Opera Theater of Saint Louis is hosting the world premiere of The Golden Ticket, a new opera based on Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. One of my favorite mezzos, Jennifer Rivera, is playing Veruca Salt. (Of course the mezzo would play the bratty kid...)

As exciting as this is, this brings up a topic that I've been thinking about/talking with other people about recently. What is with this new trend of making musicals out of movies? Granted, Charlie is a book, but there are two big movies and a musical based on it already. Now there needs to be an opera of it? I think the question needs to be: is this good operatic material?

So here's my problem: medium. Every medium -- be it opera, broadway musical, movie, play, novel, whatever -- has its inherent strong points. Some stories just work in a certain medium. When you start juggling it around, the story loses its original impact. Shrek the musical? Spiderman the musical? An opera based on An Inconvenient Truth? I mean, come on -- who thought this was a good idea? You see the same thing happen when they make your favorite book into a movie. Some movie renditions are wonderful and they even enhance the original story, but some books just lose all their power when they're put into movie form.

I've noticed a trend, especially in broadway musicals, and I think that these media are being compromised because everything new that is being written isn't taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of the form in mind. I could blame it all on commercialism, but this trend began before the recession came in full-force. I think the cause is more laziness than anything. There isn't a commitment to the craft. There needs to be a commitment to the craft! Nothing good ever came from half-hearted writing.

Joyce Didonato, a very successful mezzo-soprano with a refreshing, ever-present awe of life, said it perfectly in her last post when she explained Dr. George Gibson's philosophy. He believes in the three Ds: Dedication, Disclipline, and Determination. I think that is such a great motivator and thing to live by. If only the entertainment industry would do the same...

So, I made some discoveries yesterday.

-Skinny hazelnut lattes at Starbucks = LOVE And they're only 90 calories!! DOUBLE LOVE

-When something seems sketchy, LEAVE. PRONTO. I went to a local college last night with some friends to see an experimental drama and we left before it even started because the place was SKETCHY. We took a vote and went to Starbucks instead.

-Isabel (opera director) told my best friend, Rachel, that our characters are going to "like each other very much." Granted, I'm playing a boy (what else is new). I'm very interested to see how this opera turns out...

How did my life turn out this way?

I went to visit my brother at the academy today.  So many guys in uniform.  <33333333

We were allowed to sit with him in church and then talk with him for about 20 minutes.  I wore a really cute dress and I did my hair all nice.  Big heels, makeup...  Good choice.  I got so much attention; it was ridiculous.  I don't think those guys have seen a girl (not in uniform with her hair slicked back, which makes them all look like boys) for months.  Lucky me.  It's fun to be noticed sometimes.

But, honestly, I love the uniforms.  I can't begin to explain my uniform-fetish.  I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not.  Uniform = dangerous job.

In other news, my concert was rained out.  :(  I was very sad about this.  Tammy and Rachel and everyone were coming!  I WANT TO SING!!!  Ugh, what can you do?  You can't fight the weather (it's physically impossible-- believe me, I've tried).  Epic sadness.

In other news (part 2), I had a lesson with Tammy yesterday and then I babysat for her so she could go out with her husband.  Her kids = <3 

Her six year old boy Rainer had a Lego-Mozart (!) and while we were playing jets, I was making him pilot my plane.  Rainer shot my plane down and I said,  "OH NO!  You can't shoot down Mozart!  He still has to write his 40th Symphony!" 

Rainer started laughing hysterically.  Then he hugged me and put his cheek to mine, saying, "That's why I love you!"

*dies*

Needless to say, that was the best night of babysitting ever.  Luke (Tammy's husband) entertained me before he left with impersonations of The Phantom of the Opera.  He kept singing the main theme with the words "Going up the scale!  Going down the scale!  Going up the scale!  Going down the scale!"  It was hysterical.  If I could sing it for you, I would.  He's this crazy-cool artist who's so much fun to be around because he's always saying something insane.  I just love the entire family and I wish I could adopt them all. <3

Sooooo, one week until I leave for Europe!  I'm so excited.  It's Mom's birthday today and I bought us matching "I Love Mozart" T-shirts to wear.  Yes, I'm a geek.  She was tickled pink.  I'm glad she's just as nerdy as I am.  :)

Speaking of nerdy--I had an opera/Die Fledermaus dream the other night.  I'm already dreaming about the opera and it's not until January!  I told Mummigans the crazy dream that I had (it involved not only Die Fledermaus but The Marriage of Figaro, understudies trying to poison me, singers singing from the audience, and a set consisting of a pair of bleachers) and she told me that I'm probably one of three people in the whole world who have opera dreams.  I wouldn't be surprised.

5 Favorite Symphonic Works
1. Beethoven's 7th Symphony
2. Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
3. Mozart's Sinfonia to The Marriage of Figaro
4. Beethoven's 5th Symphony
5. Mahler's Second Symphony ("Resurrection")

5 Favorite Quotes From Real Life
1. "That last sip of apple juice tasted like a snail!" - Tina
2. "That was a potentially tragic moment." - Kirstie
3. "This is the real world and this is Brian's world.  The only thing in common is Brian." - Katy
4. "Haydn was the guy who'd short-sheet your bed at camp." - Prof Krasner
5. "Jane is Wendy's illegitimate child.  You never see the husband." - Heather, age 13

5 Favorite Shakespeare Plays
1. Twelfth Night
2. The Tempest
3. Hamlet
4. Romeo and Juliet
5. A Midsummer Night's Dream

5 Favorite Bands
1. Anberlin
2. Jars of Clay
3. Eisley
4. Daughtry
5. Sixpence None the Richer

5 Movies That I Can Watch 20 Million TImes
1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
2. The Emperor's New Groove
3. Mansfield Park (w/Billie Piper)
4. The Incredibles
5. Ella Enchanted

5 Opera Roles to Play Before I Die
1. Cherubino - The Marriage of Figaro
2. Rosina - The Barber of Seville
3. Sesto - The Mercy of Titus (Mozart)
4. Octavian - The Rose-Bearer
5. Romeo - The Capulets and the Montagues

5 Actresses That Are Fun To Watch
1. Amy Adams
2. Sandra Bullock
3. Nana Visitor
4. Emmy Rossum
5. Anne Hathaway

5 Favorite Places
1. home
2. the library (pretty much any library)
3. Great Aunt and Uncle's house in Rheinbeck, NY
4. Metropolitan Opera House
5. Grandma's house

5 Musicals I'd Love To Be In
1. My Fair Lady
2. The Phantom of the Opera
3. Tarzan
4. The Sound of Music
5. Beauty and the Beast

5 Favorite Authors (in no particular order)
1. C.S. Lewis
2. Madeleine L'Engle
3. F. Scott Fitzgerald
4. Ray Bradbury
5. Eoin Colfer

5 Operas I Have Left To Listen To This Summer
1. The Saint of Bleecker Street - Menotti
2. Werther - Massenet
3. Othello - Verdi
4. Tristan und Isolde - Wagner
5. Faust - Gounod

The funniest things I heard all day:

1. My brothers, Justin and Ryan, turn on the World Series game.

 

Justin: Look, the score is tied already.
Ryan: It starts tied.

2. Harry Kim has a crush on Seven of Nine and attempts to woo her with subtle lighting.

Seven: This lighting is inefficient.

3. Same scene, later after Seven catches on to Harry's wooing:

Seven: I don't understand these complex rituals of deception.

4. Captain Kirk attempts to outwit some androids with his "illogical human" ways (this never gets old):

Kirk: Oh no, Scotty's dead.  He's had too much happiness.

hhahaha

Ohhh, what a crazy day.  I really needed that.  It's just been...insane.  I've actually had to deal with some drama (professor drama strangely enough).  I'll probably get into it eventually.  I'm too tired today to elaborate.  Let's just say that I'm happy and upset simultaneously.  Hurray for complex emotions!

I had some fun and some frustration today.  I broke into my grandparents' house and "stole" Mary Poppins tickets.  I'm going to see Mary Poppins on Broadway tomorrow!  (And this was totally unexpected.)  Yay!!!  I can't wait.  :D

I was frustrated by the drama and by my not-so-loyal GPS, Terry.  Terry gave me angst.  It tried to make me go down a street that didn't exist.  Then it wondered why I was such an idiot.  It tried to make me back-track like 5 times.  *sigh*  You can't always trust technology.

I have to go to sleep.  I have so much work to do and I need SLEEP.  What is this "sleep" you speak of?  Ich weiss nicht.

Buona sera!

I finally found out about opera scenes (the full-length opera cast is still up in the air- grrness!). I got a really nice part this time! I'm in a scene from Verdi's Falstaff, which is based on Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor. I'm playing Meg Page; she has the second (almost first) biggest part in this scene. I'm the first one to sing and I sing throughout. It's a pretty long scene; the packet of music is a bit hefty!

So far, I really like it. It's a cute, fun scene. Verdi usually isn't my favorite, but this opera is different than his famous ones (like La Traviata). It sounds much more Richard Strauss and even a little Mozart at times. It's a comedy instead of his usual maudlin tragedies and that makes me happy.

I've just started my research. I finished the libretto last night and I was happy. It's almost like Shakespeare/Verdi's version of Marriage of Figaro. Of course it isn't as good as Figaro, but it's close enough to be entertaining.

I'll have more updates soon (hopefully!). I have a feeling like the director is using these scenes rehearsals as another sort of audition. She wants to see how we work. I think that's a really good idea (if that is her idea and I'm not just making this up).

In rehearsal, Isabel (the director) had us crawling on the ground and climbing on chairs and doing all sorts of theater-y stuff. I forgot about all the weird stuff you do in theater class. It's been a while. I've now been successfully reminded. Oh gosh.

I'm so busy! I'm really looking forward to those few days off next week. It'll be time to catch up on everything. I have SO MUCH MUSIC TO LEARN! AHHH!! (Symphony Orchestra, String Orchestra, Chorale, Chamber Singers, Music 20 Duet, and Opera Theater!)

Have to go!
<3 Meg

http://www.shrekthemusical.com/

Shrek the Musical?!?!?  Omgosh...  I can't believe that Shrek is coming to Broadway!  I'm actually really excited (despite the fact that this could be tragic).

The cast looks really good.  Brian D'Arcy James is definitely going to make a good Shrek.  Also!  I'm excited to see Chestor Gregory II on the list.  I saw him in Tarzan on Broadway.  He's really outstanding.  He's a wonderful singer (I love his tone!) and a good actor as well.  He's playing Donkey.  I think that's a good role for him.

The lady who's writing the music wrote for Thoroughly Modern Millie.  That's a legit show, so this music shouldn't be bad.

There are going to be tons of effects in this show.  Young Frankenstein started something with its massive amount of effects.  I feel like this is going to be an ongoing trend in Broadway from now on.  Speaking of Frankenstein, I really want to see it.  There are so many things that I want to see.  I want to go to the Amato opera and see Cosi and I want to see Frankenstein and Spamalot.  Too many shows, too little money/time.

I don't really want to see The Little Mermaid.  I'm still mad that Beauty and the Beast was taken off and I'm not impressed by what I've seen of Mermaid.  I'm also mad that Tarzan went off, but that was expected.

Back to real life:  It's really crazy over here.  Even Fryling is a little stressed.  There's all these little kids congregating everywhere.  We're hosting NYSSMA.  I walked by this bus of little kids (obviously chorus girls) and they all pointed and stared like I was some kind of phenomeneon.  I just smiled and kept walking, not really sure what to do.

I seem to always have these experiences.  People stare like I'm some sort of science experiment.  I hate it.  Lately, it's just been little kids and that's okay.  It's cute.  Once, though, it was a boy and it was NOT fun.  I'm glad that I'm far away from him at present.

Dad bought these weird multi-gran pretzels.  They're really strange, but they're okay.  For eating.  I love pretzels, but these are pushing it.  Actually, pretzels are the best things ever created.  I LOVE PRETZELS.

Hmm, awkward.  I really don't have any normal way to end this post.  Sorry.