Dear Friend of Connecticut Opera:
Next month will mark the 67th Anniversary of the first performance by Connecticut Opera. Unfortunately, its passing will not be met with great celebration as we must regrettably inform you that Connecticut Opera is the latest victim of the current economic crisis facing our nation.
Last night our Board of Trustees approved a plan to cancel the production of our final two operas of the season: The Daughter of the Regiment and La bohème. The decision to cancel the rest of the season is not one that was easily made.
The reality of our situation is that ticket sales for Connecticut Opera in a normal season cover less than 40% of the cost of producingthe high-quality opera you have grown to expect from us over the past 67 years. This year, however, we are facing enormous economic challenges including a slow down in ticket sales and increased difficulty in raising charitable gifts and sponsorships. This combination has made it financially impossible for us to complete the season.
We know that you, like each member of our staff, will have many questions about Connecticut Opera’s future, but it will take a few weeks before we will have clear answers. We ask that you give our Board of Trustees the necessary time to develop a plan for our future.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, Management, Staff and Artists of Connecticut Opera, we wish to extend our sincerest appreciation for your support and understanding during this very difficult time.
Sincerely,
John Kreitler, Board Chairman
Brooks Joslin, Board President
Willie Anthony Waters, Artistic Director
Linda Jackson, Managing Director
Friday, February 6, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Metropolitan Opera HD Broadcasts, brought to you by Showcase Cinemas in Manchester, CT
As the resident Marketing Intern, part of my responsibility includes handing out programs at the Metropolitan Opera HD Broadcasts in Manchester, CT. I love doing this because I get to watch the broadcasts when it's all said and done and it almost feels like a family over there at the Buckland Hill Showcase Cinemas.
It has become routine that I arrive at 11:30 am to set up shop for the performance that begins at 1:00 and upon arrival there are already atleast ten people there waiting infront of the theater and Eldon has had to assure them that I will be arriving shortly. It's funny because people want to be in that theater so badly even just for the sound checks which is actually refreshing in a way until you realize that these people, who are so stir crazy about getting to the opera at the movie theaters 2 hours in advance, are all over 60. Most of them have bought their tickets a year in advance, so I see the same people in there every time and can spot them a mile away. It's cute.
Over Christmas break I went home to Texas and decided to go to a Met broadcast there, Thaïs with Renee Fleming. Because I was so accustomed to everyone in Manchester arriving 2 hours ahead of time, I thought I should do the same at home because there was no telling how many people would be there. I got there and only two other people were in the entire theater, which makes me wonder.. why is opera in Manchester,CT such a big hit when no one could care less at the AMC Willowbrook in Houston,TX?
This past Saturday was the broadcast of Orfeo ed Euridice by Gluck, which ended up being not as classical as one would think. The singers were amazing, especially Stephanie Blythe and Danielle de Niese (who made her Met opera debut at the age of 19...geeze). The dancing,though, was by far the mose non-traditional aspect of the performance. The choreography was by Mark Morris and the costumes by Isaac Mizrahi, whom you may know from Target. The dancers were in basic street wear with glitter strewn about them and though the articles of clothing stayed the same, the color changed from scene to scene. Heidi Grant Murphy, playing the character of Amor, wore a pink spandex and collared shirt number with sequins attached to it. All in all, it was kind of a surreal experience.
Most importantly... sitting in the theater I saw a preview for The Audition, which is a documentary about the finalists of the Met's National Council Auditions, and I can't even tell you how excited I am for that.
Until Next Time...
It has become routine that I arrive at 11:30 am to set up shop for the performance that begins at 1:00 and upon arrival there are already atleast ten people there waiting infront of the theater and Eldon has had to assure them that I will be arriving shortly. It's funny because people want to be in that theater so badly even just for the sound checks which is actually refreshing in a way until you realize that these people, who are so stir crazy about getting to the opera at the movie theaters 2 hours in advance, are all over 60. Most of them have bought their tickets a year in advance, so I see the same people in there every time and can spot them a mile away. It's cute.
Over Christmas break I went home to Texas and decided to go to a Met broadcast there, Thaïs with Renee Fleming. Because I was so accustomed to everyone in Manchester arriving 2 hours ahead of time, I thought I should do the same at home because there was no telling how many people would be there. I got there and only two other people were in the entire theater, which makes me wonder.. why is opera in Manchester,CT such a big hit when no one could care less at the AMC Willowbrook in Houston,TX?
This past Saturday was the broadcast of Orfeo ed Euridice by Gluck, which ended up being not as classical as one would think. The singers were amazing, especially Stephanie Blythe and Danielle de Niese (who made her Met opera debut at the age of 19...geeze). The dancing,though, was by far the mose non-traditional aspect of the performance. The choreography was by Mark Morris and the costumes by Isaac Mizrahi, whom you may know from Target. The dancers were in basic street wear with glitter strewn about them and though the articles of clothing stayed the same, the color changed from scene to scene. Heidi Grant Murphy, playing the character of Amor, wore a pink spandex and collared shirt number with sequins attached to it. All in all, it was kind of a surreal experience.
Most importantly... sitting in the theater I saw a preview for The Audition, which is a documentary about the finalists of the Met's National Council Auditions, and I can't even tell you how excited I am for that.
Until Next Time...
Monday, January 5, 2009
Remembering Mayor Mike Peters
Throughout our history many local celebrities and politicians have graced our stage with cameo appearances. Today we note with sadness the passing of one such person who appeared briefly in our production of Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers; Hartford’s Mayor Mike Peters.
I first met Mayor Mike when I was handling government and community relations for TCI Cablevision. The Mayor would go out with our production crew to tape “Mayor Mike’s Minutes.” These were short video spots created to give Mayor Mike a chance to do what he did so well, to promote Hartford as “a diverse collection of neighborhoods.” Mike truly loved Hartford and all it had to offer.
A few years later, after Mayor Mike became a well-known restaurateur in Hartford, Christen Eure, our former marketing director, asked Mike to make a cameo appearance as a pizza chef in The Italian Girl in Algiers. Although his schedule only allowed him to make one appearance, he readily accepted our invitation. On the night of his Connecticut Opera debut, Mayor Mike walked on to the stage at the Bushnell to an enthusiastic round of applause from our audience welcoming him to Connecticut Opera.
After that appearance, we began holding our annual Connecticut Opera Chorus & Super party at Mayor Mike’s restaurant. And Mayor Mike would join our party to celebrate the many people who help make Connecticut Opera an entertaining part of Hartford.
Thanks Mayor Mike for spending time with us at Connecticut Opera. We will miss you.
I first met Mayor Mike when I was handling government and community relations for TCI Cablevision. The Mayor would go out with our production crew to tape “Mayor Mike’s Minutes.” These were short video spots created to give Mayor Mike a chance to do what he did so well, to promote Hartford as “a diverse collection of neighborhoods.” Mike truly loved Hartford and all it had to offer.
A few years later, after Mayor Mike became a well-known restaurateur in Hartford, Christen Eure, our former marketing director, asked Mike to make a cameo appearance as a pizza chef in The Italian Girl in Algiers. Although his schedule only allowed him to make one appearance, he readily accepted our invitation. On the night of his Connecticut Opera debut, Mayor Mike walked on to the stage at the Bushnell to an enthusiastic round of applause from our audience welcoming him to Connecticut Opera.
After that appearance, we began holding our annual Connecticut Opera Chorus & Super party at Mayor Mike’s restaurant. And Mayor Mike would join our party to celebrate the many people who help make Connecticut Opera an entertaining part of Hartford.
Thanks Mayor Mike for spending time with us at Connecticut Opera. We will miss you.
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