I just saw the most recent post asking about our set-up needs for tomorrow. I realize it's really last minute...I have to figure out why these blog posts did not appear in my e-mail....

We should be fine with any room for tomorrow, since the focus will be with Robbie starting the students on story-writing. For next time (April 8th), a piano would be useful.

See you soon!

Adam

Hi Everyone!

So with the intention of providing some background on opera, I have posted a few You Tube links to clips of opera and musical theatre numbers the students will enjoy. I'll provide a CD for nest week (the 8th), which should be out songwriting class...that way the students can have some inspirations throughout the week of songwriting.

Magic Flute, Queen of the Night - Mozart's Magic Flute is a beloved opera, with fantasy elements and mythical characters. In this aria, the Queen of the Night tells her daughter to go and kill the sorcerer Zarastro. This aria has such amazing musical imagery; the music paints the angry character of the Queen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZG90IhvGZk&feature=PlayList&p=04ED81A9E4881AC1&index=45

Magic Flute, The Birdcatcher's Aria - this aria from the Magic Flute introduces the comical character Papageno, who is a bird-catcher:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Qq-DeEXhw


West Side Story "America"- this song presents two different perspectives on life in America. Since the concept of perspectives came up in our preliminary meeting, this may be food for thought:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QS7wWzwak4

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - since the theme of the operas is Egypt, here's a musical that takes place partially in Egypt...thoughts about set design...?:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z06vEUfmuMQ&feature=channel

If posting links like this proves useful, I can do more throughout the program, otherwise I'll work on putting together a good resource CD. I believe listening to music and opera is key in this case.

Cheers and see you all soon!

First Visit

Hi Adam and Robby - We are looking forward to your visit on Wednesday. We have a few questions. Do you need a piano and a large room the first day? Do we need to prepare anything else? You are scheduled to come on April 29th., however, the grade 5's have a visit to their future middle school, between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Can we schedule around this visit or perhaps even change the day if necessary? Looking foward to seeing you on Wednesday!
Lynda

After some confusion I am now in the post! The kids are getting excited. We've started looking at Ancient African societies. See you next week!
Hilda

I'm Here!

We are all excited and ready to role. My goal is introduce the ancient egypt unit prior to your arrival in order to give them some background knowledge. Looking forward to the big day!

I am in the blog...thanks and the kids are very excited especially about the Egypt theme!

Musical Director

Adam Weinmann

Bio

Oboist, pianist, composer and improviser Adam Weinmann hails from Vancouver Island. He received an MFA in music from the California Institute of the Arts in 2008, where he was a member of the New Millenium Ensemble and the New Century Players. As a student at CalArts, Adam was involved in the Hyper-Opera program, and delved into keyboard studies, composition and North Indian music, in addition to his regular studies in oboe performance. He is now an active freelance oboist in Toronto.

In the summer of 2008, Adam was a co-founder and performer for the Victoria street performance group Squeezebox Serenade. Since moving to Toronto, Adam has worked as the accompanist for the Sedina show, and has collaborated with singer/songwriter Sarah Teitel. He can be seen some weeks as part of the band accompanying Extant Theatre's Impro A La Carte at the Comedy Bar. As a songwriter, Adam has been starting work with a new group of fellow artists, a yet un-named collective of folk, jazz and classical musicians.

This is Adam's second time working on the Create an Opera program.

Create-An-Opera Program
Canadian Opera Company
Spring 2009

Day 1
April 1st, 2009.
Artist(s) Robbie & Adam
1) Introduction to Opera
2) Brainstorming of themes, plots & characters
3) Begin to explore writing
4) *A detailed 1 page plot synopsis must be finished for second class

Day 2
April 8th, 2009.
Artist(s) Adam
1) Libretto Writing
2) Begin to set text to music
3) Continue libretto writing
4) *All scenes and lyrics must be completed for next class

Day 3
April 15th, 2009.
Artist(s) Robbie & Adam
1) Libretto read through
2) Edit and sculpt script



Day 4
April 22nd, 2009.
Artist(s) Robbie & Adam
1) Sing through songs
2) Begin blocking

Day 5
April 29th 2009.
Artist(s) Robbie
1) Character development
2) Complete blocking

Day 6
May 6th, 2009.
Artist(s) Designer
1) Designer workshop


Day 7
May 13th, 2009.
Artist(s) Robbie & Adam
1) Run through completed opera
2) Work in small groups to finesse scenes

Day 8
May 20th, 2009.
Artist(s) Robbie & Adam
1) Final run-through
2) Presentation sharing

Meet your artists!

Your Director is

Robert Gontier:

Robert currently sits on the faculties of the Royal Conservatory of Music – Learning through the Arts, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People and the Canadian Opera Company. He has also been a guest instructor for the National Ballet School of Canada and has taught the arts extensively in Mexico. Robert is a graduate of Ryerson University’s B.F.A Acting Program, George Brown College’s Dance Program and also attended NYU-Tisch School of the Arts in New York City for Musical Theatre.
For the COC he adapted and co-directed Rusalka for their Summer Opera Camp. He has also taught in their Opera Jam!, Opera Remixed and Living Opera Workshop programs. He recently performed his one-man-show, Johnny Jackson and His Heavenly Passion, this summer at the Toronto International Fringe Festival. He is currently hard at work co-writing a new musical entitled In Flanders Fields about Canadian icon John McCrae. It will tour across Ontario in the spring of 2009 for Smile Theatre Company.

Your Musical Director is
Adam Weinman: