It's only opera

More technical rehearsal – tonight is Act II. Little by little getting the mechanics in hand. Having a talented and dedicated scenic and costume shop staff makes a huge difference. They work all evening with us in the theatre, then they come back at 8 the next morning to fix everything that didn’t work before that evening’s rehearsal.

Not surprisingly, it gets tense. As I’m fond of saying “It’s only opera!” (as in; it’s not rocket science or cancer research…), but in an environment with so many intense, focused people, it’s often hard for cooler heads to prevail. But they generally do. Something we’re very proud of in this company. It’s important for our singers to keep their perspective, to realize what a rare and valuable thing a good colleague is, and to understand that their own professional lives will actually be more rewarding if they treat everyone in their work environment with respect.