About Living Room Opera | The Living Room Opera Staff | Tell Us About Yourself
Learning Your Music | Directions to the Performance | Last Year's Performance

Now in its 11th year . . .

Living Room Opera

(Opera Lirica del Soggiorno)

Summer 2000

What is Living Room Opera?
Who can participate?
When and where does the workshop meet?
What scenes will I be in? How will I get music?
What happens at the first workshop meeting?
What happens at subsequent meetings?
When and where is the performance?
What does it cost? How do I sign up?
Is this for me?
More answers.

What is Living Room Opera?

It's a summer opera workshop directed by Marion Leeds Carroll (stage) and Juliet Cunningham (music), with the assistance of Nancy Burstein (producer). Our object is to learn and perform ensembles in a casual, non-competitive atmosphere. We're funded in part by the Arlington Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. (Return to top)

Who can participate?

People who love to sing, whether potential professionals or enthusiastic amateurs.

When and where does the workshop meet?

We will start rehearsals this year during the week of June 5, and meet once or twice each week until our performance on Sunday, July 30. Except for our two dress rehearsals (July 24 and 29) and our performance, meetings will take place in private houses in Arlington, MA. (Return to top)

What scenes will I be in? How will I get music?

After we've heard you sing and seen the preferences you express on the attached Singer's Information Sheet , Marion and Juliet will assign you parts in two scenes. Nancy will send you photocopies of your music after May 1. Marion and Juliet will provide translations and pronunciation guides as needed, since, as a general rule, we perform scenes in their original language.

What happens at the first workshop meeting?

After a vocal and physical warm-up, you'll take turns reading your scenes to the class as a dialogue in a free English translation. After each reading, we'll all discuss the dramatic aspects of that scene. We will then break into groups to practice words, rhythm, melody, and drama, rotating among help from Juliet, from Marion, from Nancy (as répétiteur) and from one another. (Return to top)

What happens at subsequent meetings?

You'll work with Juliet and Nancy to prepare your music and with Marion to work on the dramatic aspects of the scenes. As you become more secure, Marion will provide staging. Foreign-language diction will be discussed. Exercises for improving dramatic and vocal performance will be offered as the need becomes apparent. Every scene will be performed for the entire class in the final weeks of the workshop, so that performers can help each other and build new skills. Our dress rehearsal on July 24 will be videotaped, and the videotape will be viewed before the Final Dress Rehearsal on July 29.

When and where is the performance?

We'll present our scenes on Sunday afternoon, July 30, at the Park Avenue Congregational Church in Arlington. Juliet will provide piano accompaniment for the performance. We'll use costumes coordinated and provided by Janice Dallas, a talented and experienced local costumer and long-term workshop member, and by Juliet and her husband, designer Matt Oliva. Our props and sets will be simple pieces we find for ourselves. After the show we'll join our audience of friends and relatives for a celebration. You'll get a videotape of the performance to keep. (Return to top)

What does it cost? How do I sign up?

The cost is $250 per participant. (Limited scholarship support is available.) To express interest, return a printed copy of the Singer's Information Sheet to Nancy by April 10. You must tell us definitely whether you wish to participate by April 17. Because the choice of scenes is tailored to the participants, it is essential that we have firm committments from participants by that date.

Is this for me?

Nancy will host a musical party on April 1, at which we can meet each other, and at which Juliet and Marion can hear you sing solos in an informal setting. You'll have a chance to ask us questions, and we'll be able to encourage you to try, perhaps, singing rounds or other ensembles together so that we can hear how different voices blend. Call Nancy to learn more. (Return to top)

Questions?

Call Nancy at (781) 646-3698 (eves.) or e-mail Nancy_Burstein@abtassoc.com.

About Living Room Opera | The Living Room Opera Staff | Tell Us About Yourself
Learning Your Music | Directions to the Performance | Last Year's Performance

© March 2000 Marion Leeds Carroll 
   http://www.leedscarroll.com
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     was last modified 02/18/02