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| ARTIST'S STATEMENT1 "The Opera Project" - What's it all about? | ||||
| This is the story of an
odyssey. It’s my story – a literal journey that led me across time and place
with real people and tangible results - and a figurative journey of discovery, one of
finding myself as an artist and as an individual. Like Candide, like Alice, like Ulysses,
I too have had wonderful adventures and encountered the most amazing characters to inspire
and guide me. The best part of this always-evolving journey of mine is that the past tense
is inappropriate; it’s still going on, as it does for every artist. - Martha Hart The story begins here . . .
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For two years, I worked behind
the scenes as a photographer with a major U.S. opera company to create a 'documentary
portrait' of an entire season: the people, their craft, the collaborative and creative
nature of the onstage-and-off art being made throughout the company. My intent was to
visualize the process of creating art - not just the result - whether that art is opera,
photography, or anything else. This story in words and images took place at San Diego Opera, but in so many ways, it takes place everywhere, every day.
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Those images and observations resulted in
the book The Art of Making Opera. But the
backstage/onstage photography continued at San Diego Opera and elsewhere; it has, in fact,
expanded since those first two years to include more in-depth explorations by way
of interviews and writing along with the documentary and archival photography. This ongoing, loosely defined "project" gives me a chance to learn more and more not only about something that is obvious to me - that music and art are integral to our lives - but also that music and art are created by people much like anyone else. Artists have talent, to be sure, but they don't sit around and wait for inspiration to strike. Making art is a job like any other, with the same day-in, day-out aspects that every job has. It takes a great deal of disciplined effort - mental, emotional and physical effort - to paint, to sing, to play, to see... and it takes an immense amount of dedication and flat-out determination to make a career as an artist. |
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So is this a documentary? photojournalism?
fine art? or something in between? I don't really know. I'm going through a process of my
own while looking at individual artists each working through his or her own process, and
collaborating with other artist-colleagues... and in this overall process of creating, we
all go through similar cycles of effort and doubt and trust, failure, achievement,
discovery, renewal. Here, captured on film, is the work of the artist. It’s the work
of every artist. At its best, the images tell a story with a particular sense of style. None of this is intended to be simply a historical record, or A Year In The Life Of... though there are elements of both here. It's meant to be an exploration. Of what? of collaboration, of creativity, of process, using the structure of the opera company to show that ... but if I knew exactly what form that would take, I wouldn't have to do the work. Or get to do the work. Opera is a great medium for this examination of process, partly because it's so complex - there are hundreds of people involved in each production - and partly because it truly is a collaborative art form where each person’s input shapes the final product. This is all the more remarkable because opera can often be a type of "museum art," shaking the dust from centuries-old works and showing them off. Truth is, it can also be an effective and powerful expression of current issues – but that isn’t the popular image.
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The experience of live opera in the theatre
is a blend of everything - drama, dance, spectacle, and music. And when it all works, when
the whole is truly greater than the sum of the parts, then the end result transcends
everything that's gone before – and it’s a whole new indescribable experience. I
think that's why we keep coming back. I hope these pages will give you a sense of being in the audience along with an understanding of the work that goes on backstage before the curtain goes up. I hope you get caught up in the passion of the music, the stories, and the commitment of the artists who bring them to life for you. And I certainly hope you’re intrigued enough to find your way to the opera house in your home town!
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| THE OPERA PROJECT GETTING GOING THE PRACTICAL VISION FINAL COUNTDOWN WRAP UP PROJECT NAVIGATION |
the story continues . . . NEXT | |||
| EXPLORE FURTHER | ||||
| EXPLORE MORE | |||||
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"This is the ideal book for everyone who loves opera."
"... a distinguished book with heart." |
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OperaBasics - An Introduction The Art of Making Opera - Inside the Book Explore More: Top 10 Ways to Fall in Love With Opera Principal Singers
& Singing WORDS
& MUSIC SHOP |
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Simply type your e-mail address in the box above and click on "subscribe." |
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"Opera Photography by ML
Hart" is part of |
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original
content © copyright 1998 ML Hart and images/graphics ©
copyright 1996-2002 ML Hart except where noted no part of this page, site, or any components may be borrowed, downloaded, acquired, or otherwise used by any person(s) without the express written consent of ML Hart what is copyright all about? |
WEB GALLERY | AT THE OPERA | JAZZ
ON STAGE | THEATRE &
DANCE |
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