| by Roger Pines In response to a question about books on opera
companies in the United States....
"There are several out there, but
usually they're all photos with maybe a bit of text. A book that offers more information,
along with terrific photos, is San Diego Opera's just-released The Art of Making Opera,
for which the photographer, M.L. Hart, also contributed the extensive notes. The wonderful
thing about the book is that it gives a very complete impression of how an opera company
puts productions together. It covers two seasons in the life of the company, going through
each element in turn: orchestra/conductors, directors, designers, chorus, supers/dancers,
stage management and tech crews, finally the principal artists. Unusually for this kind of
book, it also covers administration and education/outreach programs.
"Each chapter is divided by a
section on a particular production from either 1995-96 or 1996-97. There are lengthy and
marvelous quotes from a great many people associated with the productions. Some of the
most animated and vivid material comes from mezzo-soprano Adria Firestone, who sang the
role of Carmen (she is also a glorious photo subject, and appears with tenor Richard Leech
in a riveting Carmen rehearsal photo on the book's front cover). There are many
comments and photos from Myron Fink's The Conquistador, a world-premiere
production starring Jerry Hadley, whose dedication to the project is highly praised by his
colleagues. There is also a section highlighting another extremely thoughtful artist,
baritone Erich Parce, who back-to-back sang the highly contrasting roles of Dandini in La
Cenerentola and the title role of Floyd's The Passion of Jonathan Wade. The
latter opera provides a very powerful passage, in which Ms. Hart (with accompanying
photographs) describes the conclusion of a rehearsal, in which soprano Sheryl Woods was so
emotionally exhausted that it was several minutes before she could get up to speak with
the director and conductor. This is the sort of special "personalization" that
goes on throughout the book.
"The book concludes with an epilogue
by the company's general director, Ian D. Campbell; a history of the company by critic
David Gregson; and a chronology of 1965-1997 performances, with complete casts. If you're
interested in ordering the book, you can get it from SDO (tel. 619-232-7636) or via the
internet, http://ww.sdopera.com or http://mlhart.com."
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