I’m not much for rituals, but I do try to always get outside and do something active on the day of a show – my brain always feels more energized that way. And then I’ll try to find time to review my score and eat something on the lighter side. Of course, when I’m doing an eight-show-a-week, Broadway-type schedule, rituals tend to go out the window and I just try to get enough sleep!

What was the last book you read?

Last book I finished: Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck.

Currently reading: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

What is your favorite meal? Do you cook it yourself?

I love Mexican food – taco night is kind of a big deal at my house.

If you hadn’t become a conductor, you would have:

In my fantasy world, I’d have been a professional hockey player. But in the real world, a teacher.

What is one thing you absolutely cannot live without?

My son. But since you asked for “thing,” I’ll go with my guitar.

What is one thing most people don’t know about you?

I was the lead singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter for a rock band (Backwash) throughout my 20s.

Why are you most looking forward to the 2013 Festival at Glimmerglass?

I’ve been so impressed with the quality of productions I’ve seen in the past at Glimmerglass, and I’m looking forward to working with a wonderful cast, orchestra and team in such a beautiful setting!

Festival of the American Romantics kicks off May 19!

Kelley Rourke — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:12:46 +0000

Sunday, May 19, marks the opening of The Festival of American Romantics, a collaboration between historic Hyde Hall, the Fenimore Art Museum, and The Glimmerglass Festival, a shared exhibition of period art, literature and music that explores the ideals of the Romantic Movement. The first event, The Picturesque, features readings from American Romantic writers James Fenimore Cooper and his daughter Susan Fenimore Cooper, as well as performances of poetry by Emily Dickinson set to the music of Heggie, Gordon and Copland. The texts describe the particular beauty of the natural landscape as it moves from the brittle cold of winter to the freshening softness of spring. Guest artists Jacqueline Antaramian, Dan K. Kurland, Beth Lytwynec and Drew Taylor have performed with companies such as The Glimmerglass Festival, Fort Worth Opera and Manhattan Theatre Club. On May 19 the performance begins at 5:30 p.m., and the evening concludes with a reception in the grand entrance hall of Hyde Hall, an expansive English-style country house built on the shores of Otsego Lake in the years between 1817 and 1835.

The drawing room of Hyde Hall is an elegant and intimate setting for this three-concert series. The final two Hyde Hall performances of The Festival of American Romantics will feature the theme of Utopia and Free Love on June 23, with Melody Moore and Peter Volpe, and Radical Democracy on July 7, with Patricia Schuman and David Pittsinger.

Tickets $20; call Hyde Hall at (607) 547-5098 for reservations.

Well Spent Wednesdays

Brittany Lesavoy — Wed, 08 May 2013 18:25:59 +0000

On every Wednesday of each month, Alex and Ika Restaurant in Cooperstown donates 50 percent of its proceeds from all sales of house wine, draft beer and fountain beverages to a local non-profit.

This May, Well Spent Wednesdays will support The Glimmerglass Festival!

Your support of these evenings will help underwrite our Community Outreach and Young Artists programs. Come raise your glass with us!

Quick Q&A: Andrew Wilkowske

Brittany Lesavoy — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:35:03 +0000

Andrew Wilkowske, who sings the role of La Rocca in this summer’s King for a Day, is no stranger to Glimmerglass. He spent two summers (2005, 2006) as a Glimmerglass Young Artist. In recent years he performed in the premieres of The Grapes of Wrath and Silent Night and sang the title role in The Emperor of Atlantis at Boston Lyric Opera. This summer, he returns as a guest artist and will also present Guns & Rosenkavalier, a rock recital that melds art song with rock song, as part of the Meet Me at the Pavilion series.

Here is our Quick Q&A with Andrew:

What, for you, is the pivotal moment in La Rocca’s journey?

La Rocca is a total opportunist, and his pivotal moment doesn’t happen until the end of the opera. He realizes that he’s been duped by Belfiore. He says, “I guess we’ll make the best of it. There’s nothing else to do.” Not a bad motto!

What do you like most about the character of La Rocca?

He has no problem speaking with great eloquence about how terrific he is!

Let’s get to know you a little better:

Are there any artists you feel particularly inspired by?

There is a rock singer from Minneapolis named Craig Finn, who is so full of joy he makes every phrase he sings a celebration. Even though the genre is different, I find him to be tremendously inspiring.

What do you do for fun in your spare time?

Tell me more about this ‘spare’ time.

Who have you been told is your celebrity doppelganger?

Paul Rudd

Name something on your bucket list you are still working toward.

I have a 6-year-old daughter and am expecting a son this fall. My bucket list consists of not screwing them up too badly before they move out of the house!

Why are you most looking forward to the 2013 Festival at Glimmerglass?

I was a Young Artist in 2005 and 2006 and it is a total thrill to be returning as a guest artist. I am a huge fan of Eric Owens and am looking forward to his concert with the Young Artists in August. I also think David Pittsinger and Nathan Gunn are going to be spectacular in Camelot. Mostly I am looking forward to reuniting with old friends and making great music this summer!

Notes From Francesca

Francesca Zambello — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:42:15 +0000

Upstate we are having our (hopefully) last snow of the season, and there is still ice on the lake. Our geese were perhaps a little optimistic!

But even with snow, we are still celebrating spring. It is one week until our New York City Spring Gala — GL!MMERATA — at the Metropolitan Club. I’m very excited to offer a preview of the 2013 Festival next week. We have an exciting lineup of performers for the gala, who will be offering a mix of music from art song and opera to music theater:

Klea Blackhurst (remember her in Annie Get Your Gun?)
Andriana Chuchman (Guenevere in this summer’s Camelot)
Julie and Nathan Gunn (our 2013 Artists in Residence)
Jay Hunter Morris (Erik in The Flying Dutchman)
Eric Owens (2012 Artist in Residence and performing in concert this summer)
David Pittsinger (King Arthur in Camelot)
Nadine Sierra (soprano in Stabat Mater)
Noah Stewart (last summer’s Radamès)
Peter Volpe (Daland in The Flying Dutchman)

Click here to check out all the items available during the evening’s short live auction.

A Year of Snow, A Year of Plenty

June Dzialo — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 20:39:03 +0000

With Nemo approaching Cooperstown, we’re reminded of the last blizzard we had here:

Once there was a spot…that was known as Camelot

Brittany Lesavoy — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:52:19 +0000

Don’t let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment
That was known as Camelot!

Our new production of Camelot, directed by Gary Griffin, opens July 13 with Nathan Gunn as Lancelot and David Pittsinger as King Arthur. Listen below to hear why this is a great musical to enjoy with the whole family.